history of diwali essay

History and Significance of Diwali, the Festival of Lights

A Significant Celebration of Light, Love, and Joy

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The Origins of Diwali

The four days of diwali, dhanteras: the tradition of gambling, the significance of lights and firecrackers, the spiritual significance of diwali, from darkness unto light....

• M.A., English Literature, University of North Bengal

Deepawali, Deepavali, or Diwali is the biggest and the brightest of all Hindu festivals. It is the festival of lights: deep  means "light" and  avali "a row" to become "a row of lights." Diwali is marked by four days of celebration, which literally illuminates the country with its brilliance and dazzles people with its joy.

The Diwali festival occurs in late October or early November. It falls on the 15th day of the Hindu month of Kartik, so it varies every year. Each of the four days in the festival of Diwali is marked with a different tradition. What remains constant is the celebration of life, its enjoyment, and a sense of goodness.

Historically, Diwali can be traced back to ancient India. It most likely began as an important harvest festival . However, there are various legends pointing to the origin of Diwali.

Some believe it to be the celebration of the marriage of Lakshmi, the goddess of wealth, with Lord Vishnu. Others use it as a celebration of her birthday, as Lakshmi is said to have been born on the new-moon day of Kartik.

In Bengal, the festival is dedicated to the worship of Mother Kali , the dark goddess of strength. Lord Ganesha —the elephant-headed god and  symbol of auspiciousness and wisdom—is also worshiped in most Hindu homes on this day. In Jainism, Deepawali has the added significance of marking the great event of Lord Mahavira attaining the eternal bliss of nirvana.

Diwali also commemorates the return of Lord Rama (along with Ma Sita and Lakshman) from his 14-year-long exile and vanquishing the demon-king Ravana. In joyous celebration of the return of their king, the people of Ayodhya, the capital of Rama, illuminated the kingdom with earthen diyas (oil lamps) and set off firecrackers.

Each day of Diwali has its own tale to tell. The first day of the festival,  Naraka Chaturdasi marks the vanquishing of the demon Naraka by Lord Krishna and his wife Satyabhama. 

Amavasya , the second day of Deepawali, marks the worship of Lakshmi  when she is in her most benevolent mood, fulfilling the wishes of her devotees. Amavasya also tells the story of Lord Vishnu , who, in his dwarf incarnation, vanquished the tyrant Bali and banished him to hell. Bali is allowed to return to earth once a year to light millions of lamps and dispel darkness and ignorance while spreading the radiance of love and wisdom.

It is on the third day of Deepawali, Kartika Shudda Padyami , that Bali steps out of hell and rules the earth according to the boon given by Lord Vishnu. The fourth day is referred to as Yama Dvitiya (also called Bhai Dooj ), and on this day sisters invite their brothers to their homes.

Some people refer to Diwali as a five-day festival because they include the festival of Dhanteras  ( dhan meaning "wealth" and teras meaning "13th"). This celebration of wealth and prosperity occurs two days before the festival of lights.

The tradition of gambling on Diwali also has a legend behind it. It is believed that on this day, Goddess Parvati played dice with her husband  Lord Shiva . She decreed that whosoever gambled on Diwali night would prosper throughout the ensuing year.

All of the simple rituals of Diwali have a significance and a story behind them. Homes are illuminated with lights, and firecrackers fill the skies as an expression of respect to the heavens for the attainment of health, wealth, knowledge, peace, and prosperity.

According to one belief, the sound of firecrackers indicates the joy of the people living on earth, making the gods aware of their plentiful state. Still another possible reason has a more scientific basis: the fumes produced by the firecrackers kill or repel many insects, including mosquitoes, which are plentiful after the rains.

Beyond the lights, gambling, and fun, Diwali is also a time to reflect on life and make changes for the upcoming year. With that, there are a number of customs that revelers hold dear each year.

Give and forgive.  It is common practice that people forget and forgive the wrongs done by others during Diwali. There is an air of freedom, festivity, and friendliness everywhere. 

Rise and shine. Waking up during the Brahmamuhurta (at 4 a.m., or 1 1/2 hours before sunrise) is a great blessing from the standpoint of health, ethical discipline, efficiency in work, and spiritual advancement. The sages who instituted this Deepawali custom may have hoped that their descendants would realize its benefits and make it a regular habit in their lives.

Unite and unify. Diwali is a unifying event, and it can soften even the hardest of hearts. It is a time when people mingle about in joy and embrace one another.

Those with keen inner spiritual ears will clearly hear the voice of the sages, "O children of God unite, and love all." The vibrations produced by the greetings of love, which fill the atmosphere, are powerful. When the heart has considerably hardened, only a continuous celebration of Deepavali can rekindle the urgent need of turning away from the ruinous path of hatred.

Prosper and progress. On this day, Hindu merchants in North India open their new account books and pray for success and prosperity during the coming year. People buy new clothes for the family. Employers, too, purchase new clothes for their employees.

Homes are cleaned and decorated by day and illuminated by night with earthen oil lamps. The best and finest illuminations can be seen in Bombay and Amritsar. The famous Golden Temple at Amritsar is lit in the evening with thousands of lamps. 

This festival instills charity in the hearts of people, who perform good deeds. This includes Govardhan Puja , a celebration by Vaishnavites on the fourth day of Diwali. On this day, they feed the poor on an incredible scale.

Illuminate your inner self. The lights of Diwali also signify a time of inner illumination. Hindus believe that the light of lights is the one that steadily shines in the chamber of the heart. Sitting quietly and fixing the mind on this supreme light illuminates the soul. It is an opportunity to cultivate and enjoy eternal bliss.

In each legend, myth, and story of Deepawali lies the significance of the victory of good over evil. It is with each Deepawali and the lights that illuminate our homes and hearts that this simple truth finds new reason and hope.

From darkness unto light—the light empowers us to commit ourselves to good deeds and brings us closer to divinity. During Diwali, lights illuminate every corner of India, and the scent of incense sticks hangs in the air, mingled with the sounds of firecrackers, joy, togetherness, and hope.

Diwali is celebrated around the globe . Outside of India, it is more than a Hindu festival; it's a celebration of South-Asian identities. If you are away from the sights and sounds of Diwali, light a diya , sit quietly, shut your eyes, withdraw the senses, concentrate on this supreme light, and illuminate the soul.

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The Ancient Origins of Diwali

By: Becky Little

Updated: October 24, 2022 | Original: October 19, 2017

Every year around October and November, Hindus around the world celebrate Diwali, or Deepavali—a festival of lights that stretches back more than 2,500 years. Diwali 2022 occurs on Monday, October 24. In India, the five-day celebration traditionally marks the biggest holiday of the year.

Like many Hindu festivals, there isn’t just one reason to celebrate the five-day holiday. Pankaj Jain , a professor of anthropology, philosophy and religion at the University of North Texas, says that the ancient celebration is linked to multiple stories in religious texts, and it’s impossible to say which came first, or how long ago Diwali started.

Many of these stories are about the triumph of good over evil. In northern India, a common tale associated with Diwali is about King Rama, one of the incarnations of the god Vishnu. When an evil king in Lanka (which some people associate with Sri Lanka) captures Rama’s wife Sita, he “builds up an army of monkeys” to rescue her, Jain says.

The monkeys “build a bridge over from India to Sri Lanka, and they invade Sri Lanka and free Sita and kill that evil king,” he says. As Rama and Sita return to the north, “millions of lights are spread out across the city Ayodhya just to help them come back home, just to welcome them.” Lighting lamps has long been one of the ways that Hindus celebrate Diwali.

In the south, Diwali is popularly linked to a story about the Hindu god Krishna, a different incarnation of Vishnu, in which he frees some 16,000 women from another evil king. In the western state of Gujarat, the New Year coincides with Diwali (there are multiple New Years throughout India), and Diwali is associated with asking the goddess Lakshmi for prosperity in the coming year. During the festival, many celebrants exchange gifts and coins.

Other religions like Buddhism , Jainism, and Sikhism use Diwali to mark important events in their histories, too. Professor Jain says that while Diwali is a religious holiday, it’s also somewhat of a national holiday in India. Comparing it to Christmas in the United States, he points out that many non-Christians in America still buy a Christmas tree and give each other gifts.

Vasudha Narayanan , a professor of religion at the University of Florida, points out that not everyone in India celebrates Diwali. But because about 80 percent of India is Hindu—with Buddhists, Jains, and Sikhs making up 2 or 3 percent more—it’s celebrated by the majority of the country.

Narayanan says that in the past century or so, fireworks became a major part of the Diwali celebrations. These aren’t the large-scale fireworks that American cities deploy on the 4th of July—during Diwali, individual families all set off their own fireworks (which admittedly goes on in some parts of the United States too).

“On the night before Diwali, you hardly ever slept,” Narayanan says of the fireworks. “I mean, the sound was that loud.”

In 2020, several states in India imposed a ban on firecrackers and its sale ahead of the festivities due to the rising cases of coronavirus COVID-19 and growing air pollution. According to Narayanan, this upset a lot of revelers in India, with many complaining that Diwali without fireworks is like Christmas without a Christmas tree.

While Narayanan understands the desire to keep with tradition, she also gets the government’s concern.

“Hinduism also advocates doing good to others, and nonviolence,” she says. Therefore, she argues that traditions should be rethought if they “cause violence to someone else’s health.”

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🪔Essay on Diwali in English: Samples 150, 250, & 500 Words  

• Updated on  
• Apr 30, 2024

Diwali is one of the biggest festivals of India which is celebrated with great fervour. The festival is also known as Deepavali, a beautiful Indian festival that is a symbol of good over evil. The word ‘Diwali’ has been derived from the Sanskrit word ‘Deepavali’ which means row of lights. Therefore, during Diwali, people decorate their homes with lights, candles and diyas to showcase how lights have the power to erase the darkness from the world.

According to Hindu mythology , Diwali marks the return of Lord Rama from the exile of 14 years. According to the Hindu Calendar, Diwali is celebrated in the month of Kartika. If you are a student and struggling to write an essay on Diwali in English, then this blog will help you greatly.

Keep on reading further to get ideas to write a good essay!

Master the art of essay writing with our blog on How to Write an Essay in English .

Table of Contents

• 1 Essay on Diwali in 150 Words
• 2 Essay on Diwali in 250 Words 
• 3.1 When is Diwali Celebrated in India?
• 3.2 5 Days of Diwali Celebration
• 3.3 How is Diwali Celebrated in India?
• 4 Short Essay on Diwali in English

Diwali is the most important Hindu festival that is celebrated with great enthusiasm in India. This festival symbolises an important life learning that goodness will always overpower evil instincts. Weeks before Diwali, preparations for it get underway. To begin the preparations, people start cleaning up one’s home and workspace. After this people decorate their homes and offices with lights, lamps, flowers, and other ornamental elements.

As part of the festivities, people purchase new Diwali outfits , house furnishings, and presents for their loved ones. Around this season, the markets are overrun with a wide array of gifts and delicacies. Furthermore, Diwali presents an opportunity to strengthen ties with loved ones.

Also Read: Holi Essay: Free Sample Essays 100 To 500 Words In English

Essay on Diwali in 150 Words

Diwali, also known as the Festival of Lights, is one of the most celebrated and significant festivals in India . It symbolizes the victory of light over darkness and good over evil. The festival typically lasts for five days and is marked by the lighting of oil lamps, or diyas, and colourful decorations in homes and streets.

People clean and decorate their houses, exchange gifts, and prepare special sweets. The highlight of this festival is the bursting of fireworks, which fills the night sky with vibrant colours. Families also worship deities, with Goddess Lakshmi , the goddess of wealth, being a central figure during the celebrations.

Beyond the festivities, Diwali holds cultural, religious, and social importance. It fosters a sense of unity and togetherness, as families come together to celebrate. Additionally, the festival carries deep spiritual significance for different communities, including Hindus, Jains, and Sikhs, each marking it for various reasons.

The festival of lights brings prosperity to the lives of people and the nation.

