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When is Diwali in 2022?
In 2022, Diwali falls on October 24th which is a new moon day or Amavasya. Because the festival of Diwali is celebrated according to the lunar calendar, the dates are different each year.
What is Diwali and why is Diwali Called the Festival of Lights?
Diwali or Deepavali is a grand festival that is an integral part of the India’s vast cultural milieu. As with all Indian festivals, Diwali also has a spiritual significance. Known as the “festival of lights”, it is common to celebrate Diwali by lighting lamps and bursting crackers. There are many stories around Diwali in the popular culture but many may not be aware of the Yogic significance of this night and how it can also become a potent possibility for the spiritual aspirant.
How is Diwali Celebrated in India?
In a true testament to unity in diversity, Diwali is celebrated quite differently across India. One thing that remains common is that every village, town and city is lit up with thousands of lamps everywhere. This lighting of lamps symbolizes the victory of light over darkness.
Diwali always starts with a thorough cleaning and decoration of the home. This is also a time to make traditional rangolis. People visit each other, dress up resplendently, exchange gifts, conduct rituals and poojas and come together to enjoy feasts and burst firecrackers.
In northern India, Diwali is seen as a celebration of Lord Rama’s return to Ayodhya after fourteen years in the forest. On this moonless night, people are said to have welcomed him home by lighting thousands of lamps in his honor.
In western parts of India, Diwali is considered the beginning of a new year and the central theme is worshipping Lakshmi, the goddess of wealth and prosperity.
In eastern parts of the country, the day of Diwali is devoted to Kali and is celebrated as Kali Puja.
A celebration of the power of good over evil and light over darkness. A day to exchange heartening smiles and little special gifts with friends, family, lovers, and even strangers. A day to get together and sit down to share delicious, filling food and share stories of good endings, humour and living it all– the highs and the lows. Diwali provides us joy and happiness each year. We eagerly anticipate spending time with friends and family and partaking in the festival of lights. Light– a representation of wisdom and consciousness.
This Diwali 2022, we can do more good. Let’s improve the world for both ourselves and others this Diwali. Let’s improve the lives of kids from at-risk neighbourhoods. What other occasion is more appropriate to express our care and affection for the most vulnerable children than Diwali? What better moment could be there to sponsor a child, change their life and the communities they are raised in? Let’s change a child’s wellbeing for the better this Diwali 2022.
There are several stories associated with the festival of lights – Diwali. According to the Hindu epic, Ramayana, It is believed that the people of Ayodhya hailed the homecoming of Lord Ram, Goddess Sita, Lakshmana, and Hanuman after a 14-year exile by illuminating the city’s streets with earthen lamps. It was the darkest night in the Hindu lunisolar calendar’s Kartik month.
Since then, every year Diwali festival is observed on Amavasya (no moon night) when people illuminate their sweet homes and workplaces with ‘diyas’- earthen lamps in rows, so as to expel darkness. As per the Skanda Purana, the Diyas or the earthen lamps symbolise the Sun as the cosmic giver of light and energy.
What happens during the 5 day celebration of Diwali in India?
1st Day Saturday- Dhanteras 22 October
2nd Day Sunday- Narak Chaturdashi 23 October
3rd Day Monday- Diwali 24 October
4th Day Tuesday- Govardhan Puja 25 October
5th Day Thursday- Bhai Dhooj 26 October
Diwali 2022 is commencing from 22 October
The first day of Diwali is known as ‘Dhanteras’ or ‘Dhantrayodashi’ which sets the mood for the beginning of Diwali celebration. Dhanteras consists of two words, ‘Dhan’ meaning wealth and ‘teras’ meaning thirteen i.e., the thirteenth lunar day of Krishna Paksha (dark fortnight). On this day, people worship Lord Dhanwantari, who is also associated with Ayurveda and various healing practices. People also purchase utensils, jewellery or any other item for household use to bring good luck and fortune to the house and family.
23 October:
The second day of the diwali festival is called Narak Chaturdashi. This day signifies the triumph of Lord Krishna or Mahakali over a ferocious demon, Narakasur. On this day, people worship Mahakali or Shakti and thus this day is also referred to as Kali Chaudas. It’s a day to abolish laziness and evil which disturbs human life on Earth.
The celebration of this day is marked by using fragrant oils, sandalwood and flowers in the house to keep the vibrations uplifted. People in various parts of the country also make artistic patterns of ‘rangolis’ on the floor with colored sand, powder, rice or flower petals. in their houses on this day.
24 October:
The third day of Diwali festival i.e Lakshmi Puja, holds utmost significance as it’s the day of Diwali or Deepawali. The most festive day of the five days which is celebrated with vibrance and great enthusiasm around the country. This day is the main day when Lord Rama finally returned to Ayodhya from exile. It also coincides with the return of Pandavas from the forest.
Grand celebration is observed on this day marked by many diyas or clay lamps illuminating every nook and corner of houses and shops, beautiful rangolis, and flowers decorating the main entrance of the houses, and fireworks dotting the sky. On this day, all family members worship Goddess Lakshmi by doing Lakshmi Puja along with Lord Ganesha and Goddess Saraswati, followed by prasad distribution.
It is considered to be the most auspicious day for traders and merchants families as they offer prayers to Goddess Saraswati, the giver of music, literature and wisdom and Kubera, the lord of wealth. This day also marks the first day of the financial new year for Indian Businessmen.
25 October:
On the fourth day of this five day Diwali celebration, Govardhan Puja is performed. This day has two main stories associated with it. The story of Gokul when Lord Krishna saved the villagers from the wrath of Lord Indra by lifting the Govardhan Mountain is the most prominent one. The second that follows is that this day is observed as ‘Padwa’ as the Vikram-Samvat was started from this day.
On this day, devotees observe fast and worship and offer food and sweets to Lord Krishna along with cows and calves. People celebrate this day by visiting temples or wearing new clothes and jewellery and distributing sweets and gifts among friends and neighbors.
26 October:
The second day after Diwali or the fifth day of the Diwali festival is Bhai Dooj. This day is solely dedicated to the bond of love and trust between a brother and a sister. The festival carries the legendary tale of the strong brotherly affection between Lord Yama and his sister Yami.
On this day, people observe fast followed by aarti and applying a ‘teeka’ of rice and vermilion on the brother’s forehead and partaking of sweets. The brother promises to protect his sister while the sister prays for her brother’s long life.
All five days of Diwali festival celebrates human bond and inculcates feelings of truth, love, brotherhood and the divine light of oneness in all of us.
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