Diwali is the most important festival of the year in India — and for Hindus in particular.

It is celebrated across all faiths by more than a billion people in the world’s most populous nation and the diaspora. Over the course of five days, people take part festive gatheringsfireworks, celebrations and prayer.

Diwali is derived from the word ‘Deepavali’ which means ‘a row of lights’. Celebrants light strings of traditional clay oil lamps outside their homes to symbolize the victory of light over darkness and knowledge over ignorance.

When is Diwali?

The dates of the festival are based on the Hindu lunar calendar, which usually falls in late October or early November.

This year, the holiday is celebrated on October 31 and November 1. In the US, Diwali falls on Halloween this year, which has sparked quite a few #Diwaloween memes on social media, where some celebrants can be seen lighting diyas in their. scary costumes or handing out trick-or-treaters laddoos.

What are some Hindu stories about Diwali?

While Diwali is a major religious festival for Hindus, it is also observed by Sikhs, Jains and Buddhists. The origin story of Diwali varies by region. All these stories have one theme – the victory of good over evil.

In South India, Diwali celebrates the victory of Lord Krishna’s destruction of the demon Naraka, who is said to have imprisoned women and tormented his subjects. In northern India, Diwali honors the triumphant return of Lord Rama, his wife Sita, and brother Lakshmana from a 14-year exile in the forest.

How is Diwali celebrated?

The festival brings with it a number of unique traditions that also vary by region. What all holidays have in common are lights, fireworks, celebration, new clothes and prayer.

— In South India, many take a warm oil bath early in the morning to symbolize bathing in the holy Ganges River as a form of physical and spiritual purification.

— In the north, the worship of Goddess Lakshmi, who symbolizes wealth and prosperity, is the norm.

Gambling is a popular tradition because of the belief that whoever gambled on Diwali night would prosper throughout the year. Many people buy gold on the first day of Diwali, known as Dhanteras – an act they believe will bring them good luck.

Lighting firecrackers is a cherished tradition, as is the exchange of sweets and gifts between friends and family. Diwali celebrations usually feature rangoli, which are geometric, floral patterns drawn on the floor using colored powders. This year, several northern Indian states, including the capital New Delhi, are imposing partial or total bans on fireworks to combat rising pollution levels during Diwali.

What are the Diwali stories from other faiths?

Buddhists, Jains and Sikhs have their own Diwali stories:

—Jains observe Diwali as the day when Lord Mahavira, the last of the great teachers, attained nirvana, which is liberation from the cycle of birth, death and rebirth.

— Sikhs celebrate Bandi Chhor Divas – a day that overlaps with Diwali – to commemorate the release of Guru Hargobind, a revered figure in the faith, who had been imprisoned for 12 years by the Mughal emperor Jahangir.

—Buddhists consider the day when the Hindu emperor Ashoka, who ruled in the third century BC, converted to Buddhism.

New in 2024: Diwali Barbie

This year, Mattel launched the ‘Barbie Signature Diwali Doll’, created by designer Anita Dongre, who wrote on Instagram that her Barbie represents “modern modern women who wear India on their sleeve with pride”.

Unlike her first iteration in 1996, who was dressed in a bright pink sari, or her 2012 avatar who was bundled with a “monkey friend,” Diwali Barbie is fashionably dressed in a lehnga, an embroidered skirt up to ankles, with motifs from Dongre’s home state. from Rajasthan, a cropped blouse and waistcoat.

This doll, priced at $40, sold out in the first day on Mattel’s website.

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