Sajjad Hussain/AFP via Getty Images Find Fairs & Festivals in Delaware | FestivalNet Diwali is also celebrated to welcome the goddess of wealth, Lakshmi, into the homes of people. Get a Britannica Premium subscription and gain access to exclusive content. Laborers transport an idol of the Hindu goddess Kali to a place of worship on the eve of Diwali at Kumortuli, the traditional potters' quarter in northern Kolkata, on Wednesday. Diwali hide caption. iew. Bring a picnic blanket or chair to set up on the green, walk the historic streets, enjoy a savory dinner from Governors Cafe, and the list goes on! The five-day festival celebrates the victory of light over darkness. Homes are decorated, and floors inside and out are covered with rangoli, consisting of elaborate designs made of colouredrice, sand, or flower petals. What is it all about? In Jainism, Diwali is celebrated as an event of Lord Mahavira attaining the nirvana, an eternal bliss. All the information provided above is from American Pyro Association. Updates? This year, however, the festival was celebrated several weeks earlier than usual - in October rather than early November - so the weather was not as cold as it would be normally. This article was most recently revised and updated by, https://www.britannica.com/topic/Diwali-Hindu-festival, Ancient Origins - The Diwali Festival of Lights: A Celebration of Freedom and Good Triumphing over Evil, Diwali - Children's Encyclopedia (Ages 8-11), Diwali - Student Encyclopedia (Ages 11 and up). AEST = Australian Eastern Standard Time which is 10 hours ahead of GMT (Greenwich Mean Time), abc.net.au/news/when-is-diwali-how-to-celebrate-festival-of-lights/100580946, Get breaking news alerts directly to your phone with our app, Help keep family & friends informed by sharing this article, Jock Zonfrillo, judge on MasterChef Australia, dies aged 46, MasterChef judge Jock Zonfrillo dies, aged 46, How Australia was left with only one deployable submarine, Lauren Cranston jailed for eight years over one of Australia's biggest tax frauds, 'They will forever know their dad was a hero': 1,000 mourners farewell slain NSW paramedic, Nurse driving home from shift among victims of triple-fatal crash involving allegedly stolen car, There are 11 First Nations MPs and senators. Diwali, or Deepawali, gets its name from the Sanskrit word deepavali, which means "row of clay lamps." Old Dover Independence Day Fireworks have been banned by several states - but people continue to use them on Diwali, Pollution levels in Delhi began rising in the second week of October, View of Delhi's iconic Red Fort with heavy smog and foggy weather last year. fireworks The fourth day, known as GoverdhanPuja,Balipratipada,or Annakut, commemorating Krishnas defeat of Indra, the king of the gods, is also the first day of Karttika and the start of the new year in the Vikrama (Hindu) calendar. Separate versions of this story appeared on the Morning Edition live blog.
