Happy Diwali 2024: Date, History, Significance, Religious Values, Celebration, Traditions

 “DIWALI’’ a five-day-long festival celebrated on the 15th of Karthik( a Bengali month) in autumn which is around mid-October -mid-November is most probably the biggest festival among the Hindus. HAPPY DIWALI 2024 bears a great religious value and now it’s become more of a tradition. The word Diwali has come from the Sanskrit word, which means row of lights. 

On Diwali among the houses, lots of Dias or lights are lit as a symbol of victory of ‘Good’ over the ‘Evil’, establishing light over the dark and truth over the lies and unjust. ‘Diwali’ has many myths and legends in mythological terms. 

Happy Diwali 2024 Celebration Dates

According to mythical and religious significance, the festival Diwali is celebrated in autumn, every year on the 15th of Karthik (Bengali month) which is this year on November 4. It’s a five-day-long celebration and celebrated accordingly and chronologically. These five days have five different values and traditions.

 History, Origin, and Significance of Diwali

The five-day-long festival Diwali has great religious and traditional values. It is called the festival of lights because the lights lit on this day symbolize the victory of lights over darkness, truth over lies, and good over evil. 

As the myths and legends suggest, the origin of Diwali is basically the celebration of Lord Krishna’s victory over Narakasur, one of the most powerful demons in Hindu myths. This Demon or asur had a great army of witches. Besides, this festival is also celebrated on some other mythological terms in different casts among the Hindus.

 Among the west Bengal Hindus, this day is celebrated worshipping the goddess KALI.

 ‘Again in some regions, this day is celebrated to remember the marriage of the Lord Vishnu and goddess Laxmi.’

‘On this day, Lord Ganesha is also worshipped as the symbol of wisdom.’

‘On this day Lord Ram returned home after a long exile of 14 years having a victory over the Ravan. On his return to home, the people of Ayodhya lit rows of lights or Diyas(clay pot lights) the myth suggests’’

The lights lit everywhere signify the removal of darkness and the establishment of truth and lights. People having beliefs in this festival pray altogether, lighting up their houses and temples spreading love and purity. 

The Five-day chronology & their Traditional Values

Diwali is celebrated over a 5 day period. Here the five days have five different significance and values. The celebration starts with the day Dhanteras and ends with the Bhai-Dooj that is on the last day of the festival. 

The first day of Dhanteras is considered auspicious to make new investments. this year this day was dated November 2. Goddess Laxmi is worshipped. The second day is also known as Narak Chaturdashi. Which was dated November 3. The 3rd day is Lakhsmi puja which is dated November 4. Which is also the main festival day among the five days. People worship the goddess Laxmi. The 4th and 5th day bears the significance of Govardhan Puja and Bhai Dooj accordingly dated on 5 and 6 of November. 

The day is basically celebrated in India. Due to various casts and diversity among the people of India this festival is celebrated in different terms and traditional values.

The Celebration Of Diwali- Decorating Homes, Foods and Customs

The festival Diwali is one of the biggest and glorious festivals among Hindus. Having the largest population of this belief Diwali in India is celebrated remarkably and iconically. Besides this, in North America, the day is celebrated as a tradition in the theme of Indian celebration. 

The main theme of the Diwali celebration is lighting up the houses with arrays of lights and keeping them bright and cheerful. Many worshippings are held. Homes are decorated with diyas and rangoli. Rangoli is a special kind of artwork made with colors. 

As Diwali is celebrated on the darkest day of the month which is on the new moon, the main focus is to light up every surrounding with every kind of light such as diyas, candles, lanterns, and so on.

There is also a tradition to arrange delicious feasts and prepare sweets of various varieties. There is a tradition of distributing foods, especially sweets among relatives and neighbors, inviting them to their own houses and celebrating it together.

 As the myths and legends show various reasons for the festival’s origin the celebration also varies from cast to cast.

 Another main theme of the Diwali celebration is getting together with the family and spending good days with them. They meet with their families, stay with them, wear new dresses and spend some better moments along with the family members. 

India is the main origin of the festival Diwali. The people all over the country celebrate the day with great joy following the rituals, customs, and traditions. This day also teaches us lessons according to the history and myths regarding the Happy Diwali 2024 festival.