Diwali 'Festival of Lights' Celebrations on October 28th

by Jarrett Martineau | October 28, 2008 at 04:23 am

4098 views | 12 Recommendations | 35 comments

One of India's major holidays, the 'Festival of Lights' known as Diwali (or Deepavali) is being celebrated on October 28, 2008.

The festival is an important symbolic 'renewal of life' that is celebrated by Hindu, Sikh, Buddhist and Jain communities around the world.

In India, Diwali is a national holiday whose "aesthetic aspect...is enjoyed by most Indians regardless of faith".

Happy Diwali to everyone!

What are you doing to celebrate Diwali in your community? Please share your comments, photos, and videos by posting them to this story.

Diwali is perhaps the most well-known of the Indian festivals. It is a five day celebration which occurs on the fifteenth day of the Hindu month of Kartika (during October/November in the Gregorian calendar). The word Diwali means "rows of lighted lamps" and the celebration is often referred to as the Festival of Lights because of the common practice of lighting small oil lamps (called diyas) and placing them around the home, in courtyards and in gardens, as well as on roof-tops and outer walls.

Everywhere that it is celebrated, Diwali signifies the renewal of life, and accordingly it is common to wear new clothes on the day of the festival. It also heralds the approach of winter and the beginning of the sowing season.

Diwali is also a Sikh festival. It particular it celebrates the release from prison of the sixth guru, Hargobind, in 1619. Sikhs had celebrated Diwali for many years before that and the foundation stone of the Golden Temple at Amritsar, the holiest place in the Sikh world, was laid on Diwali in 1577. For Jains, Diwali marks the attainment of Moksha (Nirvana, or eternal bliss) by the founder of Jainism, Lord Mahavira.

NowPublic member Rumana Husain has shared her experience of Diwali in Karachi:

The place resounded with the sound of devotional songs, temple bells and loud firecrackers. All around, there was illumination. I attended the Diwali celebrations at the Swaminarayan temple a short while ago. It is located in the heart of Karachi's old city area, on M. A. Jinnah Road, across the imposing colonial Municipal Corporation building.

Read the rest of her article here: Diwali in Karachi.

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shivaranjan18

at 13:23 on October 27th, 2008

Diwali as celebrated in South India.

In south India, this is the actual day of festivities. Hindus wake up way before dawn as early as 2:00 in the morning, have a fragrant oil bath and wear new clothes. They light small lamps all around the house and draw elaborate kolams /rangolis outside their homes. They perform a special puja with offerings to Lord Sri Krishna or Lord Sri Vishnu, as he liberated the world from the demon Narakasura on this day. It is believed that taking a bath before sunrise, when the stars are still visible in the sky is equivalent to taking a bath in the holy Ganges. Hence, when people greet each other in the morning, they ask "Have you performed your Ganga Snaanam?".

After the puja, children burst firecrackers heralding the defeat of the demon. As this is a day of rejoicing, many will have very elaborate breakfasts and lunches and meet family and friends. In the evening, lamps are again lit and Goddess Lakshmi is worshipped and offered special dishes. This being a no moon day, many will offer special tarpana (offerings of water and sesame seeds) to their ancestors. This day is also called as Roop Chaturdashi

Source: Wiki

TwoCircles.net

at 13:29 on October 27th, 2008

Muslim girls in hijaab in colors of India's flag; on the occasion of Diwali and India's first mission to moon, in Ahmedabad, Gujarat.

TwoCircles.net has contributed a photo to this story.

bombayduckling

at 13:35 on October 27th, 2008

Colourful lanterns for sale in the city of Mumbai, India. Diwali, the festival of lights is probably the most popular festival in India. Hindus believe that Laxmi, the goddess of wealth, visits people's homes during this festival and so they light up their homes with oil-lamps and lanterns to help get find her way.

bombayduckling has contributed a photo to this story.

oochappan

at 14:54 on October 27th, 2008

Diwali, known as Deepavali, in South India is celebrated a day before the Diwali day in North India. The difference of dates is primarily due to the variations in the regional calendars. In 2008, the date of Deepavali in Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Kerala and in some parts of Andhra Pradesh is on October 27. In North India, Diwali is on October 28.

Source: Hindu Blog

arunakumar

at 14:57 on October 27th, 2008

I always loved Diwali. Deepavali or Diwali (Markiscarali) is a major Indian festival celebrated across the globe by people of Indian origin (of many religions including Hindus) as the "Festival of Lights" where the lights or lamps signify victory of good over the evil. Fireworks and sweets are always associated with this festival. The day is celebrated with people lighting diyas (candles) all around their house and children wearing new cloths. Lakshmi Puja is performed in the evening to seek divine blessings of Goddess of Wealth. Diwali gifts are exchanged among all near and dear ones.

To my Indian friends, a very happy Diwali celebration to you and your family and friends.

I captured above photograph at my In-laws home during our recent family trip to India. Even though it was not Diwali on that day, my daughter's first visit to India is more than Diwali for her grandfather. Thanks to him for bringing fireworks and giving such a good memory to his granddaughter. This particular firecracker is called "bhoochakram" when lit it goes 360° on the ground spraying beautiful light around it. I had hard time keeping track of this moving object and shooting in low(no) light.
For more of my photographs visit: http://flickr.com/photos/pamulapati/

arunakumar has contributed a photo to this story.

dshingadia

at 16:05 on October 27th, 2008

Candles in the Kitchen, this is one example of how Diwali is recognised and celebrated within most UK homes.

dshingadia has contributed a photo to this story.

Ajay Patil

at 18:02 on October 27th, 2008

Ajay Patil has contributed a photo to this story.

crashenburne

at 19:13 on October 27th, 2008

One of my most anticipated festival here in Singapore.