Also Read: Speech on Republic Day for Class 12th

Essay on Diwali in 250 Words 

Diwali is the most popular celebration in India which is regarded as the “festival of lights” and represents the spiritual message of the power of light over darkness and knowledge over ignorance. The holiday of Diwali is mostly associated with Hinduism, although it is also joyfully observed by Sikhs and Jains. This festival’s spiritual importance represents the triumph of good over evil and light over darkness. Lakshmi, the goddess of riches, and Ganesha, the god of wisdom, are honoured at this celebration. Throughout the nation, its religious significance differs depending on the location. It is commemorated somewhere to honour Rama, Sita, and Lakshmana coming home after a lengthy 14-year exile (according to the Hindu epic Ramayana).

Some people commemorate it in remembrance of the Pandavas’ return to their realm following 12 years of exile and 1 year of Agyatavas, as described in the Hindu epic Mahabharata. It is also thought to have begun when Goddess Lakshmi was born following the gods and demons’ churning of the seas. The western and some northern regions of India celebrate Diwali to mark the beginning of a new Hindu year. 

Five days are devoted to celebrating Diwali. These five days are Dhanteras, Naraka Chaturdashi, Lakshmi Pooja, Govardhan Pooja, and Bhai Dooj. Diwali is a festival where people worship Saraswati, Lakshmi, and Lord Ganesha. On this day, worshipping the goddess Lakshmi is thought to bring success and wealth. People lit candles and diyas after evening puja to spread light. Cleaning homes, stores, and workplaces begin many days before Diwali.

Also Read: Top 10+ Trending Diwali Dress Ideas for 2023!

Diwali Essay in 500 Words 

Throughout the year people wait for the beautiful festival of Diwali. Regarded as one of the biggest festivals for Hindus, Diwali also known as Deepavali, symbolises the victory of good over evil. According to the famous Hindu epic Ramayana, Lord Rama along with his wife and brother – Sita and Laxman,  came back to Ayodhya after completing the exile of 14 years. 

When is Diwali Celebrated in India?

According to the Hindu calendar, Diwali occurs on the Amavasya, or new moon, of the Kartik month, 20 days after the Dussehra celebration . In the Hindu religion, this is one of the most fortunate periods. People wait till this time of year to launch a new company, move into a new home, or buy a large asset like a car, store, jewellery, etc. This event is celebrated due to many mythical tales. People from various parts of India celebrate it for various reasons. But it is usually a massive celebration everywhere.

This beautiful festival is celebrated on a large scale as people start engaging in the festivities weeks before the festival. Some of the common things that are part of Diwali festivities include cleaning and decorating homes and workspaces, buying new clothes, gifts, etc. 

5 Days of Diwali Celebration

Diwali is considered a festival of five days as  Dhanteras is observed on the first day of the festival, followed by Naraka Chaturdasi on the second, Diwali on the third, Diwali Padva (Govardhan Puja) on the fourth, and Bhai Dooj on the fifth. On the day of the event, many nations declare it a public holiday.

How is Diwali Celebrated in India?

People worship on Diwali to get wealth and prosperity in their lives, people worship the gods Ganesha and Lakshmi. On the day of Diwali, they perform puja with numerous rites. Following puja, people give gifts to their neighbours, relatives, friends, coworkers, etc. One of the primary customs of the Diwali holiday is gift exchange. To deepen their bonds, people pay visits to their coworkers, neighbours, relatives, and friends and give them gifts. 

In addition to the lights and joyous surprises and gifts, Diwali is a time for introspection and making the necessary changes for the next year. To celebrate Diwali, people from all ages, religions, and castes gather together. People embrace one another and mix enthusiastically during this moment.

In essence, Diwali sheds light on who we truly are. The Diwali lights also signify a time for eradicating all of our evil intentions and ideas and leaning forward for a more profound, inward illumination. The Diwali festival represents the rebirth of the soul. During Diwali, one is inspired to make changes to become a healthy and moral individual who is more spiritual and productive at work.

Also Read: Essay on Eid ul Fitr in 400 Words

Short Essay on Diwali in English

Diwali is a popular festival of Hindus which is regarded as the festival of light. It is celebrated in the Hindu month of Kartik and comes 20 days after Dussehra. Diwali marked the return of Lord Rama, Sita and Laxman back to Ayodhya after completing the exile of 14 years. Diwali festivities include cleaning and decorating homes and workspaces, exchanging gifts and eating mouth-watering sweets and food. 

Diwali is an important festival for Hindus as according to the famous epic Ramayana, Lord Rama came back to Ayodhya after completing 14 years of exile and defeating Ravana. This beautiful festival of lights symbolizes that goodness will always prevail over evil. 

The five days of Diwali are Dhanteras , Naraka Chaturdasi, Laxmi Puja , Govardhan Puja , and Bhai Dooj . 

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Essay on Diwali for School Students and Children

500+ words essay on diwali.

First of all, understand that India is the land of festivals. However, none of the festivals comes close to Diwali. It is certainly one of the biggest festivals in India. It is probably the brightest festival in the world. People of different religions celebrate Diwali. Most noteworthy, the festival signifies the victory of light over darkness. This also means the triumph of good over evil and knowledge over ignorance. It is known as the festival of lights. Consequently, there are bright lights all over the whole country during Diwali. In this essay on Diwali, we will see the religious and spiritual significance of Diwali.

The Religious Significance of Diwali

The religious significance of this festival has differences. It varies from one region to another in India. There is an association of many deities, cultures, and traditions with Diwali. The reason for these differences is probably local harvest festivals. Hence, there was a fusion of these harvest festivals into one pan-Hindu festival.

According to the Ramayana, Diwali is the day of the return of Rama. This day Lord Rama returned to Ayodhya along with his wife Sita. This return was made after Rama defeated demon King Ravana. Furthermore, Rama’s brother Lakshmana and Hanuman also came back to Ayodhya victorious.

There is another popular tradition for the reason of Diwali. Here Lord Vishnu as an incarnation of Krishna killed Narakasura. Narakasura was certainly a demon. Above all, this victory brought the release of 16000 captive girls.

Furthermore, this victory shows the triumph of good over evil. This is due to Lord Krishna being good and Narakasura being evil.

Association of Diwali to Goddess Lakshmi is the belief of many Hindus. Lakshmi is the wife of Lord Vishnu. She also happens to be the Goddess of wealth and prosperity.

According to a legend, Diwali is the night of Lakshmi wedding. This night she chose and wed Vishnu. Eastern India Hindus associate Diwali with Goddess Durga or kali. Some Hindus believe Diwali to be the start of a new year.

Get the huge list of more than 500 Essay Topics and Ideas

The Spiritual Significance of Diwali

First of all, many people try to forgive people during Diwali. It is certainly an occasion where people forget disputes. Therefore, friendships and relationships get stronger during Diwali. People remove all feelings of hatred from their hearts.

This light festival brings peace to people. It brings the light of peace to the heart. Diwali certainly brings spiritual calmness to people. Sharing joy and happiness is another spiritual benefit of Diwali. People visit each other’s houses during this festival of lights. They do happy communication, eat good meals, and enjoy fireworks.

Finally, to sum it up, Diwali is a great joyful occasion in India. One cannot imagine the delightful contribution of this glorious festival. It is certainly one of the greatest festivals in the world.

FAQs on Diwali

Q.1 Why there is are differences in the religious significance of Diwali?

A.1 There certainly are differences in the religious significance of Diwali. This is due to the local harvest festivals. These festivals certainly came together to form one pan-Hindu festival.

Q.2 Tell how Diwali brings prosperity?

A.2 Diwali brings prosperity as Hindu merchants open new account books on Diwali. Furthermore, they also pray for success and prosperity.

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People gather to release sky lanterns in celebration of Diwali—India's five-day festival of lights—in the town of Raiganj in West Bengal. Observed across many faiths, Diwali has become India's biggest holiday, rivaling Thanksgiving and Christmas in the United States.

• HISTORY & CULTURE

Diwali is India’s most important holiday—and a celebration of good over evil

Observed by more than a billion people across faiths, this five-day festival of lights brings prayer, feasts, fireworks and, for some, a new year.

Diwali is India’s most important festival of the year—a time to celebrate the triumph of light over darkness, knowledge over ignorance, and good over evil. Widely observed among more than a billion people from a variety of faiths across India and its diaspora, the five days of Diwali are marked by prayer, feasts, fireworks, family gatherings, and charitable giving. For some, Diwali is also the beginning of a new year.

But Diwali is perhaps best known as a festival of lights. Derived from the Sanskrit dipavali , which means “row of lights,” Diwali is known for the brightly burning clay lamps that celebrants line up outside their homes. ( See dazzling pictures of Diwali, the festival of lights .)

The dates of this festival are based on the Hindu lunar calendar , which marks each month by the time it takes the moon to orbit Earth. Diwali begins just before the arrival of a new moon between the Hindu months of Asvina and Kartika—which typically falls in October or November of the Gregorian calendar.  

The meaning of Diwali—and its many legends

Diwali is so widely celebrated—it’s an important religious festival for Hindus, but is also observed among Jains, Sikhs, and Buddhists—that it has no single origin story. But while each religion has its own historical narrative behind the holiday, they all ultimately represent the victory of good over evil.

( Parents and educators: Learn about Diwali with your kids . )

In Hinduism alone—which is considered the world’s oldest living religion, dating back to the second millennium B.C.—there are several versions of the Diwali story that vary among geographic communities. These, however, are all epic tales of victory won by men who were considered incarnations of the Hindu god Vishnu , regarded as the sustainer of the universe, and whose role it is to restore the balance of good and evil in times of trouble.

For Hungry Minds

In northern India, Diwali commemorates Prince Rama’s triumphant return to the city of Ayodhya after 14 years of exile due to the plotting of his evil stepmother—and after a heroic rescue of his wife Sita, an incarnation of the goddess Lakshmi , who had been kidnapped by the rival king Ravana.

In South India, meanwhile, Diwali honors the victory of Lord Krishna over the demon king Narakasura, who had imprisoned 16,000 women in his palace and meted out harsh punishments to any of his subjects who dared stand up against him. And in western India, the festival celebrates Vishnu’s banishment of King Bali—whose immense power had become a threat to the gods—to the underworld.

Sikhs, Jains, and Buddhists, three minority religions in India, have their own Diwali stories . For Sikhs, whose religion arose in the late 15th century as a movement within Hinduism that is particularly devoted to Vishnu, Diwali commemorates the release of the 17th-century guru Hargobind after 12 years of imprisonment by Mughal emperor Jahangir.  

Jains, whose ancient religion dates back to the middle of the first century B.C. and also shares many of the beliefs of Hinduism , observe Diwali as the day that Lord Mahavira, the last of the great Jain teachers , reached nirvana.  

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And Buddhists, whose religion emerged in the late 6th century B.C. in what some describe as a reaction to Hinduism, celebrate it as the day the Hindu Emperor Ashoka, who ruled in the third century B.C., converted to Buddhism.

Beyond these stories, Diwali is also a celebration of the Hindu goddess of wealth and good fortune, Lakshmi. In India’s early agrarian society, Diwali coincided with the last harvest before winter—a time to pray for Lakshmi for good fortune. Today, Indian businesses still consider Diwali the first day of the financial new year .

How Diwali is celebrated

Just as the legends of Diwali differ from region to region so, too, do the holiday’s rituals. What most have in common , though, are the abundance of sweets, family gatherings, and the lighting of clay lamps that symbolize the inner light that protects each household from spiritual darkness.

A potter arranges earthen lamps, which are used to decorate homes and temples during Diwali, at a workshop in Ahmedabad, India, on November 9, 2020.

During Diwali, many people decorate their floors with rangoli, or intricate and colorful designs made from powder, rice, flower petals, or sand.

But generally, each of the five days of Diwali has its own significance. On the first day of Diwali, people pray to the goddess Lakshmi, bake sweets, and clean their homes—which they decorate the next day with lamps and rangolis , designs made on the floor out of colored sand, powder, rice or flower petals.

