MAIN Holidays & Observances Diwali - Festival of Lights

Diwali or Deepavali is often called the Festival of Lights, because the name translates as row of lights — but mainly because of the lights and candles which have become such a symbolic part of this festival.

Modern celebrations often feature the glow of fireworks, as well!

Diwali is a five day feast that combines the festivities of the Western holidays of Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year, so you can imagine the importance it holds throughout India and other countries with large Hindu populations.

Families gather to celebrate and offer prayers together. Business and personal accounts cleared, and ways of being a better person in the new year are planned. New clothes are often bought, and gifts are exchanged. It's time to celebrate!

When is Diwali this year? Diwali is celebrated 20 days after Dussera, on Amavasya, the 15th day of the dark fortnight of the Hindu month of Ashwin (Aasho). On the Western calendar, that is Tuesday, November 13, 2012.

Diwali gift ideas

This being the Festival of Lights, decorative candles are a popular Diwali gift, as are good luck charms.

Statues of pendants of Goddess Laxmi and Lord Ganesh, - the bestowers of prosperity and wealth, peace and prosperity - are also given as gifts during the 5-day celebration.

Perhaps best of all, the bonds of love are sweetened during the Diwali festival with homemade trays of sweets, boxes of 'designer' chocolate, or special gift hampers of holiday goodies.

Aartii lakshmii jii kii, Jo koii nara gaataa
Ura aananda umanga ati, Paapa utara jaataa

Whosoever hymns this prayer to Lakshmi is purged
of his sins and experiences the ecstasy of joy

More about Diwali around the Web:

Diwali Festival - Excellent presentation on the Festival of Lights in India and around the world, including the five days of Diwali and related history, customs and traditions, recipes for Gujia, Malpua and more, with related resources.

Diwalimela - Very nice sections cover the history of the Diwali feast, recipes, customs and traditions and worldwide celebrations. There are links to other India related sites, a Diwali screensaver and Diwali wallpaper for your computer desktop. One section has five pages of Diwali e-cards for you to choose from. The store offers gift suggestions, candles, diyas, sarees and more...

Diwali Greeting Cards - The big collection of greetings to send online with galleries of sparkling fireworks, virtual Aarti, religious blessings, and cards for friends, family or business associates, from 123Greetings.com.

Diwali - Great overview of the holiday as it is celebrated in the UK and throughout Asia, with photographs, history, legends and customs, from BBC Religion & Ethics web.

Manas Festivals - This site is an excellent resource for learning about India. The sections on culture and the arts are very well done and many festivals are covered. The article on Diwali explores the history, traditions and current social culture that makes this holiday so important.

India Nest Festivals of India - Choose from several engaging and well-written story articles on Diwali including details on light ceremonies, celebrations for each day, and the festival's significance to the Sikh and Pushti sects.

• Diwali Recipes:
  
  Black Bean Curry
  
  Rava Laddoo (Diwali Mithai)
  
  Lapsee

Words that may not be familiar on these sites:

Aarti are hymns or prayers.

Diya are candles or lamps made in a clay pot.

Mithai are sweets often exchanged as gifts during the Diwali festival.

Naivedya are foods offered to the Gods.

Rangoli are designs painted on the floor to welcome everyone.

Thalis are trays to serve sweets and also to set the naivedya on to present to the Gods.

Tikka is celebrated the day after Diwali. Sisters prepare a tikka paste made from rice flour and saffron paste to place on the forehead of their brothers as a protection from harm.

also see -> Holi | Janmashtami | Makar Sankranti

Rakhi | World Friendship Day | India Independence Day

also see in Religion -> Hinduism