Diwali, also known as Dipawali or Deepavali, is a major festival celebrated over five days in many parts of India by people of different faiths. It is the biggest and most important holiday of the year in India. The festival symbolizes the spiritual victory of light over darkness, good over evil, and knowledge over ignorance. Hindus, Jains, Sikhs, and Newar Buddhists celebrate Diwali, although for each faith it marks different historical events and stories. The common celebratory practices are known as the festival of light, however, there are minor differences from state to state in India.
The festival gets its name from the row of clay lamps that Indians light outside their homes to symbolize the inner light that protects from spiritual darkness. The celebrations generally last five or six days and include lighting diyas (lamps), decorating homes with rangolis (patterns made with colored powder), exchanging gifts, and preparing special meals.
Over the centuries, Diwali has become a national festival thats also enjoyed by non-Hindu communities. For instance, in Jainism, Diwali marks the nirvana, or spiritual awakening, of Lord Mahavira on October 15, 527 B.C.; in Sikhism, it honors the day that Guru Hargobind Ji, the Sixth Sikh Guru, was freed from imprisonment.
In summary, Diwali is a festival of lights celebrated in India and other parts of the world by people of different faiths. It symbolizes the spiritual victory of light over darkness, good over evil, and knowledge over ignorance. The festival includes lighting diyas, decorating homes with rangolis, exchanging gifts, and preparing special meals.