Diwali’s third day is its most important: On this day, people may go to temple to honor Lakshmi or gather with friends and family for feasts and fireworks. Devotees also set ablaze the lamps they had displayed the day before.

For many celebrants, the fourth day of Diwali marks the new year and a time to exchange gifts and well wishes. Finally, the fifth day is typically a day to honor one’s siblings.

Over the years, Diwali has become India’s biggest holiday season—rivaling Thanksgiving or Christmas in the United States. Shoppers take advantage of the sales and communities across India and across its diaspora host small fairs. Fireworks are also a major part of the celebrations, particularly in New Delhi where they are often criticized for causing spikes in the city’s notoriously bad pollution . (The city has banned the use of firecrackers in recent years to mitigate these harmful effects.)

However it is celebrated, the spirit of Diwali is universal—the belief that, eventually, light will triumph over darkness.

Editor's note: This story originally published on November 12, 2020. It has been updated.

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Essay on Diwali

Here we have shared the Essay on Diwali or Deepawali in detail so you can use it in your exam or assignment of 150, 300, 500, or 1000 words.

You can use this Essay on Diwali in any assignment or project whether you are in school child (class 10th or 12th), a college student, or preparing for answer writing in competitive exams. 

Topics covered in this article.

Essay on Diwali in 150 words

• Essay on Diwali in 250-300 words
• Essay on Diwali in 500-1000 words

Diwali, the festival of lights, is a widely celebrated Hindu festival in India. It symbolizes the victory of light over darkness and good over evil. During Diwali, homes are adorned with lights, rangolis, and decorations. Families come together, exchange gifts, and enjoy delicious sweets and snacks. Fireworks illuminate the night sky, adding to the festive atmosphere.

Diwali holds deep spiritual significance, commemorating Lord Rama’s return to Ayodhya after defeating the demon king Ravana. It also marks the beginning of a new year for many communities. Beyond its cultural and religious importance, Diwali promotes unity, joy, and compassion. It encourages people to spread happiness and love, transcending differences.

In conclusion, Diwali is a festival that brings people together, celebrates the triumph of good over evil, and spreads light and joy. It is a time to appreciate the blessings in our lives and to share happiness with others.

Essay on Diwali in 250-350 words

Diwali, also known as Deepavali, is one of the most significant festivals celebrated in India. It holds immense cultural, religious, and social importance for people of the Hindu faith. The festival spans over five days and signifies the victory of light over darkness and good over evil.

Diwali is a time of immense joy and enthusiasm. The preparations begin weeks in advance as people clean and decorate their homes. Colorful rangolis, Diyas (earthen lamps), and decorative lights adorn every corner, creating a mesmerizing ambiance. The air is filled with excitement and anticipation as families come together to celebrate.

The festival is deeply rooted in mythology. It commemorates Lord Rama’s return to Ayodhya after 14 years of exile and his victory over the demon king Ravana. The lighting of lamps and the bursting of fireworks symbolize the triumph of light and righteousness. Goddess Lakshmi, the goddess of wealth and prosperity, is also worshipped during Diwali. People offer prayers and seek her blessings for a prosperous year ahead.

Diwali is not only a religious festival but also a time for social bonding and celebration. Families and friends exchange gifts, sweets, and heartfelt wishes. The festival brings people from diverse backgrounds together, fostering unity and harmony. It is a time to forgive past grievances, mend broken relationships, and spread love and joy.

However, in recent years, there has been a growing awareness about the environmental impact of Diwali celebrations. The excessive use of firecrackers contributes to air and noise pollution, harming both humans and the environment. Many people are now opting for eco-friendly celebrations by using less harmful alternatives like decorative lights and celebrating with eco-friendly fireworks.

In conclusion, Diwali is a vibrant and joyful festival that celebrates the triumph of good over evil. It brings families and communities together, spreading happiness, love, and prosperity. While celebrating, it is essential to be mindful of the environmental impact and embrace eco-friendly practices. Diwali is not just a festival of lights; it is a celebration of life, positivity, and the enduring spirit of goodness.

Essay on Diwali in 500 words

Title: Diwali – The Festival of Lights and Spiritual Significance

Introduction

Diwali, also known as Deepavali, is one of the most prominent and widely celebrated festivals in India. It holds immense cultural, religious, and social significance for people of the Hindu faith. The festival spans over five days and signifies the victory of light over darkness and good over evil. This essay explores the various aspects of Diwali, including its historical, religious, and social significance.

Historical and Religious Significance

Diwali finds its roots in ancient Indian mythology and legends. The most well-known story associated with Diwali is the return of Lord Rama, along with his wife Sita and brother Lakshmana, to the kingdom of Ayodhya after 14 years of exile. Their return symbolizes the triumph of righteousness over evil. Lord Rama’s victory over the demon king Ravana is celebrated with great fervor during Diwali.

The lighting of lamps and bursting of fireworks during Diwali signify the removal of darkness and the spreading of light and positivity. The tradition of lighting Diyas (earthen lamps) and illuminating homes and streets represents the victory of good over evil and the triumph of knowledge over ignorance. It is believed that these lights guide Goddess Lakshmi, the deity of wealth and prosperity, into people’s homes.

Social Significance

Diwali is not only a religious festival but also a time for social bonding, family gatherings, and community celebrations. Families come together to clean and decorate their homes, exchange gifts, and share festive meals. The festival brings people from diverse backgrounds together, fostering unity, love, and harmony.

During Diwali, people visit their relatives and friends, exchanging sweets, dry fruits, and gifts as a token of love and affection. It is also a time to forgive past grievances and mend broken relationships, as the festival promotes the spirit of forgiveness, reconciliation, and compassion.

Cultural Celebrations

Diwali celebrations go beyond religious rituals. The festival is marked by colorful rangoli designs, vibrant decorations, and intricate patterns created with colored powders, flowers, and Diyas. Fireworks light up the night sky, filling the air with joy and excitement.

The festival also showcases the rich cultural heritage of India. Traditional dances, music, and performances are organized to entertain and engage the community. Diwali melas (fairs) are held, featuring various cultural activities, folk dances, and food stalls. These events provide an opportunity for people to come together, celebrate, and appreciate the diverse cultural tapestry of India.

Environmental Concerns

While Diwali is a time of celebration and joy, it is essential to address the environmental concerns associated with the festival. The excessive use of firecrackers contributes to air and noise pollution, which poses health hazards and disturbs the ecosystem. It is crucial for individuals and communities to adopt eco-friendly practices, such as minimizing the use of fireworks and opting for environmentally friendly alternatives like decorative lights and lamps.

Diwali, the festival of lights, holds immense cultural, religious, and social significance in India. It is a time of joy, togetherness, and the triumph of good over evil. Diwali celebrations embody the values of unity, love, forgiveness, and the spirit of giving. However, it is equally important to celebrate the festival in an environmentally responsible manner. By embracing eco-friendly practices, we can ensure that the essence of Diwali, as a festival of light and hope, is preserved for future generations to enjoy.

Essay on Diwali in 1000 words

Title: Diwali – A Celebration of Light, Joy, and Cultural Significance

Introduction:

Diwali, also known as Deepavali, is one of the most widely celebrated festivals in India and holds immense cultural, religious, and social significance. The festival stretches over five days, and each day has its own significance and rituals. Diwali is a time of vibrant celebrations, where people come together to illuminate their homes with lamps, exchange gifts, indulge in delicious sweets, and participate in various cultural activities. This essay explores the historical origins, religious significance, cultural traditions, social impact, and environmental considerations associated with Diwali.

I. Historical Origins of Diwali

The roots of Diwali can be traced back to ancient Indian mythology and various historical events. One of the most popular legends associated with Diwali is the story of Lord Rama’s return to Ayodhya after defeating the demon king Ravana. The people of Ayodhya celebrated Rama’s homecoming after 14 years of exile by lighting lamps, signifying the triumph of good over evil. Diwali also commemorates the victory of Lord Krishna over the demon Narakasura, symbolizing the triumph of righteousness and the eradication of darkness.

II. Religious Significance of Diwali

Diwali holds deep religious significance for Hindus, Jains, and Sikhs. For Hindus, it is a time to worship Goddess Lakshmi, the deity of wealth and prosperity. Devotees clean their homes and create intricate rangoli designs to invite the goddess into their households. Diwali is also associated with the worship of Lord Ganesha, the remover of obstacles, and the offering of prayers to seek divine blessings.

In Jainism, Diwali marks the spiritual enlightenment and liberation of Lord Mahavira, the 24th and last Tirthankara. Jains celebrate Diwali by offering prayers, visiting temples, and engaging in acts of charity and compassion.

For Sikhs, Diwali holds historical significance as it commemorates the release of Guru Hargobind Sahib Ji, the sixth Sikh Guru, and 52 other kings from imprisonment in the Gwalior Fort. This event represents the victory of truth and freedom.

III. Cultural Traditions and Celebrations

Diwali is not only a religious festival but also a time for cultural celebrations and festivities. The preparations for Diwali begin weeks in advance, as people clean their homes and decorate them with colorful rangoli designs, bright lights, and flowers. The lighting of diyas (earthen lamps) and candles is a significant aspect of Diwali, symbolizing the triumph of light over darkness.

During Diwali, families come together to perform puja (worship) rituals, exchange gifts, and share special meals. Traditional sweets and snacks, such as ladoos and gujiyas, are prepared and distributed among relatives, friends, and neighbors. The exchange of gifts signifies love, respect, and the strengthening of relationships.

Cultural performances, such as traditional dances like Garba and Bharatanatyam, music concerts, and plays, are organized during Diwali. These cultural activities showcase the rich heritage of Indian art and provide a platform for artists to display their talent.

IV. Social Impact and Community Bonding

Diwali serves as a unifying force, bringing people from different communities, religions, and backgrounds together. It is a time when families and friends come together to celebrate and bond. Diwali encourages individuals to visit their loved ones, exchange greetings, and share the joy of the festival.

The spirit of giving and sharing is strongly emphasized during Diwali. Many people extend acts of kindness by donating to charities, distributing food to the underprivileged, and supporting those in need. This collective effort to help others promotes empathy, compassion, and social cohesion.

Diwali also fosters a sense of unity and harmony among communities. People of different religions and cultures join in the celebrations, participating in events and exchanging cultural experiences. The festival acts as a platform for cultural exchange, fostering understanding and appreciation for diversity.

V. Environmental Considerations

In recent years, there has been growing concern about the environmental impact of Diwali celebrations. The excessive use of firecrackers during Diwali contributes to air and noise pollution, causing harm to human health and the environment. Additionally, the disposal of firework waste poses a significant challenge.

To address these concerns, there has been a shift towards eco-friendly Diwali celebrations. Many individuals and communities now opt for alternative ways to celebrate, such as using decorative lights, eco-friendly fireworks, and organic materials for rangoli designs. Awareness campaigns promote the use of environmentally friendly practices, encouraging people to celebrate Diwali in a responsible manner.

Conclusion:

Diwali is a festival that encapsulates the essence of Indian culture, spirituality, and social values. It is a time when people come together to celebrate light, joy, and prosperity. Diwali’s historical origins, religious significance, cultural traditions, and social impact make it an integral part of Indian society.

As we celebrate Diwali, it is crucial to remain mindful of the environmental impact and embrace sustainable practices. By promoting eco-friendly celebrations and minimizing pollution, we can ensure that the essence of Diwali, as a festival of light and togetherness, is preserved for future generations to enjoy. Diwali serves as a reminder of the triumph of good over evil, the importance of unity, and the power of love and compassion in our lives.

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Diwali Essay

Diwali also called “Deepawali” is a major Hindu festival of India. The festival is celebrated with unequal zeal and pleasure by Hindus, throughout the country. It is celebrated to commemorate the return of Lord Rama to Ayodhya after an exile of 12 years. Rama is a very popular Hindu deity who is revered for his truthfulness and purity.

