993986490

Photo by: Umang Gajjar

Umang Gajjar

Celebrating Diwali Traditions

By: Lucy Sherriff

Diwali is a Hindu festival that occurs every year in autumn during the month of Kartik - which to us Westerners corresponds to mid-October to mid-November.

November 04, 2021

The exact dates of Diwali change every year, as it takes place on the darkest day of the lunar month, the day of the new moon.

This year, Diwali starts on Thursday, November 4, and lasts for five days, with celebrations peaking on the third day.

Known as the ‘festival of lights,’ Diwali – also called Divali or Deepavali – celebrates the triumph of light over dark and good over evil. The name comes from the Sanskrit word ‘dipavali’, which means row of lights. Many traditions are observed over Diwali, which is celebrated throughout India, Singapore, Nepal, Malaysia, and Sri Lanka to name a few, as well as in other places in the world where there are large Hindu, Sikh, and Jains communities.

Diwali,or Deepawali, is major Indian and Nepalese festive holiday, and a significant festival in Hinduism and some of the other faiths which originated in India.

1264614516

Diwali,or Deepawali, is major Indian and Nepalese festive holiday, and a significant festival in Hinduism and some of the other faiths which originated in India.

Photo by: Subir Basak

Subir Basak

Numerous traditions revolve around family and the lighting of candles and lanterns – which signify bringing light into the world and warding off evil spirits.

Here are just a few of them…

Photo Taken In Chennai, India

1127764448

Chennai, India

Photo by: Karthikeyan Gnanaprakasam / EyeEm

Karthikeyan Gnanaprakasam / EyeEm

Chennai, India

Rangoli

On the first day of Diwali in India, families clean their homes and create intricate patterns on the floor of their houses or on tabletops, using rice, sand, powdered limestone, colored rocks, or flowers. It’s a time-consuming practice and represents the happiness, positivity, and liveliness of a household. Hindus also use it to welcome Lakshmi, the goddess of wealth and good luck. It’s derived from the Sanskrit word ‘rangavalli’ which means color.

Diwali festive preparations with a plate of sweets ,diyas,money,kumkum and haldi.

480651247

Diwali festive preparations with a plate of sweets– diyas, money, kumkum, and haldi.

Photo by: © Manogna Reddy

© Manogna Reddy

Diwali festive preparations with a plate of sweets– diyas, money, kumkum, and haldi.

Sweets

On the second day of Diwali, the focus is on preparing or buying food specially for the occasion, particularly a type of sweet called mithai. Many people visit their family and friends and take sweets with them as gifts. They’re considered ‘sweet meats’ and often use nuts or vegetables as a base, condensed down with sugar and sometimes milk. They’re served alongside a cup of masala chai tea as a snack, or as part of a meal. Some of the more common mathai include halwa, the name for a number of desserts made with anything from carrots - gajar ka halwa – and semolina – sooji ka halwa. They have a chewy texture and are most often made with ghee, water, sugar, spices, and occasionally milk. Laddoo is another sweet, fashioned into a spherical shape and is a tiny deep-fried ball of gram flour that is rolled in seeds, nuts, and spices, and then soaked in a sweet syrup. Gulab Jamun is another favorite, made from khoya – milk solids heated and thickened until they reach a soft, dough-like consistency – and then slowly deep-fried in ghee or oil, and finally soaked in a rose, cardamom, or saffron syrup. Delicious!

Decorated Diwali lights with colorful diya oil lamp with blue bokeh background.

1279014793

Decorated Diwali lights with a colorful Diya oil lamp.

Photo by: jayk7

jayk7

Decorated Diwali lights with a colorful Diya oil lamp.

Lights

Lights, of course, are the main event. On the third day (or the second day if you’re in southern India), families gather and celebrate by lighting lanterns and candles in their homes at the entrances and out on the streets. Fireworks are set off, sparklers lit, and Diyas, which is an oil lamp made from clay with a cotton wick dipped in ghee or vegetable oil, is used. A Diya will be lit every morning and every evening, and while lighting a Diya, some chant a prayer, the Shubham Karoti Kalyanam, which acknowledges the lamp brings auspiciousness, prosperity, good health, and abundance of money and wealth, as well as asking the light to absolve sins.

Next Up

The Romantic, Heartbreaking Love Story Behind the Taj Mahal

Ivory white columns rise from the earth, framing the central masterpiece: an intricately carved marble domed structure stood on a square plinth, resplendent with arched doorways, and topped by a bronze moon that reaches for the sky.

Meet the Ancient Egyptian Gods Who Empower DC Comic's Black Adam

Get to know the six ancient Egyptian gods behind the latest DC Comics film Black Adam, starring Dwayne 'The Rock' Johnson, in theaters starting October 21.

4 Wonders of the Philippines

The Philippines is an island country in Southeast Asia, consisting of over 7,000 islands and islets. From rolling chocolate hills to caves and beaches for exploration, the Philippines has many places to explore and learn about!

Giant’s Causeway: The Fascinating Legend Behind Ireland’s Most Famous Landmark

The Giant’s Causeway is known around the world for its beautiful interlocking basalt columns – over 40,000 of them in fact – which look out towards the stormy, gray North Channel.

A Canadian Teen Once Discovered an Ancient Temple – Using Google Maps

Most teenagers while away hours playing video games, scrolling TikTok, or texting friends. Not William Gadoury, a 14-year-old from Saint-Jean-de-Matha, Quebec. Back in 2016, Gadoury was holed up in his bedroom, plotting ancient Mayan constellations against modern satellite images and coordinates.

Panama has Hundreds of Islands, Each More Beautiful than the Last

Panama is often overlooked for its more famous neighbors Colombia and Costa Rica, who are renowned worldwide for their biodiversity, colorful cultures, and jaw-dropping scenery. But Panama, which links Central and South America, has a few of its own gems to offer – including the 1,400-plus islands that dot its coast.

What's Inside the Secret Chambers in the Pyramids of Giza

A powerful new cosmic ray scan of the Great Pyramid of Giza could finally reveal what’s inside two voids in the structure that have baffled scientists for years.

Discover this Quaint Gem on the English Coast

Tucked in the corner of the southwest of rugged England, lies one of the country’s most-loved gems – Cornwall. The county forms a peninsula fringed with golden sandy beaches, lined with towering cliffs, and dotted with picturesque fishing villages that harken back to days gone by.

A Majestic City Carved into Rock, Thousands of Years Ago

Carved into soft stone cliffs, the ancient sandstone city of Petra was built in the 3rd century BC by the Nabataeans. These people were a nomadic Arab tribe–Bedouins–who roamed the Arabian Desert in search of pasture and water for their herds.

Explore the California Redwoods

Coastal redwoods are a type of evergreen tree that can live to be more than 2,000 years old. They are the tallest trees on Earth, with some reaching more than 250 feet tall. Redwoods provide habitats for many forest creatures and pull more carbon out of the air than any other tree species. Where can you find these magnificent perennial plants?