What is Diwali, the Festival of Lights? How is it celebrated in India and the diaspora?

Diwali is nan astir important festival of nan twelvemonth successful India — and for Hindus successful particular.

It is celebrated crossed faiths by much than a cardinal group successful nan world’s astir populous federation and nan diaspora. Over 5 days, group return portion successful festive gatherings, fireworks displays, feasts and prayer.

Diwali is derived from nan connection “Deepavali,” which intends “a statement of lights.” Celebrants ray rows of accepted clay lipid lamps extracurricular their homes to symbolize nan triumph of ray complete acheronian and knowledge complete ignorance.

When is Diwali?

The dates of nan show are based connected nan Hindu lunar calendar, typically falling successful precocious October aliases early November.

This year, nan vacation is being celebrated connected Oct. 31 and Nov. 1. In nan U.S., Diwali falls connected Halloween this year, which has triggered rather a fewer #Diwaloween memes connected societal media wherever immoderate celebrants tin beryllium seen lighting diyas successful their scary costumes aliases handing retired laddoos to trick-or-treaters.

What are immoderate Hindu stories of Diwali?

While Diwali is simply a awesome belief show for Hindus, it is besides observed by Sikhs, Jains and Buddhists. The root communicative of Diwali varies depending connected nan region. All these stories person 1 underlying taxable — nan triumph of bully complete evil.

In confederate India, Diwali celebrates nan triumph of Lord Krishna’s demolition of nan demon Naraka who is said to person imprisoned women and tormented his subjects. In bluish India, Diwali honors nan triumphant return of Lord Rama, his woman Sita, and relative Lakshmana, from a 14-year exile successful nan forest.

How is Diwali celebrated?

The show brings pinch it a number of unsocial traditions, which besides alteration by nan region. What each celebrations person successful communal are nan lights, fireworks, feasting, caller apparel and praying.

—In confederate India, galore person an early greeting lukewarm lipid bath to symbolize bathing successful nan beatified River Ganges arsenic a shape of beingness and belief purification.

—In nan north, worshipping nan Goddess Lakshmi, who symbolizes wealthiness and prosperity, is nan norm.

Gambling is simply a celebrated contented because of nan belief whoever gambled connected Diwali nighttime would prosper passim nan year. Many group bargain golden connected nan first time of Diwali, known arsenic Dhanteras — an enactment they judge will bring them bully luck.

Setting disconnected firecrackers is simply a cherished tradition, arsenic is exchanging sweets and gifts among friends and family. Diwali celebrations typically characteristic rangoli, which are geometric, floral patterns drawn connected nan level utilizing colorful powders. This year, respective bluish Indian states, including nan superior New Delhi, are instituting partial aliases full fireworks bans to combat rising contamination levels during Diwali.

What are nan Diwali stories from different faiths?

Buddhists, Jains and Sikhs person their ain Diwali stories:

—Jains observe Diwali arsenic nan time nan Lord Mahavira, nan past of nan awesome teachers, attained nirvana, which is liberation from nan rhythm of birth, decease and rebirth.

—Sikhs observe Bandi Chhor Divas — a time that overlaps pinch Diwali — to commemorate nan merchandise of Guru Hargobind, a revered fig successful nan faith, who had been imprisoned for 12 years by nan Mughal emperor Jahangir.

—Buddhists observe nan time arsenic 1 erstwhile nan Hindu Emperor Ashoka, who ruled successful nan 3rd period B.C., converted to Buddhism.

New successful 2024: Diwali Barbie

This year, Mattel has released its “Barbie Signature Diwali Doll” by designer Anita Dongre who wrote connected Instagram that her Barbie represents “the fashion-forward modern women who wears India connected her sleeve pinch pride.”

In opposition to her earliest loop successful 1996 who was clad successful a agleam pinkish sari aliases nan 2012 avatar who was packaged pinch a “monkey friend,” Diwali Barbie is fashionably dressed successful a lehnga, an ankle magnitude embroidered skirt pinch motifs from Dongre’s location authorities of Rajasthan, a cropped blouse and vest.

This doll, priced astatine $40, sold retired connected time 1 connected Mattel’s website.

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Associated Press belief sum receives support done nan AP’s collaboration pinch The Conversation US, pinch backing from Lilly Endowment Inc. The AP is solely responsible for this content.