Hindus believe that his return was welcomed by the people of Ayodhya by lighting up the streets and houses by small earthen oil lamps; therefore, the Hindus celebrate the day as the festival of lights. Houses decorated with lights of different colours and sizes, earthen lamps glittering at the entrances and over the boundaries and railings make the view mesmerizing. People come out of their houses in new clothes and burn crackers and fireworks.

Speech on Diwali for School Students  |  Speech on Diwali for Teachers  |  Paragraph on Diwali

Long and Short Essay on Diwali in English

Diwali is a religious Hindu festival, celebrated as festival of lights by lighting lamps everywhere at homes, streets, shops, temples, markets, etc.

People of Hindu religion wait very eagerly for this special festival of Diwali . It is the most important and favorite festival of everyone especially for kids and children of the home.

Use following long and short essay on Diwali to make your kids smart enough at home or school and motivate them to know the history and significance of celebrating Diwali festival every year.

You can select anyone of these Diwali essay according to your need:

Short Essay on Diwali – Essay 1 (200 Words)

Diwali is one of the main festivals of Hindus. The preparation for Diwali celebration begins weeks before the festival. People begin with the preparations by cleaning their houses and shops. Every nook and corner of the houses, shops and offices is cleaned before Diwali. These are then decorated with lights, lamps, flowers and other decorative items.

People shop for new clothes, home decor items and gifts for their loved ones on this festival. The markets are flooded with variety of gift items and sweets around this time. It is a good time for the businessmen. It is also a good time to bond with our near and dear ones. People visit each other around this time and exchange gifts as a part of the celebration.

On the day of Diwali, people light up their houses with diyas, candles and lights. They also make rangoli and decorate their houses with flowers. The ritual of worshipping Goddess Lakshmi and Ganesha is followed in every Hindu household on the occasion of Diwali. It is said that this brings in prosperity and good luck.

Also known as the festival of lights, Diwali is all about worshiping the deities, burning crackers, having sweets and making merry with the loved ones. It is considered to be one of the most auspicious days in the Hindu calendar.

Essay on Diwali – Festival of Lights and Gifts – Essay 2 (300 Words)

Introduction

Diwali is also known as Deepawali meaning a row of diyas. The festival is celebrated with great zeal throughout India. It is celebrated each year to commemorate the return of Lord Rama to his kingdom, Ayodhya. A series of rituals are performed to celebrate this festival.

Festival of Lights

Lighting diyas is one of the main rituals of this Hindu festival. People buy beautiful earthenware diyas each year and illuminate their entire house as a part of Diwali celebration. It is said that the entire town of Ayodhya was lighted with diyas to welcome Lord Rama, Laxman and Sita. People continue to follow this ritual even today. This is a way to please the deities.

The houses, marketplaces, offices, temples and all the other places are illuminated with lights on this day. Candles, lamps and decorative lights are also lit up to add to the beauty.

Rangolis are made and diyas are placed in between these beautiful creations of art to enhance their look.

Exchange of Gifts

Exchanging gifts is one of the main rituals of the Diwali festival. People visit their colleagues, neighbours, relatives and friends and present gifts to them to strengthen their bond. The Hindu culture teaches us to live in harmony with one another. Diwali, one of the main Hindu festivals, promotes the feeling of brotherhood and unity amid diversity.

While exchanging sweets and boxes of dry fruit was common in the earlier times, these days people look for unique and innovative gift items. Numerous kinds of Diwali gifts are available in the market these days.

People also purchase gifts for their employees and house helps. Many people also visit orphanages and old age homes and distribute gifts there.

People await Diwali all year long and the preparations for its celebration begin almost a month before the festival. People gleefully perform all the rituals associated with it.

Essay on Diwali Celebration – Essay 3 (400 Words)

As per the Hindu calendar, Diwali falls on the new moon (amavasya) during the Kartik month. This is considered to be one of the most auspicious times in the Hindu religion. People wait for this time of the year to start a new business, shift to a new house or purchase a big asset such car, shop, jewellery, etc. A number of mythological stories are associated with the celebration of this festival. People belonging to different regions of India celebrate it for different reasons. However, it calls for a grand celebration everywhere.

Cleaning and Decoration

Diwali celebration begins with the cleaning of the houses and work places. From washing curtains to cleaning the fans, from cleaning every corner of the house to discarding the useless old stuff – Diwali is the time for a thorough cleaning of the houses as well as work places. Many cleaning agencies offer special discounts and offers around Diwali and make good business.

People also shop for various home decor items to redecorate their places. The houses are decorated with diyas, lights, lanterns, candles, flowers, drapes and many other decorative items.

Sharing the Joy

People visit their relatives, neighbours and friends. They exchange gifts and spend time with each other. Many people host Diwali parties to celebrate the festival with their loved ones. The joy of celebration doubles up this way.

Many residential societies organize Diwali parties to celebrate the occasion. It is a great way to rejoice in the festival.

Worshipping the Deities

Goddess Lakshmi and Lord Ganesha are worshipped during the evening hours. People wear new clothes and offer prayers to the deities. It is believed that worshipping Goddess Lakshmi and Lord Ganesha on this day brings in wealth, prosperity and good luck.

Burning of Fire Crackers and Increasing Pollution

Fire crackers are also burnt as a part of Diwali celebrations. Large numbers of crackers are burnt on this day each year. While it offers momentary pleasure, its repercussions are extremely harmful. It adds to air, noise and land pollution. Many people suffer due to the pollution caused.

Diwali without fire crackers would be much more beautiful. The newer generations must be sensitized about the harmful effects of burning crackers and should be encouraged to celebrate this festival without fireworks.

Diwali, also known as the festival of lights, is a mark of the Hindu tradition. It is celebrated with joy and enthusiasm by the Hindu families year after year. It is time to spread joy, love and laughter and not pollution.

Essay on Why do we Celebrate Diwali? – Essay 4 (500 Words)

Diwali falls sometime between the mid of October and mid of November. It is one of the main festivals of Hindus. The festival is celebrated for different reasons in different parts of India. A number of rituals form a part of the Diwali celebrations. Illuminating houses with diyas and candles and worshiping Goddess Lakshmi and Lord Ganesha are among the main rituals.

Why Do we Celebrate Diwali?

While it is largely believed that Diwali is celebrated to rejoice the return of Lord Rama to Ayodhya, many other folklores and mythological stories are associated with it. Here are some of the reasons why this festival is celebrated.

The Return of Lord Rama

It is believed that on this day, Lord Rama returned to his hometown Ayodhya after staying in exile for fourteen long years. He was accompanied by his brother Lakshman and wife Sita. Sita was abducted by the demon, Ravana. She was kept as a hostage in his kingdom until Lord Rama defeated him and brought her back. As Lord Rama, Lakshman and Sita returned to Ayodhya, the people were thrilled and excited.

The entire town was illuminated with diyas. Sweets were distributed and people made merry. This is how we continue to celebrate this day even today.

The Harvest Festival

In some parts of the country, Diwali is considered to be a harvest festival. This is because it is the time when rice is cultivated. Since, India is mainly an agricultural economy this is the time for celebration. Grand celebration is held at this time. The festival holds special importance for the farmers.

The Legend of Lord Vishnu and Goddess Lakshmi

It is said that King Bali had imprisoned Goddess Lakshmi. It was on this day that Lord Vishnu disguised himself and set the Goddess free from the evil king. The day thus calls for a celebration. In many parts of the country, people celebrate Diwali to rejoice the return of Goddess Lakshmi.

The Birth of Goddess Lakshmi

It is said that Goddess Lakshmi was born on the new moon of the Kartik month. Thus, in certain regions, Diwali is celebrated to rejoice the birth of Goddess Lakshmi who is worshipped during the evening hours on this day. Goddess Lakshmi is the Goddess of wealth and prosperity and the Hindus hold high regard for her.

The ritual of worshipping Goddess Lakshmi and Lord Ganesha is followed in every Hindu household on the day of Diwali.

No matter what the reason, Diwali is celebrated with immense enthusiasm across India as well as some other countries. Cleaning the house, shopping for new clothes, sweets and gifts, decorating the house, illuminating lamps, offering prayers, burning fire crackers and meeting loved ones are some of the rituals followed on Diwali.

Diwali brings us closer to our near and dear ones. People of all age groups await this festival and look forward to celebrate it with their loved ones. Every member of the family takes active part in the Diwali celebration. People religiously follow all the rituals that form a part of the Diwali celebrations and pass them on to the next generations.

Essay on Diwali, Pollution and Eco-friendly Diwali – 5 (600 Words)

Diwali is the time to meet and greet our loved ones, prepare delicious sweets, wear new clothes, redecorate the house and worship Goddess Lakshmi. It is also the time to burn fire crackers. While all the Diwali rituals are beautiful and pious, burning fire crackers to rejoice the day is not appreciated much. This is because it adds to the pollution in the atmosphere.

Diwali Celebrations

Diwali is being celebrated in India since the ancient times. It is a day to celebrate the victory of light over darkness. This is because as per Hindu mythology, this was the day when Lord Rama returned to his kingdom Ayodhya after staying in exile for 14 years. He returned victorious after killing the demon, Ravana and freeing Sita from his clutches.

The effigies of Ravana are burnt across India on Dussehra each year. It marks the victory of good over evil. Diwali falls twenty days later. The houses and marketplaces are illuminated with beautiful diyas and lights to celebrate Diwali. Rangolis are made and decorative items are used to enhance the beauty of these places. People decorate their houses after cleaning them thoroughly to welcome Goddess Lakshmi who is worshipped on this day. It is believed that Goddess Lakshmi; the Goddess of wealth, only visits places that are clean and beautiful.

People visit each other and exchange gifts as a part of the Diwali celebrations. Many people host house parties on this day. It is a great time to bond with our relatives and friends. Many offices and residential societies host Diwali parties a day or two before the festival.

Children especially look forward to burn fire crackers on this day. They gather around and rejoice the festival by burning different kinds of crackers.

Diwali Pollution: A Matter of Concern

Diwali is an auspicious day. The entire atmosphere is filled with the air of festivity and joy around this time. However, it eventually fills with pollution. The fire crackers burnt on this day are a complete put off. Burning crackers is said to be a ritual on Diwali. People burn thousands of crackers in the name of ritual on this day each year. This results in the increase in pollution levels in the atmosphere. The sky turns hazy and the consequences are harmful. It gives way to many health problems. This is especially unsafe for asthmatic patients, heart patients, pregnant women, elderly people and infants. It is difficult to step out on Diwali as well as days after the festival.

The burning of crackers does not only pollute the air but also causes noise pollution. It is particularly disturbing for sick and elderly people, small kids, students and animals.

Eco-Friendly Diwali: A Good Idea

It is high time we must behave as responsible citizens and stop burning crackers to celebrate Diwali or any other occasion for that matter. We must celebrate eco-friendly Diwali.

We must say no to crackers and advise those around us to do the same. Parents must take this as their responsibility to tell their kids about the negative repercussions of burning crackers. Kids must also be sensitized about the same in the schools. This will help in bringing down the fire works on Diwali.

Apart from the measures that people can take at their end, it is important to put a check on the sale of fire crackers. The government must intervene for the same. The production and sale of fire crackers must be banned or at least some restriction should be put on the same.

Diwali is a sacred festival. We must maintain its sanctity by celebrating it the right way. We should refrain from burning crackers owing to the harmful effects it has on the environment that ultimately impacts life on Earth.

Diwali Essay – 6 (1000 words)

Diwali is the most significant Hindu festival celebrated all over the India in the autumn season every year. The spiritual significance of this festival indicates the victory of light over darkness. It is a five days long festival celebrated by the people with huge preparations and rituals. It falls every year in the month of October or November. Many days ago of the festival, people start cleaning, renovating and decorating their homes and offices. They purchase new dresses, decorative things like diyas, lamps, candles, puja materials, statue of God and Goddess and eating things especially for Diwali.

