Diwali also known as Deepavali or Divali is one of the biggest festivals celebrated all over India. It’s a five-day-long festival, and popularly known as the “Festival of Lights”. People from all castes, religions, and creeds engage themselves to enjoy this festival in their own way, lighting up diyas, worshiping gods, lighting up crackers, distributing sweets & gifts, etc.
When is Diwali in 2023?
According to the ancient calendar, Diwali or Deepavali happens to be on the darkest day – Amavasya, every year on the month (Hindu lunisolar) of Kartik. It happens every year in the month of October or November. Likewise, Diwali will be celebrated on Thursday, 4th November 2021.
Importance & Significance of Diwali / Deepavali:
Though there are not enough official records about the origin of Diwali, it is among the biggest festival celebrated in India as the festival of lights, empowering lights over darkness, good over evil, and knowledge over ignorance.
As called “Dil-Wali Diwali” – Diwali or Deepavali signifies the distribution of happiness. The peoples engage themselves to cherish the festive season by lighting up the places with electric lights and diyas (earthen lamps) and decorating their living and working spaces with new colors, lights, flowers, and rangoli. Distribute gifts and sweets to share happiness.
Diwali is celebrated in every part of India according to their religious events & traditions. The most common of them are lighting up and decorating with diyas on the full moon night to welcome Lakshmi, the goddess of wealth. In Northern India, the festival is celebrated as it is believed that Rama came home back along with Sita, Lakshmana & Hanuman after 14 years of exile, after defeating Ravana. So, it is a celebration of their homecoming.
Whereas in the Southern Part of India, it is celebrated as the day, when Lord Krishna defeated Narakasura – the demon.
In West Bengal it is celebrated as Kali Puja, worshipping Goddess Kali during Amavasya. The festivity goes around with lighting diyas, gift distribution, pandal hopping, and Bhog (Prasad).
Jains celebrate Diwali as it signifies the liberation & enlightenment of Mahavira from the cycle of life & death.
Sikhs celebrate Diwali to celebrate the return of Guru Hargobind, from Gwalior to Amritsar.
Buddhists celebrate this day, to mark the day when Samrat Ashoka converted to Buddhism in the 3rd Century BCE.
Likewise, many do celebrate this day a belief as a marriage ceremony day of Lord Vishnu & Goddess Lakshmi, and others celebrate it as the birthday of Goddess Lakshmi.
Even, in today’s world, Diwali is celebrated around the world, in the places where Indians reside. Though the celebrations are not as huge as in India, they organize programs and celebrate the festival accordingly.
Diwali is celebrated as an official gazetted holiday in India.
Important dates of Diwali 2023 celebrations:
Diwali is celebrated after 20 days of Dussera, during the full moon of the month of Kartik. It is a long five days celebration. As described earlier, everybody engages themselves in lighting diyas, decorations, distribution of gifts and sweets, wearing new clothes, and enjoying the festivity.
During the long five days of the Diwali celebration, many puja and other rituals take place. Here is a list of 2023 celebrations:
Dhanteras: 10th November, Friday, 2023
Dhanteras means wealth (Dhan) on the thirteenth day (teras). It is the beginning of the Diwali festival. It is celebrated on the thirteenth day of the dark fortnight of the month of Kartik. On this day, Hindus engage themselves in cleaning the houses and workspaces, decorating them with flowers, and lights, crafting rangoli (beautiful designs on floors curated by rice flour, sand, or colors), and lighting up diyas (earthen lamps with oil). In the evening they worship God Ganesha and Goddess Lakshmi to have their blessings prosper. It is also believed to be an auspicious day to buy utensils, gold, or silver. Many do engage themselves in offering charity to underprivileged persons.
Dhanteras Puja Muhurat – 06:19 PM to 08:23 PM
Pradosh Kaal – 05:59 PM to 08:26 PM
Vrishabha Kaal – 06:19 PM to 08:23 PM
Narak Chaturdashi or Choti Diwali: 12th November, Sunday, 2023
Narak Chaturdashi or Roop Chaturdashi is the main day of Diwali in Southern India. This day is celebrated as the day when Lord Krishna defeated the demon Narakasura. It is the day to mark and let go of all the bad, evil things and look forward to new good things.
