Diwali, also known as Deepvali, is the Hindu festival of lights. Celebrated by Hindus, Sikhs and Jains, Diwali marks a major moment in the calendar, with festival celebrations lasting five days. It’s a festival of new beginnings and celebrating the triumph of good over evil and light over darkness, often coinciding with harvest celebrations.
But how is the festival celebrated and what is the meaning behind it? Well, we’ve got all the answers you need right here! Our ultimate guide to Diwali covers everything you need to know, including how you can get involved in the celebrations yourself.
What Is The Meaning of Diwali?
The name Diwali derives from the Sanskrit word dipavali which means ‘row of lights’. There are many interpretations of the history and background of Diwali, with the most common being the story of Lord Rama. In Hindu mythology, Diwali marks the day that Lord Rama, his wife Sita Devi and his brother Lakshmana returned home following 14 years of exile. After Rama defeated the demon king Ravana, the villagers celebrated his return by lighting diyas to welcome him home.
Diwali then became known as a celebration of light, new beginnings and making a fresh start. Many consider it the start of their new year and begin making plans for a new start, in the same way that people make new year’s resolutions.
Why Is Diwali Celebrated?
Not only is Diwali celebrated to mark the return of Lord Rama and new beginnings but the festival also honours Lakshmi, the goddess of wealth. For many, the holiday of Diwali is a tribute to Lakshmi.
During Diwali, lamps are lit and windows and doors are left open to help Lakshmi find her way into people’s homes. Many Hindus believe that by worshipping Lakshmi, they will be blessed with fortune and success.
How Is Diwali Celebrated?
As mentioned, Diwali is a five day festival of celebrations with different events and activities happening on each day.
Day One - Dhanteras
The first day, known as the Day of Fortune, is all about good luck, wealth and valuables. On this day, people thoroughly clean their family homes and create colourful and intricate Rangoli patterns on their doorstep using flowers, rocks or coloured sand.
Day Two - Naraka Chaturdashi
Day two, also known as Choti Diwali, focuses on the triumph of good over evil. During the evening, houses are lit with oil lamps and in some areas, effigies of evil are made and burnt.
Day Three - Diwali
Day three, the most important day of the festival! Also known as Lakshmi Puja, on this day people light diyas (oil lamps) and enjoy huge firework displays. It is on this day that people leave their doors and windows open for the goddess Lakshmi to enter their homes.
Day Four - Govardhan Pujan or Bali Pratipada
The fourth day of the festival involves visiting friends and family as well as symbolising the love between husband and wife. The day generally consists of families dressing up in new clothes and jewellery and visiting each other to bring gifts and sweets.
Day Five - Bhai Dooj
The fifth and final day of Diwali celebrates the bond between siblings. It’s tradition on this day for brothers to visit their sisters’ homes with gifts. In return, the sisters often prepare a feast and pray for the protection and wellbeing of their brothers’.
When Is Diwali 2024?
According to the Hindu calendar, Diwali always falls on Amavasya, the 15th day of the month of Kartik. Usually, this is between late October and early November.
In 2024, the main day of Diwali will fall on 1st November.
Can I Celebrate Diwali?
Yes, anyone can celebrate Diwali! There are many ways to get involved in the festival and mark the occasion. This could involve setting up a fireworks display in your garden at home, exchanging gifts with your family and friends or decorating your house with lights and candles.
Or, if you fancy getting creative, you can create your own Rangoli patterns using vibrant colours and intricate designs. The best way to do this? With our at home Rangoli kits of course! We’ve developed these kits to let everybody try out Rangoli and enjoy creating their own fun and colourful patterns. Our kits consist of seven vibrant bottles of coloured sand and are ideal to create Rangoli patterns at home, in schools or even outside on the pavement as they are traditionally done.
We’ve designed our kits with ease in mind as all colours come in easy to use squeezy bottles to give you complete control over your design. There’s no need to worry about running out either as we’ve got plenty of refills available to ensure you can create as many designs as possible! And if you want to take your Rangoli art to the next level, why not consider our scented Rangoli Ylang Ylang marble dust? Ylang ylang is an essential oil known for alleviating anxiety and helping to calm the mind, making it the perfect addition to your Rangoli activities.
Celebrate Diwali and get started with your Rangoli art with Ministry of Colours. Whether you’re a seasoned artist or a beginner, we provide all of the tools you need to create stunning Rangoli masterpieces. If you have any questions about our Rangoli kits and would like to know more about them, please get in touch with a member of our team. We’d love to help you unleash your creativity!