People do worship of God Ganesha and Goddess Lakshmi for getting wealth and prosperity in their life. They perform puja on main Diwali with lots of rituals. After puja, they get involved in the fireworks activities and then distribute gifts to each other among neighbors, family members, friends, offices, etc. People celebrate Dhanteras on first day, Naraka Chaturdasi on second day, Diwali on third day, Diwali Padva  (Govardhan Puja) on fourth day, and Bhai Dooj on fifth day of the festival. It becomes official holiday in many countries on the day of festival.

Celebration of Diwali with Family without Crackers

Diwali is my favorite festival of the year and I celebrate it with lots of enthusiasm with my family members and friends. Diwali is called as the festival of lights because we celebrate it by lighting lots of diyas and candles. It is a traditional and cultural festival celebrated by each and every Hindu person all over India and abroad. People decorate their houses with lots of candles and small clay oil lamps indicating the victory of good over evil.

Family members spend their most of the day time in preparing house (cleaning, decorating, etc) to welcome the festival with grand evening party. Neighbors, family members, and friends gets collected in the evening party and enjoy the party with lots of delicious Indian dishes, dance, music, etc all through the night. Houses look very attractive in white wash, candle lights and rangolis. High pitch music and fireworks makes the celebration more interesting.

People go to their home by taking off from their job, offices and other works; students also book their train around three months ago to easily go to their home on Diwali festival because everyone wants to celebrate this festival with their family members in the home town. People generally enjoy the festival by feasting, bursting crackers and enjoying the dance with family and friends.

However, it is prohibited by the doctors to got outside and enjoy firecrackers especially people suffering from lung or heart diseases, hypertension, diabetes, etc. Such people have to knock the doctor’s door because of consuming highly saturated food and sweets in high amount and lack of exercises and pollution caused by crackers in these days.

Significance of Diwali

Diwali festival is celebrated by the people with great revelry and lots of fun and frolic activities. It becomes the happiest holiday for Indian people in the year and celebrated with significant preparations. It is the festival of high significance for Indian people during which people clean their homes, decorate, do shopping, buy new things including gifts, kitchen utensils, appliances, cars, golden jewelry, etc and perform so many rituals.

There are many ancient stories, legends, and myths about celebrating this festival. Girls and women of the home do shopping and make rangolis in creative patterns on the floors near to the doors and walkways of home. There are little variations in the celebration of this festival according to the regional practices and rituals.

The spiritual significance of this festival symbolizes the victory of light over darkness and victory of good over evil. It is celebrated to honor the Goddess of wealth, Lakshmi and God of wisdom, Ganesha. Its religious significance varies according to the region all through the country. Somewhere, it is celebrated to honor the returning of Rama, Sita and Lakshmana to their home after long exile period of 14 years (according to Hindu epic Ramayana).

Some people celebrate it to remember the return of Pandavas to their kingdom after 12 years of Vanvas and one year of agyatavas (according to Hindu epic Mahabharata). It is also believed that it was started celebrating when Goddess Lakshmi was born after churning the ocean by the gods and demons. Diwali celebration also indicates the start of a new Hindu year in the west and some northern parts of India. It is celebrated by the people of Sikh religion to mark the Bandi Chhor Divas by lighting up the Golden Temple. It is celebrated by the people of Jain religion to mark the Nirvana attained by the Mahavira.

Pollution on Diwali

Together with the Diwali celebration, there is indirect increase in the environmental pollution all over the world because of the bursting of various types of firecrackers during this festival. Such firecrackers are very dangerous as they release toxic pollutants like sulphur dioxide, carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide, and so many etc which gets intermingled into the air and causes variety of ailments like asthma, bronchitis, hypertension, etc. It affects the people of all age group however those people who already suffer any type of ailment. Together with the human beings, it also affects the lives of animals, birds and other living beings due to air and noise pollution.

Now-a-days, there is a campaign run by the government to celebrate pollution free Diwali all over the country. Schools and various organizations also organizes various demonstrations prior to the celebration to educate and aware students for pollution-free festival. Environment and pollution departments also do many efforts by publishing pollution free news in the various newspapers to aware people and curb noise and air pollution because of firecrackers. Bursting sound-emitting firecrackers has been banned by the Supreme Court especially during 10 pm to 6 am.

Air and water pollution is also caused by the decay of remnants of fireworks and deluge of garbage like empty bottles, papers used to light off rockets, gift wrappers, dried flowers, etc at the nook and corners of the city. We all should practice celebrating the pollution free Diwali every year in order to save and enjoy the natural beauty of environment forever.

Related Information:

Slogans on Diwali

Paragraph on Diwali

Information about Diwali Festival

Dussehra Essay

Essay on Festivals of India

Essay on Holi

Essay on Ganesh Chaturthi

Diwali for Kids

Essay on Pollution Due to Diwali

Essay on Dhanteras

Essay on Bhai Dooj 

Essay on Govardhan Puja

Essay on Dev Deepawali

Essay on Kali Puja

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What is Diwali, and how is it celebrated in India and the diaspora?

Diwali is the most important festival of the year in India — and for Hindus in particular.

It is celebrated across faiths by more than a billion people in the world’s most populous nation and the diaspora. Over five days, people take part in festive gatherings, fireworks displays, feasts and prayer.

READ MORE: What is Día de los Muertos? An expert explains the holiday celebrating loved ones who have died

Diwali is derived from the word “Deepavali,” which means “a row of lights.” Celebrants light rows of traditional clay oil lamps outside their homes to symbolize the victory of light over darkness and knowledge over ignorance.

When is Diwali?

The dates of the festival are based on the Hindu lunar calendar, typically falling in late October or early November.

This year, Diwali begins Nov. 10 and the festival will be observed on Nov. 12.

What are some Hindu stories of Diwali?

While Diwali is a major religious festival for Hindus, it is also observed by Sikhs, Jains and Buddhists. The origin story of Diwali varies depending on the region. All these stories have one underlying theme — the victory of good over evil.

In southern India, Diwali celebrates the victory of Lord Krishna’s destruction of the demon Naraka who is said to have imprisoned women and tormented his subjects. In northern India, Diwali honors the triumphant return of Lord Rama, his wife Sita, and brother Lakshmana, from a 14-year exile in the forest.

How is Diwali celebrated?

The festival brings with it a number of unique traditions, which also vary by the region. What all celebrations have in common are the lights, fireworks, feasting, new clothes and praying.

• In southern India, many have an early morning warm oil bath to symbolize bathing in the holy River Ganges as a form of physical and spiritual purification.
• In the north, worshipping the Goddess Lakshmi, who symbolizes wealth and prosperity, is the norm.

Gambling is a popular tradition because of the belief whoever gambled on Diwali night would prosper throughout the year. Many people buy gold on the first day of Diwali, known as Dhanteras — an act they believe will bring them good luck.

READ MORE: Largest Hindu temple outside India in the modern era opens in central New Jersey

Setting off firecrackers is a cherished tradition, as is exchanging sweets and gifts among friends and family. Diwali celebrations typically feature rangoli, which are geometric, floral patterns drawn on the floor using colorful powders.

What are the Diwali stories from other faiths?

Buddhists, Jains and Sikhs have their own Diwali stories:

• Jains observe Diwali as the day the Lord Mahavira, the last of the great teachers, attained nirvana, which is liberation from the cycle of birth, death and rebirth.
• Sikhs celebrate Bandi Chhor Divas — a day that overlaps with Diwali — to commemorate the release of Guru Hargobind, a revered figure in the faith, who had been imprisoned for 12 years by the Mughal emperor Jahangir.
• Buddhists observe the day as one when the Hindu Emperor Ashoka, who ruled in the third century B.C., converted to Buddhism.

Associated Press religion coverage receives support through the AP’s collaboration with The Conversation US, with funding from Lilly Endowment Inc. The AP is solely responsible for this content.

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Diwali: Festival of Lights

Learn about India's biggest holiday of the year.

Diwali, or Dipawali, is India 's biggest and most important holiday of the year. The festival gets its name from the row  (avali) of clay lamps (deepa) that Indians light outside their homes to symbolize the inner light that protects from spiritual darkness. This festival is as important to Hindus as the Christmas holiday is to Christians.

Over the centuries, Diwali has become a national festival that's 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. Buddhists in India celebrate Diwali as well.

Hindus interpret the Diwali story based upon where they live. But there's one common theme no matter where people celebrate: the victory of good over evil.

Learn more about the holiday at National Geographic.

Celebrations

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Essay on Diwali in 500+ Words

Essay on Diwali- India is a land of festivals and each festival has its own significance. These festivals are a unique way to teach people the basic values of humanity. Diwali is also among these widely celebrated festivals of India that bring the families and friends together.

Diwali is a festival of Hindu religion. However, people of other religions too celebrate Diwali. It is a festival of light as Diwali refers to “a row of diya or light”. Diwali teaches victory of good over evil, darkness over light and knowledge over unawareness. Read the below essay on Diwali to know significance, why and how to celebrate Diwali. Also Read |  Essay on Pollution

Why do we celebrate Diwali?

We celebrate Diwali on the full moon of Kartik month, as per the Hindu calendar. It is celebrated to express joy and happiness as on this day Lord Rama returned back to Ayodhya, along with Goddess Sita and Lakshman, from exile of 14 years. During this period, Lord Rama defeated Ravana. Also Read |  Essay on My School

Another belief about Diwali is that Goddess Lakshmi married to Lord Vishnu on this day. Some religious books also mentioned that Krishna, an avatar of lord vishnu, killed Narakasura, who imprisoned 16000 girls. Krishna set those girls free by killing Narakasura.

How is Diwali Celebrated?

People celebrate diwali by worshiping Lord Ganesha, Goddess Lakshmi and Saraswati. It is believed that on this day, worshipping Goddess Lakshmi brings prosperity and success. After evening puja, people lit diyas and candles to spread light. The preparation for Diwali starts many days before the festival, with the cleaning of houses, shops and the workplace. People also decorate their homes with rangoli and colourful lights. Also Read |  Essay on Mahatama Gandhi

The celebration of diwali includes wearing new clothes, making and eating delicious dishes, firing crackers, and more. However, from the past few years, the government put limitations on burning crackers as they cause lots of air and noise pollution. Hence, nowadays people celebrate eco-friendly diwali. 

Learning from Diwali

No matter how big or strong the evil is, good always wins. Truth and knowledge are the base of a happy life. Another important learning of Diwali is that cleanliness brings prosperity and wealth, hence people should keep themselves and their homes clean not only from outside but also inside. Also Read- Essay on Internet

Essay On Diwali in 100 Words

Diwali, also known as the Festival of Lights, is a significant Hindu festival celebrated with great joy and enthusiasm across India and other parts of the world. It marks the victory of light over darkness and good over evil. During Diwali, people decorate their homes with colorful lights, lamps, and rangoli designs. They exchange gifts, sweets, and greetings with family and friends. Fireworks are lit to symbolize the triumph of light over darkness. Diwali also holds religious significance, with prayers offered to Goddess Lakshmi for prosperity and wealth. It is a time of unity, joy, and renewal, bringing communities together in celebration.

Essay On Diwali in 200 Words

Diwali, also known as Deepavali, is one of the most widely celebrated festivals in India and is observed by Hindus, Sikhs, Jains, and some Buddhists. It signifies the victory of light over darkness, good over evil, and knowledge over ignorance.

The festival usually lasts for five days and is marked by various rituals and traditions. People clean and decorate their homes with colorful rangoli designs, diyas (earthen lamps), and lights to welcome the goddess Lakshmi, the symbol of wealth and prosperity.

On the day of Diwali, families come together to perform puja (prayers) to seek the blessings of the gods and goddesses. They offer sweets, fruits, and flowers as offerings and light diyas to illuminate their homes.

Fireworks are a significant part of Diwali celebrations, symbolizing the victory of light over darkness and driving away evil spirits. The night sky lights up with colorful displays, filling the air with joy and excitement.

Diwali is also a time for exchanging gifts and sweets with loved ones, strengthening bonds and spreading happiness. People wear new clothes, visit friends and relatives, and enjoy festive feasts together.