Abhyanga Snan – 6:06 AM to 6:34 AM
Diwali – Deepawali – Lakshmi Puja – Kali Puja; 12th November, Sunday, 2023.
It’s the third day of the festival and the most important day. It is also the day of the last lunar month – Amavasya. This is the day to enjoy the festive moments. Visiting relatives & friends, exchanging gifts, lighting up with diyas, and fireworks is the common feature of the day. It is also the day that is celebrated for the return of Lord Rama after the victory against Ravana. Worship is made to Goddess Lakshmi, to get her blessings to prosper in wealth. Kali puja is done to worship the Goddess Kali.
Lakshmi Puja Muhurat: 10:55 PM to 11:47 PM
Pradosh Kaal – 04:54 PM to 07:29 PM
Vrishabh Kaal – 05:05 PM to 07:03 PM
Govardhan Puja: 13th November, Monday, 2023
This is the fourth day of the festival, and also known as Pratipada, Annakut. It is believed that on this day, Lord Krishna lifted up the Govardhan Hill to provide shelter to the villagers from the torrential rain. In many places, hundreds of dishes are prepared with different ingredients and dedicated to Lord Krishna.
Govardhan Puja Pratahkala Muhurat – 05:48 AM to 08:01 AM
Govardhan Puja Sayankala Muhurat – 05:48 AM to 08:01 AM
Bhai Duj: 15th November, Wednesday, 2023.
Bhai Duj or Bhratri Ditwiya or Bhai Phota or Bhai Tilak is the day dedicated to the eternal bonding between brothers and sisters. It is also the last day of the festival. On this day the women of the family gather and perform puja and prayers by giving tika or tilak at their brother’s forehead, and wishing well-being for their brothers. After that, the ritual carries forward by feeding the brothers, and gift exchange.
This ritual relates to the relationship between Yama & Yamuna, where the Yamuna puts tilak on Yama’s forehead.
Bhai Dooj Aparahna time – 1:10 PM to 03:19 PM
Dwitiya Tithi from 14 November 2023 at 02:36 PM to 15 November 2023 at 01:47 PM
Diwali is the best festive season for Businesses in India
As Diwali is the best festival in India, so it also witnesses a huge scale of business during this period. It is considered to be auspicious or good shagun to buy new home utensils, and household decors, furnish the living and working spaces, and buy costly jewelry during this period. Also, the small or cottage industries that manufacture clay diyas, lanterns, several small decors, sweet shops, fruit sellers, and firecracker manufacturer looks for this period of the year to earn the most of their living.
Also, many employers do offer extra payments as a festive bonus, or gifts to the employees. These all create extra income opportunities for everyone. Nowadays, as eCommerce is flourishing, so sales are also increasing. The big bulls of eCommerce like Flipkart and Amazon India also target this period of the year.
During this period, as it’s a festive season, so many do make plans for visiting several places, which actually helps to increase the volume of travel and tourism.
Let’s have a Happy and Safe Diwali 2023
Diwali or Deepavali is the biggest festival in India. Everyone in every part of India celebrates this festival in their own way. Still, in the midst of these festive days, some accidents happen, which are very dangerous and harmful.
As the festivity is with diyas, so many small or big fire accidents happen. Due to the enormous use of firecrackers, accidents happen. The loud sound from the firecrackers and the high volume created by loudspeakers sometimes create problems for the ill or old age persons.
We can actually decrease the number of accidents that happen by taking safety measurements. For this, we just have to be cautious.
It is advised to light up the diyas in a safe place, be cautious while moving around those, enjoy the firecrackers in an open area, and keep a safe distance. Not using high sounded crackers, or not playing high-volume music so that it doesn’t irritate others.
Also, from 2020 – with the effect of Covid-19, the pandemic is not yet over. So, we have to keep the proper safety measurements so that the infection doesn’t get rise.
After all, Diwali is for us all, and all of us have the same privilege to enjoy.
Important dates of Diwali for the coming 5 years:
- 2023 – 12th November, Sunday
- 2024 – 1st November, Friday
- 2025 – 21st October, Tuesday
- 2026 – 8th November, Sunday
- 2027 – 29th October, Friday