Lights everywhere...

crashenburne has contributed a photo to this story.

vickyguy

at 20:20 on October 27th, 2008

vickyguy has contributed a photo to this story.

vickyguy

at 20:31 on October 27th, 2008

Diwali @ deepavali is also known as festive of lights where the hindus will lit up oil lamp/lantern at home or at the corridor to welcome the diwali day with brightness. but people nowdays, they rather use the modern electrical lamp to substitute the oil lamp. This picture is taken to remind all that, no matter how advance the technology is, to recall those nostalgic moment and give a classic touch to the culture, we shall preserve some of the tradition and ritual to make it special.

vickyguy has contributed a photo to this story.

Bombayite

at 20:57 on October 27th, 2008

The making of the Rangoli.

Bombayite has contributed a photo to this story.

lakshmanaraja

at 21:06 on October 27th, 2008

This photo is taken in my street where i am living. Here childrens had fun in firing crackers. Earlier in my child hood days it is only the crackers that occupies whole days. Now a days it is changed.These children fire crackers a little and started playing stree cricket. This is a symbol of cultural shift with generations.

lakshmanaraja has contributed a photo to this story.

vjrithwik

at 21:22 on October 27th, 2008

vjrithwik has contributed a photo to this story.

vjrithwik

at 21:24 on October 27th, 2008

Diwali is celebrated to commemorate the win of good over the evil. To fight the darkness and bring light and hope to the life of people. People burst crackers and share sweets.

swaheel

at 22:04 on October 27th, 2008

Diwali is definitely the brightest and the loudest of all Indian festivals :)

swaheel has contributed a photo to this story.

rolubo

flagged this story as Good Stuff

at 22:28 on October 27th, 2008

Jarrett Martineau, I like this story. It's good stuff.

rumana husain

flagged this story as Good Stuff

at 00:41 on October 28th, 2008

Jarrett Martineau, I like this story. It's good stuff.

rahul

flagged this story as Good Stuff

at 01:25 on October 28th, 2008

Jarrett Martineau, I like this story. It's good stuff. For another contribution of Diwali celebration by the Hindu diaspora, readers may peep at Hindu Festival of Lights in India: A Happy Diwali to all

100kph

at 05:13 on October 28th, 2008

well this is an explosion atleast 300 ft above the ground

100kph has contributed a photo to this story.

Marilyn John

at 07:04 on October 28th, 2008

Deepavali or Diwali is popularly known as the Festival of Lights and it is one of the significant events in Hinduism. There are many stories and legends associated with the origin of this festival but Deepavali commonly marks the triumph of good over evil.

Marilyn John has contributed a photo to this story.

agnimax

at 07:12 on October 28th, 2008

This one I took during Divali celebration in my home. It was a long exposure shot, actually there were 4 firecrackers in this photo.

agnimax has contributed a photo to this story.

no focus

at 07:57 on October 28th, 2008

As a citizen of Malaysia of ethnic Indian descent ... AND having been brought up in a totally Roman Catholic environment - home, school, church, etc. - Deepavali has always fascinated me on many levels, but always it has seemed to be from a viewpoint "looking in the window". Nevertheless, religious and language barriers only remain where we allow them to, I believe!

Without feeling like an "intruder" into the prayers and offerings made by deeply religious Hindus celebrating this "Festival of Lights", I was greeted by an an atmosphere of happiness, buoyancy, hope amongst the devotees at the temples I was lucky enough to visit and photograph in. Not at all unlike the childhood memories of celebrating Midnight Mass on the eve of Christmas, I would say - there's always the expectancy of something good, something new, a clean start, etc., to come.

Surprise! Surprise! As if to underline the cross-cultural, cross-religious currents so uniquely and splendidly woven into the fabric of Malaysian life, I was mildly put off-balance when more than once, I saw individuals, after completing a "puja", and the symbolic smashing of the coconut at the temple front finish the exercise with the Sign Of The Cross!!! Wow! I also saw some families represented by three or even four generations ply their way through the heat and humidity to complete their religious duties as a family unit - truly, in this day and age where the family seems to have all but disintegrated, this is A Good Thing, isn't it?!

Maybe, just maybe, if the generations to come can distance themselves from seeing "them" and "us" (an antagonistic, competitive view society seems so bent on forcing upon us today), more folks would start seeing real people, and real humans rather than numbers and statistics, polls and wars - isn't that what Light is supposed to achieve?!

no focus has contributed a photo to this story.

liveandclicking

at 10:01 on October 28th, 2008

Happy Diwali to all the folks around the world :)

liveandclicking has contributed a photo to this story.

Ramki

at 10:43 on October 28th, 2008

Diwali or Deepavali is a solemn occasion to announce the victory of light over the dark.

Ramki has contributed a photo to this story.

richabhake

at 11:34 on October 28th, 2008

Flowers and light make up the festive mood for Diwali. The sight of light, the delicate touch of petals on a flower, the sweet fragrance that fills up the autumn air permeates through all senses, coupled with the sound of crackers being played everywhere. Here I have tried to capture the warmth that Diwali as a festival celebrated by families together encompasses. Wish you a great Diwali!

richabhake has contributed a photo to this story.

kfrancia

at 20:38 on October 28th, 2008

Miles of jewelry to celebrate the new year!

kfrancia has contributed a photo to this story.

sp0ck

at 20:45 on October 28th, 2008

Diwali is all about light (the exorcism of darkness with light), and people's excitement to light up the sky is quite evident during these days. Makeshift stores that sell only fireworks are setup during these days, and people spend a lot of money. From young to old, everybody gets a kick out of fireworks!
But despite the colorful display, the noise pollution is a cause of concern for people during these days.

sp0ck has contributed a photo to this story.