Beyond the religious and cultural significance, Diwali holds a deeper meaning of inner light, spiritual awakening, and the triumph of righteousness. It is a time for reflection, renewal, and gratitude, reminding us to strive for goodness and spread love and kindness in the world.

Overall, Diwali is a time of joy, unity, and celebration, bringing communities together in the spirit of harmony and hope.

10 Lines on Diwali

• Diwali, also known as Deepawali, is a most awaited festival of Hindus.
• It is celebrated on the full moon of Kartik month.
• Diwali is a five day celebration that starts with Dhanteras, 3 days before Diwali and ends with Bhai Dooj, 2 days after Diwali.
• The meaning of diwali is “row of diya or light”.
• On Diwali, Lord Rama returned to their home along with Goddess Sita and Laxman.
• It is celebrated 20 days after Dusshehra. 
• Diwali is celebrated to signify the victory of good over evil.
• In Jainism, Lord Mahavir received salvation on Diwali.
• Diwali is celebrated by decorating homes, burning fire crackers, eating sweets and delicious dishes and more.
• A few days before Diwali, people start cleaning their house so that Goddess lakshmi will shower her blessing by sending wealth and prosperity to their home.

Essay on Diwali- Tips to make a compelling essay

To get good marks in exams or assignments, students should follow the below given tips to write essay on diwali. Essay about diwali should have all the reasons why and how we celebrate Diwali.

• Make short sentences. This will help in eliminating grammatical errors. Also, increase the readability of the Diwali essay.
• Highlight or underline the important facts on diwali.
• Essay on diwali should have short paragraphs or pointers so that it looks tidy.

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Understanding the Significance of Diwali as a Representation of the Indian Culture Research Paper

Introduction, usual diwali celebration style, diwali celebrations in other countries, the european and australian diwali, festival celebration in usa and canada, diwali in other parts of the world, incorporating diwali in other traditions, works cited.

India is a beautiful country. It has unique festivals one of which is Diwali, otherwise known as Deepavali, the festival of lights. This festival is undoubtedly the most popular of the Hindu festivals.

Like most of the festivals celebrated mainly by Hindus, Diwali has a mythology and a historical basis behind it. Legend stories purport that Hanuman, the monkey god, crucial devotee of Lord Rama, brought the long-awaited message, declaring Rama’s return to his kingdom following an exile of fourteen years.

People refer the festival to as the festival of Sweets. Giving sweets is an activity that has become a tradition in these celebrations.

Hindus, Sikhs, and Jains celebrate the festival that lasts for five days. The dates vary based on the Indian lunar calendar (Robinson 123). The celebration has extended outside India to the Diaspora.

It is a mainstream in Britain and countries like Indonesia, the United States, Malaysia, and Singapore. They have incorporated the festival in their local traditions (Robinson 123). Besides eating Indian food, most people outside India are still unfamiliar with the usual Diwali food.

The most common food during this celebratory period is sharing and eating sweets. Indians and other people celebrating the festival eat plenty of sweets during that time.

They also prepare confectioneries, desserts and sweetmeats, which come between snacks that people eat all the time. The sweetmeats or ‘Mithai’, as popularly known, are the most common and the favorite foodstuffs. It is hence the foods, which capture Indian cookery psyche outside India.

In India, it is customary for family members and friends to come together in the celebration. They also exchange gifts. In most cases, they exchange sweets, candy, dried fruits, and other snacks (Robinson 124). People dress up well for the occasion. They share, and exchange gifts of clothes and perfumes as customary activities.

Since Diwali is significant to Indians as Christmas is for Christians, its celebration is extremely essential. During this celebration, people have their homes lit up with candles. They decorate the streets and businesses with lights.

Hindus in other parts of the world celebrate Diwali in a unique way. In the South East Asia, and Indian populations elsewhere in the world, people celebrate the Diwali somewhat differently. Where the Hindus are fewer, they only put on lights and celebrate it in their homes.

On the other hand, when they are many, they take the celebration seriously. The Indians make the celebration seem like a tremendous cultural scene. The United Kingdom has a well-established Indian demography, which allows the country to conduct bigger public events (Richman 67).

Since there are many Indians in Australia and Europe, people conduct the large-scale Diwali events like carnivals and fairs in cities. In Australia, the celebrations are common in Melbourne and Sydney. In the United Kingdom, they are mainly in London (Richman 67).

Featuring in these events are fabulous firework displays, public music and dance performances, stalls that provide services mainly painting henna, stalls selling assorted Diwali sweets, herbs, savories, and people often burning an effigy of the demon King Ravana (Plum-Ucci 12).

People also dress up nicely for the occasion with women wearing their best jewels and silk outfits. Some put on mehendi, temporary decorations of henna on their palms. Since people also refer the celebration to as the celebration of lights, they light various lights: candles, and lanterns, at the event, in houses and even around homes (Plum-Ucci 17).

The women present sweets on shiny, silver trays and garnish the dishes with candlelights called diyas and some time with jewels and flower petals (Plum-Ucci 55).

The Indians in Britain are usually enthusiastic about this festival (Richman 69). They clean their homes, decorating them with lights, mainly candles and lamps. The most salient part is that they also exchange gifts. This tradition goes back to the harvest time when people could offer gifts of their harvest.

Today, they give sweets. The common sweets are barfis and laddoos. Different Hindu communities come together in a central place like in London for the celebrations (Richman 69).

As the event has become more popular, people have observed non-Indians also joining the Diwali festivals. Sometimes the festival of light falls on same dates as the British Bonfire Night on fifth of November. This inspires joint celebrations, which are thrilling (Richman 71).

In Australia, Diwali is not a public holiday recognized across the country. Nonetheless, there is always traffic during the event. Parking places remain fully parked during the period of holding the event. Most Indians close their businesses for the celebrations.

Their Indian community has sent a request to make Diwali a public holiday in the country. In Australia, it is customary for families and friends to share and exchange gifts. In most cases, these gifts are sweets, dried fruits and candy. However, during the main festivity, elaborate food takes center stage.

There is also exchange of perfumes, clothes and soaps as gifts. Other appropriate gifts are lamps, candle stands and fireworks.

All the communities with Indian populations, or those who identify themselves as Hindus, always celebrate the festival of lights (Plum-Ucci 18). The celebrations here are mostly in homes. In Canada, some families organize trips to Niagara Falls in Ontario where the festival of lights takes place.

This often happens because the winter festival and Diwali often fall on the same dates (Coward, Hinnells, and Williams 232). This Niagara festival is usually a spectacular event with an amazing display of lights and fireworks. There is usually adequate entertainment for families ranging from food, music and dance among other activities (Khandelwa 61).

In America, there are some cities with large populations of Indians and Asians. Hence, these communities sponsor large Diwali events (Shah 43).

For instance, Cupertino in California has set a day aside for which the celebration of lights takes place. There is usually, music and dance, cultural performances, foods and gift vending and many other forms of entertainment in cities (Coward, Hinnells, and Williams 232).

In cities, where there are diverse populations, people honor the event. The celebrations take place in Hindu temples like New York (Khandelwa 61), Phoenix, Chicago and Minneapolis. These communities still honor the celebration of lights by lighting up their houses just to celebrate the victory of Rama against demon king Ravana (Torpe 7).

This symbolizes the victory of light over darkness (Plum-Ucci 23). Hindus believe that, during this day, the goddess of happiness roams the earth during the day of celebrating Diwali.

She looks for the purest, cleanest and brightest house, which she enters. It is apparent that the celebration differs in different parts of the world. However, they maintain the general spiritual meaning. That is to increase awareness of the inner light.

In Asia, especially Singapore, Indonesia, Malaysia and Thailand, people celebrate Diwali by placing lamps and candles on banana leaves together with coins and incense sticks. People then float these lights on a river. The view of thousands of candles along a river is always spectacular during the evening of the Diwali celebrations.

In Thailand, one can describe the Diwali celebration as insanely huge. They refer it to as Lam Kriyongh. In Singapore, people refer the celebration to as ‘Deepavali’. The government recognizes it as a public holiday. Its uniqueness is that, a light-up Little India District typically marks it.

The celebration is almost as Diwali customs in India where people come out exchange gifts, have merry performances. Distribution of sweets is the best part of the celebration, as it involves the giving out of sweets of different types.

In Nepal, people refer Diwali to as ‘Swanti’ or ‘Tihar’. The celebrations last for five days just like in the other countries though traditions done during the celebration slightly vary from those done in India.

People decorate the entire country with various lights and lamps in celebration of victory of Rama (Torpe 8). Women prepare exceptional foodstuffs especially sweets of different forms for making this festivity (Ganeshram, and Velloti 135). There are also lively performances, fireworks and crackers everywhere.

In Mauritius, Africa, people celebrate the event with considerable passion. It has been an age-old custom. The native believe the celebration begun even before the return of Lord Rama (Plum-Ucci 6). Diwali here holds a distinct significance for the natives for the coronation of Rama as King.

People celebrate by lighting earthen lamps in lines that make images and they worship Lakshmi (Torpe 6), the goddess of earth (Shah 41). They also burn crackers to scare the evil spirits roaming the earth.

In the western nations, Diwali celebrations are evidently not as typical as they are in India. There are often some little variations from the traditional way of celebration (Shah 41).

In most cases, the elements of the Hindu culture, which may relate to Diwali, are also present in the celebration to highlight Indian customs and culture. Dances and songs prevalent in Hindu culture often find their way into the celebrations (Khandelwa 61).

For example, it is not a surprise to find men and women performing the ‘Dandiya Rasa’ dance in Diwali celebration outside India. This dance features wooden sticks. Besides, in other places, one has to see Punjabi Bhangra songs and Bhangra dances that people perform during the festival of light (Coward, Hinnells, and Williams 233).

The dance and songs date back to the eleventh century. During that time, the Punjabi farmers would celebrate the coming of the harvest season by dancing to Bhangra folk dance.

The Punjabi musicians who have travelled to western countries popularized the folk dance hence causing the dance to be a popular culture in certain aspects of the western society.

Bhangra is currently popular in the United Kingdom and Canada. Because of the zeal to popularize the Indian culture during such fairs and festivities, there are numerous Indian merchandise also sold during these events besides the food not related to the festival (Khandelwa 61).

Therefore, the festival of lights in countries abroad forms a frightfully convincing way of knowing the Indian culture and understanding Hindu religion. In fact, some places the celebration is all about getting to know the Indian tradition.

The Diwali is a prominent religious celebration for three religious groups – the third largest celebration in the world (Torpe 4). Buddhists, Hindus, and Jains celebrate it. The festival is becoming more popular across the worlds, as more people from different nationalities, ethnicities, and races join in the festivals (Khandelwa 62).

When joining a Diwali festival, it is indispensable to expect more than just gifts. There is usually colorful pomp with elaborate meals, singing and dancing, as well as many other activities associated with the culture.

The goal of Diwali is to teach a tremendously significant lesson to everyone. That ‘good’ always triumphs over ‘evil’ the same way Lord Rama won the battle (Torpe 4).

The festival reminds people of the importance of thanksgiving. It helps in teaching family values and friendships, thus, persuading people to value these things.

Above all, the ceremony teaches people to be charitable to the less fortunate in the society. At this time, it encourages people to share and offer gifts to others. During Diwali, people usually salute one another in English as ‘happy Diwali’ (Coward, Hinnells, and Williams 232).

From the Diwali celebrations across the world, it is evident that without sweets, then the event will not qualify as Diwali. The sweets sweeten the ceremony for everyone attending it.

The sweets are exchanged among everyone: young and old, and male and female. Hindus also share the sweets with other people from other religions, mostly those connected to them. The habit of giving gifts is also encouraging, as it spreads joy to every person involved, whether in India or abroad.

Coward, Harold. Hinnells, John, and Williams, Raymond. The South Asian Religious Diaspora in Britain, Canada, and the United States . New York: Suny Press. 2000. Print.

Ganeshram, Ramin, and Vellotti, Jean-Paul. Sweet Hands: Island Cooking from Trinidad & Tobago . New York: Hippocrene Books, 2006. Print.

