Diwali 2022: The Significance Of Diwali And How It¡¯s Celebrated Across India - All You Need To Know

In India, Diwali, also called the festival of lights, is one of the major festivals. It symbolises the triumph of good over evil. Hindus celebrate by exchanging gifts, sharing feasts, and offering prayers to goddess Lakshmi, the goddess of fertility and prosperity.

The festival of Diwali is celebrated across the country as well as outside India by people of different religions such as Sikhs, Hindus, Jains and Buddhists, and each religion celebrates Diwali or Deepawali for different reasons, marking it differently. Here are the details of why Diwali is popular.

Significance of Diwali

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Not many know that there are also some other different festivals in different religions that are celebrated on the same day in India. Yes, you read that right. Not just Hindus, Sikhs, Jains and some Newar Buddhists also celebrate their religious festivals on the same day as Diwali.

Significance of Diwali in Hinduism

Diwali is the biggest festival for Hindus around the world. On this day, people light lamps and burst firecrackers, and exchange greetings and sweets among friends and family.

This year, Diwali falls on Monday, October 24, 2022. It is believed that on this day Lord Ram and his wife, Sita, and his brother Lakshman returned to their home in Ayodhya after fourteen years of exile. To celebrate their homecoming, all the residents of Ayodhya welcomed them by lighting a lamp in their homes.

The annual ¡®Deep Utsav¡¯ was celebrated as part of the Diwali festivity | Photo: BCCL

Since then, Diwali started being celebrated with great pomp across the country. Diwali symbolises positivity and joy. Before the arrival of Diwali, people clean their homes, buy new clothes, jewellery and make Rangoli, and light lamps in different places. Goddess Lakshmi, Maa Saraswati, and Lord Ganesha are worshipped on this day and people meet each other and feed each other sweets.

Significance of Diwali in Sikhism

Diwali is the most important and auspicious festival among Hindus that is celebrated with great enthusiasm by them but did you know that while Sikhs do not celebrate this festival, the day is a big day of celebration for them as they celebrate Bandi Chhor Divas? On the occasion, Sikhs follow the same rituals as Hindus, light up diyas at home, burst firecrackers, and illuminate gurudwaras.

In the 17th century, Mughal Emperor Jahangir imprisoned the sixth guru Hargobindji at Gwalior fort jail on the pretext that the fine imposed on his father had not been paid. In the same jail, there were several other noblemen and kings held in prison for political reasons.

Sikh devotees light candles on the occasion of Bandi Chhor Divas | Photo: BCCL

When Jahangir ordered to released of Guru Hargobindji, he refused to leave and demanded the release of the other 52 kings who were wrongfully imprisoned like him.

Jahangir agreed but set a condition that as many prisoners could hold the cloak of Guru Hargobindji can be walked out of jail. Then Guru asked his tailor to make one with 52 tails attached to it and was soon delivered. When Guru started walking out of jail all 52 prisoners held each tail of a special cloak. After being released from prison Guru reached the most important pilgrimage site, Golden Temple (Sri Harmandir Sahib) where everyone welcomed Guru by lighting diyas and candles on the day of Diwali.

Since then, Guru Hargobindji's and the other 52 prisoners' day of freedom is celebrated as Bandi Chhor Diwas meaning prisoner release day. There is a Sikh Gurdwara, where the Guru was imprisoned called Gurdwara Data Bandi Chor Sahib at Gwalior, where huge celebrations take place with the lighting of earthen lamps and candles and some attractive fireworks and displays.

Significance of Diwali in Jainism

Jains celebrate Diwali as a day to honour the Nirvana or moksha of their 24th Tirthankara, Lord Mahavira who encouraged people to overcome superstition and blind faith. The day also marks the beginning of a new year for Jains. In Jain Dharma, the celebration of Diwali is dedicated to Tirthankar Mahavira¡¯s contributions to humankind; it commemorates Mahavira¡¯s attainment of moksha or salvation in Bihar¡¯s Pavapuri!

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Diwali was once referred to as Dipalika or splendour of lamps in Jainism, written by Acharya Jinasena in Harivamsha Purana. In his words, The Tirthankars illuminated Pavanagari with lamps to mark the occasion. Since then, Diwali, the day when Mahavira attained nirvana, is celebrated with lamps.

Mahavira was also known as Jinendra. The celebration of Diwali in Jainism is totally different because they do not believe in bursting firecrackers as they cause noise and environmental pollution, and instead celebrated with austerity, simplicity, calmness, charity and philanthropy. Their temples are decorated with lights, and sweets and diyas are distributed. The lamps denote knowledge or removal of ignorance.

Significance of Diwali in Newar Buddhists

A buddhist boy lit up diyas in front of lord Buddha's statue | Photo: Pixabay

Buddhists especially Newar Buddhists dedicated the day of Diwali to their Emperor Ashoka who decided to follow a path of peace and enlightenment and converted to Buddhism after winning the Kalinga war. On this day, Buddhists decorate their monasteries and temples and Buddha is worshipped.

Diwali or Deepawali Holiday 2022:

All the government and private sector Banks, Schools, and Government Offices across the country will be closed on Monday, 24 October 2022. Diwali or Deepawali will be celebrated with great pomp in states like - Delhi, Haryana, Karnataka, Maharashtra, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, Andhra Pradesh, Goa, Kerala, Punjab, Telangana, and Tamil Nadu.

Five Days Of Diwali 2022:

List of Other Major Festivals and Holidays in October 2022

Diwali dates from 2023 to 2028

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