Khandelwa, Madhulika. Becoming American, Being Indian: An Immigrant Community in New York City . Ithaca, NY City: Cornell University. 2002. Print.

Plum-Ucci, Carol. Celebrate Diwali. New York: Associated Press, 2005. Print.

Richman, Paula. A Diaspora Ramayana in Southall, Greater London. Journal of the American Academy of Religion 67.1 (1999): 21-30. Print.

Robinson, James. Hinduism . New York: InfoBase Publishing. 2004. Print.

Shah, Manju. Celebrating Diwali in America. Journal of South Asian Literature 30.1 (1995): 41-50. Print.

Torpe, Kate. Diwali . New York: Crabtree Publishing Company, 2008. Print.

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1. IvyPanda . "Understanding the Significance of Diwali as a Representation of the Indian Culture." March 26, 2019. https://ivypanda.com/essays/understanding-the-significance-of-diwali-as-a-representation-of-the-indian-culture/.

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Essay on Diwali Celebration

Students are often asked to write an essay on Diwali Celebration in their schools and colleges. And if you’re also looking for the same, we have created 100-word, 250-word, and 500-word essays on the topic.

Let’s take a look…

100 Words Essay on Diwali Celebration

Introduction.

Diwali, also known as Deepavali, is a significant festival in India. It’s celebrated by millions with joy and enthusiasm, symbolizing the victory of light over darkness.

Significance

Diwali marks Lord Rama’s return to Ayodhya after defeating Ravana. People light diyas and candles to celebrate his victory, which is why it’s called the Festival of Lights.

Celebrations

People clean their homes, decorate with rangoli, and light up diyas. They exchange sweets, wear new clothes, and perform Lakshmi Puja.

Diwali brings joy, prosperity, and positivity. It’s a time for family, friends, and togetherness, making it a truly special festival.

Also check:

• Paragraph on Diwali Celebration

250 Words Essay on Diwali Celebration

Introduction to diwali.

Diwali, also known as Deepavali, is a significant festival in Hinduism, Sikhism, and Jainism. It symbolizes the victory of light over darkness, knowledge over ignorance, and good over evil. Celebrated over five days, it is a time of joy, unity, and reflection.

Significance of Diwali

Diwali’s significance varies across different regions and religions. In Hinduism, it commemorates Lord Rama’s return to Ayodhya after 14 years of exile and his victory over Ravana. Jains celebrate it as the day when Lord Mahavira attained nirvana, while Sikhs observe it as the release of Guru Hargobind from prison.

Diwali Celebrations

The Diwali festivities begin with Dhanteras, followed by Naraka Chaturdasi, the main Diwali night, Govardhan Puja, and Bhai Dooj. Each day has its unique customs and rituals. The most iconic tradition is the lighting of diyas (oil lamps) and decorating homes with rangoli (colored powders).

The Spiritual Aspect of Diwali

At its core, Diwali is a spiritual festival. The illumination of homes with lights and the skies with fireworks signifies the spiritual awakening of individuals. It is a time to introspect, to let go of past grudges, and to make a fresh start.

Diwali: A Time for Community

Diwali fosters a sense of community. It is a time when people visit each other, exchange sweets and gifts, and celebrate together. This communal aspect reinforces social bonds and promotes harmony.

In conclusion, Diwali, with its profound spiritual significance and communal celebration, serves as a beacon of hope, driving away the darkness of ignorance and bringing forth the light of knowledge and unity.

500 Words Essay on Diwali Celebration

Diwali, also known as Deepavali, is a significant festival celebrated by millions around the globe, primarily by Hindus, Sikhs, and Jains. Often referred to as the “Festival of Lights,” Diwali symbolizes the triumph of light over darkness, good over evil, and knowledge over ignorance. This essay delves into the essence of Diwali, its historical significance, and the contemporary ways of celebrating it.

Historical Significance

The roots of Diwali are embedded in ancient Indian texts, notably the Ramayana and the Puranas. The most popular narrative associates Diwali with the return of Lord Rama, his wife Sita, and brother Lakshmana to Ayodhya after a 14-year exile and victory over the demon king Ravana. The jubilant citizens of Ayodhya lit oil lamps to guide their path in the dark, a tradition that has persisted over centuries.

Symbolism of Diwali

Diwali is not just about historical events; it carries profound philosophical implications. The lighting of diyas, or lamps, signifies the illumination within oneself, leading to an awakening of the inner light of knowledge. It is a time to shed ignorance and foster an environment of understanding and tolerance. The festival also marks the beginning of a new year in some Hindu traditions, symbolizing new beginnings and the opportunity for personal growth.

Modern Celebrations

Contemporary Diwali celebrations are a blend of religious rituals, cultural practices, and social gatherings. The festival spans five days, each with its own unique traditions. It commences with Dhanteras, a day dedicated to wealth and prosperity, followed by Naraka Chaturdashi, marking the victory of Lord Krishna over the demon Narakasura. The third day, the main Diwali night, sees homes and public spaces adorned with oil lamps and electric lights. The fourth day, Govardhan Puja, celebrates the bond between humans and nature. The festival concludes with Bhai Dooj, honoring the sibling relationship.

Diwali and Environment

While Diwali is a time of joy and celebration, it’s essential to address the environmental concerns associated with it. The excessive use of firecrackers leads to air and noise pollution, adversely affecting health and contributing to the plight of animals. Many communities and individuals are now embracing eco-friendly practices, such as using biodegradable materials for decorations, limiting the use of firecrackers, and opting for community celebrations to minimize waste.

Diwali is a festival that transcends religious boundaries and has become a global cultural event. Its essence lies in the victory of light over darkness and the celebration of life. It’s a time for introspection, for seeking knowledge, and for fostering bonds with loved ones. As we move forward, it’s imperative to celebrate Diwali in a manner that respects and preserves our environment, ensuring that the Festival of Lights continues to illuminate lives for generations to come.

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Essay on Diwali 2023: Long and Short Paragraphs and 10 Lines on Deepavali

Diwali essay in english: happy diwali check here essay on diwali, short paragraph on diwali, easy diwali essay in english 10 lines for kids, diwali essay in english 300 words, long diwali essay in english and eco-friendly diwali essay in english for diwali 2023. download all the essays in pdf format for free..

How do you start a Diwali essay?

One of the best ways to start your Diwali essay is with a short and sweet Diwali wish for the reader.

Then, introduce how diwali is celebrated.

Talk about the history of diwali and its signifiance.

Essay on Diwali 2023

In this article, school students and college youngsters will find easy, short and simple essay on Diwali in English. These Diwali essays are suitable for grades 5th to 10th, 11th, 12th and beyond school as well. Download all the essays in PDF format for free from the link given at the end.

Diwali Essay in English 10 lines

Line 1: Diwali, is also known as 'Deepavali' or the 'Festival of Lights’.

Line 2: It also marks the beginning of New Year for many cultures in India.

Line 3: It signifies the return of Lord Rama to Ayodhya after defeating Ravana, symbolising the victory of good over evil and light over darkness. 

Line 4: People light diyas - earthen oil lamps and adorn their homes with colourful rangolis. 

Line 5: On Diwali, people clean their homes and decorate with flowers and colourful rangoli.

Line 6: Neighbours and families exchange gifts and sweets amongst each other .

Line 7: Goddess Lakshmi and Lord Ganesha are worshipped.

Line 8: Diwali is a five-day long festival. 

Line 9: Choti Diwali is celebrated one day before Diwali.

Line 10: Diwali is a symbol of good over evil and promotes unity and brotherhood.

Short Essay on Diwali in 200 Words

Diwali, also known as Deepavali, is a beloved and widely celebrated festival in India, symbolising the victory of light over darkness, good over evil, and knowledge over ignorance. Spanning five days, it begins with Dhanteras when homes are cleaned, new clothes and utensils are bought. The second day, Naraka Chaturdashi or Choti Diwali, marks Lord Krishna's victory over Narakasura with oil lamps. The main day, Diwali, worships Goddess Lakshmi for wealth and prosperity, lighting homes with oil lamps, rangoli, and fireworks. Govardhan Puja and Bhai Dooj follow, honoring Lord Krishna and sibling bonds.

Gift exchanges and traditional sweets like ladoos, barfis, and jalebis are integral to Diwali, symbolizing love, respect, and stronger bonds. Hindus celebrate Rama's return after defeating Ravana, Jains mark Mahavira's nirvana, and Sikhs commemorate Guru Hargobind Ji's release on Bandi Chhor Divas.

Environmental concerns have led to eco-friendly celebrations, emphasizing diyas and natural decorations to reduce the carbon footprint.

Essay on Diwali in 300 Words

Diwali, also known as Deepawali, is a significant and joyful Hindu festival celebrated with great fervor. Falling typically in the months of October or November, Diwali holds immense cultural and religious importance as it commemorates the return of Lord Rama to Ayodhya after his heroic victory over the demon king Ravana, symbolising the eternal triumph of good over evil.

During Diwali, homes go through an amazing change. They are made super-clean and look beautiful with colorful decorations. People put lots of lights, pretty flowers, and beautiful designs made of coloured powder outside their homes. It's a time when people love to give and receive gifts. They also wear new and fancy clothes, which makes everything feel even more festive and happy.

The main day of Diwali involves heartfelt prayers and rituals dedicated to Goddess Lakshmi and Lord Ganesha, the divine patrons of wealth, prosperity, and wisdom. Devotees seek their blessings for a life filled with abundance and enlightenment.

Clay diyas, radiant with an array of colors, are lit in every corner of households, symbolizing the victory of light and hope over darkness and despair. Traditionally, firecrackers were used to drive away evil spirits; however, growing concerns about their environmental impact and health effects have led to more eco-conscious celebrations.

Essay on Diwali Festival in 400 Words

Diwali, or Deepavali, is an auspicious and cherished festival celebrated with great fervor and enthusiasm across India. It is a festival that signifies the triumph of light over darkness, good over evil, and knowledge over ignorance. Typically spanning five days, Diwali is a time when families come together to engage in various customs, rituals, and traditions that have deep cultural significance.

Diwali usually falls in October or November. The festivities commence with Dhanteras, the first day, when people engage in thorough cleaning and adorn their homes. This day is also marked by the purchase of new clothes and utensils. The second day, known as Naraka Chaturdashi or Choti Diwali, is observed by lighting oil lamps to commemorate Lord Krishna's victory over the demon Narakasura. The third day, which is the main Diwali day, is dedicated to the worship of Goddess Lakshmi, the deity of wealth and prosperity. Homes are adorned with oil lamps, vibrant rangoli designs, and fireworks light up the night sky to celebrate the triumph of light. This day symbolizes the removal of spiritual darkness and the ushering in of prosperity and good fortune.

The fourth day of Diwali is Govardhan Puja, commemorating Lord Krishna's lifting of the Govardhan Hill to shield villagers from a rainstorm caused by Lord Indra. The fifth and final day is Bhai Dooj, a day dedicated to honoring the bond between brothers and sisters.

Diwali holds religious significance for various communities. Hindus celebrate it as the return of Lord Rama after vanquishing the demon king Ravana. Jains view it as the day Lord Mahavira attained nirvana, and Sikhs commemorate it as Bandi Chhor Divas, signifying Guru Hargobind Ji's release from imprisonment.

Long Essay on Diwali Celebration

Diwali is one of the most significant and widely celebrated festivals in India. It holds immense cultural, religious, and social importance, bringing people from all walks of life together in a spirit of joy and unity. This festival signifies the victory of light over darkness, good over evil and knowledge over ignorance.

Diwali typically falls in October or November. The preparations for Diwali begin weeks in advance, with families eagerly awaiting this grand festival. Homes are thoroughly cleaned and decorated and new clothes and utensils are purchased. This practice not only prepares the physical surroundings but also symbolises the inner purification of individuals and their homes.

The five-day celebration commences with Dhanteras, the first day. On this day, people worship Lord Dhanvantari, the Hindu god of medicine, and Ayurveda. It is also considered auspicious to purchase gold and silver on Dhanteras, as it is believed to bring good luck and prosperity.

The second day, Naraka Chaturdashi, is celebrated to commemorate the victory of Lord Krishna over the demon Narakasura. People wake up early and take an oil bath to purify themselves. They then light oil lamps and candles all around their homes and offices.

The third day is the main Diwali day, also known as Lakshmi Puja. This day is dedicated to the worship of Goddess Lakshmi, the Hindu goddess of wealth and prosperity. Families come together to perform special prayers and pujas to seek blessings for a prosperous year ahead. Homes are adorned with oil lamps, colorful rangoli designs, and flowers. In the evening, people burst firecrackers to celebrate the victory of good over evil.

The fourth day of Diwali is known as Govardhan Puja or Padwa. On this day, people worship Lord Krishna for lifting the Govardhan Hill to protect the villagers from Lord Indra's wrath. People also visit their relatives and friends and exchange gifts and sweets.

The fifth and final day of Diwali is Bhai Dooj, also known as Yama Dwitiya. This day is dedicated to celebrating the bond between brothers and sisters. Sisters prepare special dishes for their brothers and apply a tilak (vermilion mark) on their foreheads. Brothers, in return, give gifts to their sisters.

Long Essay on Diwali, Pollution Free and Eco-friendly Deepavali in 600 Words

Deepawali, also known as Diwali, is one of the most popular and auspicious festivals celebrated in India. Also known as the festival of lights, it marks the victory of good over evil, knowledge over ignorance, and hope over despair. Diwali is celebrated on the darkest night of the Hindu lunar month Kartika, which usually falls in October or November.

The word Diwali is derived from the Sanskrit word Deepavali, which means "a row of lamps." The festival is celebrated by lighting diyas (oil lamps) and candles all around the house and office. This symbolizes the victory of light over darkness and the triumph of good over evil. Diwali is a significant festival for Hindus all over the world. It is a time to celebrate the victory of good over evil, knowledge over ignorance, and hope over despair. The festival also marks the beginning of the new Hindu year.

Diwali is also celebrated to commemorate the return of Lord Rama to Ayodhya after defeating the demon king Ravana. Rama was exiled from Ayodhya for 14 years, and his return was marked with great joy and celebration. The people of Ayodhya lit diyas and decorated their homes to welcome him back. Another reason why Diwali is celebrated is to honor Lakshmi, the Hindu goddess of wealth and prosperity. People perform Lakshmi Puja on Diwali night to seek her blessings for wealth and good fortune.

Diwali is a time for families and friends to come together and celebrate. People clean and decorate their homes, buy new clothes, and prepare delicious food. On Diwali night, people gather to light diyas, perform Lakshmi Puja, and exchange gifts. Diwali is also a time for families and friends to come together and celebrate. It is a time to forgive and forget, and to start fresh. The festival is also a time to give and receive, and to spread joy and happiness. Diwali is also a time for giving back to the community. People donate to charities and help those in need. The festival is a reminder to be grateful for our blessings and to share them with others.

Diwali is celebrated with great enthusiasm and joy all over India. People start preparing for the festival weeks in advance. They clean their homes, decorate them with lights and rangolis, and buy new clothes. On Diwali night, people light diyas and candles all around their homes and offices. They also perform Lakshmi Puja to seek her blessings for wealth and good fortune. After the puja, people exchange gifts with their family and friends. People prepare delicious food and sweets, and share them with their loved ones.

In recent years, there has been a growing awareness about the environmental impact of Diwali celebrations. People are now more conscious about using eco-friendly ways to celebrate the festival.

Eco-friendly Diwali, also known as "Green Diwali," is an environmentally conscious approach to celebrating the festival of lights. It involves minimising the harmful environmental impacts associated with traditional Diwali practices. People choose to use eco-friendly alternatives, such as clay diyas (oil lamps) instead of electric lights, to reduce electricity consumption. Additionally, eco-friendly fireworks, which produce fewer pollutants and noise, are gaining popularity. Rangoli designs made from natural materials and organic, biodegradable decorations contribute to a cleaner and more sustainable celebration. Eco-friendly Diwali aims to preserve the environment, reduce air and noise pollution, and promote a more responsible and harmonious way of celebrating this cherished festival.

Paragraphs on Diwali

Diwali celebrations, five days of diwali, what are the five days of diwali 2023.

Day 1: Dhanteras, Friday, November 10, 2023

Day 2: Naraka Chaturdashi or Choti Diwali, Saturday, November 11, 2023 

Day 3: Diwali and Lakshmi Pooja, Sunday, November 12, 2023

Day 4: Govardhan pooja, Monday, November 13, 2023

Diwali 2023 Wishes in English

1. "May the festival of lights fill your life with happiness and prosperity. Wishing you a sparkling and joyous Diwali!"

2. "Happy Diwali! May your life be illuminated with the divine blessings of Lord Rama."

3. "Wishing you a Diwali filled with love, laughter, and all things bright and beautiful. Have a wonderful celebration!"

4. "Wishing you a safe and prosperous Diwali! Let the brightness of Diyas light up your world with success and happiness."

Why Do We Celebrate Diwali?

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• How do we celebrate Diwali 10 lines? + On Diwali, people light diyas - earthen oil lamps and adorn their homes with colourful rangolis. We clean our homes and decorate it with flowers. Neighbours and families exchange gifts and sweets amongst each other as a symbol of good will, well being and best regards. Goddess Lakshmi and Lord Ganesha are worshipped on this day.
• When are diwali holidays in 2023? + Diwali 2023 is on Sunday November 12, 2023. However, the 1st day of Diwali is Dhanteras on Friday, November 10, 2023. Day 2 is Naraka Chaturdasi (Chotti Diwali) on Saturday, November 11, 2023. Day 3 is the Lakshmi Puja or Diwali on Sunday, November 12, 2023. Day 4 is Govardhan Puja on Tuesday, November 14, 2023. Lastly, Day 5 is Bhai Dooj on Wednesday, November 15, 2023.
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Study Today

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Diwali Festival of Lights | History & Significance | Celebrations | Essay

February 16, 2018 by Study Mentor Leave a Comment

The beloved festival of lights which brightens up the entire country is none other than the festival of Diwali. It is a Hindu festival celebrated in India in autumn in the northern hemisphere, while it is celebrated in spring on the southern hemisphere.It is one of my favourite festival .

The date on which it is celebrated varies according to the Hindi calendar. It is a festival that symbolizes the victory of light over darkness, the triumph of the good over evil in this world.

It is usually celebrated over a span of 5 days, while the main day of Diwali occurs on the darkest night of the Hindi lunar solar month that is Kartika.

Table of Contents

History of Diwali 

The history and significance of Diwali is different for different cultures and religions. In Hinduism, Diwali marks the celebration that commemorated the return of Lord Rama, his wife Sita, his brother Laxman and Lord Hanuman to the Kingdom of Ayodhya, from the forest after an exile of 14 years.

This exile was imposed on Lord Rama by his father, King Dasharatha on the request of Kaikeyi, Rama’s step-mother. Rama had returned after defeating Ravana, the evil monarch of Lanka. Since Rama, who symbolizes light, triumphs over Ravana, who symbolizes darkness, Diwali is celebrated as the festivals of lights.

In Sikhism, Diwali marks the day of Bandi Chhor Divas. Bandi Chhor Divas is significant as the day when Guru Har Gobind freed himself and some Hindu Kings, from the prison in the fort of Gwalior.

They were in the imprisonment of the Mughal emperor, Jahangir, from where they escaped and arrived at the Golden Temple in Amritsar. Ever since then, Sikhs celebrate Bandi Chhor Divas, by decoration the  Golden Temple with attractive lighting, the bursting of fireworks and other festivities.

In Jainism, Diwali holds a special significance, since it was the day when Mahavira, the last of the spiritual teachers called Tirthankars, attended Nirvana.

So Diwali is celebrated by Jains as a remembrance to Mahavira across Jain temples all over India. Buddhists celebrate Diwali as homage to Goddess Laxmi. This symbolizes their freedom granted to worship any deity, for the betterment of the world. They also celebrate Diwali on a span of 5 days.

Diwali Celebration

Diwali is celebrated across India over a period of 5 days. The days include Dhanteras , Naraka Chaturdasi, Laxmi Puja, Balipratipada or Padwa and on the last day, Bhaiya Duji or Bhav beej.

Dhanteras, is celebrated in northern and western parts of India and is the first day to start off the five day festival. During and before Dhanteras, people start cleaning their  houses and business places.

Women and children are involved in the decoration of the entrances with Rangoli which are creative and colourful designs made with colored powder.

These Rangolis are made both inside the house and also in the hallways of their houses, buildings and the offices. Another tradition of the festival is decorating the houses and buildings with the lights, colorful lamps and such decorations.

This period is also utilized by people to redecorate or renovate their homes. On the night of Dhanteras, diyas, which are small lamps made of clay, are lit and are kept burning throughout the nights. This is done to honor Lakshmi, the Goddess of wealth and Dhanvantari.

Narak Chaturdasi is the second day of the festival of Diwali and it is also called as Choti Diwali. According to the Hindu mythology, Narak Chaturdasi marks the day when a demon named Narakasura was killed by Lord Krishna.

The day is celebrated by performing early morning religious rituals such as poojas and then celebrations and feasts follow. Interestingly, this day is celebrated as Diwali in the states of Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Tamil Nadu and Goa.

Women often decorate their hands with intricate designs using henna or mehendi. The preparation of sweets, snacks and other food items is also a common tradition of this festival.

The food is then distributed to neighbours and loved ones. The third day of Diwali is Laxmi Puja. It is the most important day of the festival. People go shopping for new clothes and dress up in their best outfits on this day as they look forward to joining the celebrations.

Diwali or Deepawali is a festival which is celebrated by every Indian, irrespective of their religion. caste or culture. It is a festivity that brings people together and promotes a sense of brotherhood towards one and another.

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Story of Diwali - Festival of Lights

Introduction to story of diwali.

Isn't the festival of lights Diwali your favourite festival? Let us hear the Diwali story. Diwali is the festival of lights. Everyone lights lamps in their homes on the day of Diwali. People decorate their houses with flowers, lamps, rangolis, and lights. Diwali is a festival that Hindus celebrate in India. It is to celebrate the victory of good over evil. This festival also teaches us unity and togetherness. 

Festival of Diwali

People go to each other's houses and greet them with happiness and wealth. They all worship goddess Laxmi on Diwali. People also firecrackers and light lamps to showcase their happiness. The main motto of the festival is to make people understand how these festivals teach us morals. Everyone gives sweets to each other and offers food to needy people. People also clean their houses and surroundings to welcome everyone. Diwali is a festival to celebrate happiness and love. 

Diwali Story

Lord Ram was sent into exile for fourteen years. He was accompanied by Lord Lakshman and Goddess Sita. Lord Lakshman is Lord Ram’s brother and Goddess Sita is Lord Ram’s wife. They all spent fourteen years wandering in jungles. Ravana who was the king of Lanka kidnapped Goddess Sita. He was the rival of Lord Ram and deceived Goddess Sita by converting himself into a saint.

Lord Rama with Lord Lakshman, Lord Hanuman, and thousands of monkeys went to fight Ravana. They fought many battles with the rival forces. Lord Rama defeated Ravana and saved Goddess Sita. He won a war over evil. They returned to Ayodhya after defeating Ravana with a great victory. His arrival in Ayodhya spread happiness and smiles among all the residents. He was being welcomed with flowers and lamps. People worshipped Lord Rama and Goddess Sita and their companions. 

Why Do We Celebrate Diwali?

Lord Rama returned to Ayodhya after 14 years of exile. All the people of Ayodhya were tremendously happy to hear the news. They decorated the whole place with flowers and lighted lamps all around. They made Ayodhya very beautiful. When Lord Rama reached Ayodhya they worshipped all of them.

After their arrival in Ayodhya, people start celebrating that day as Diwali every year. People light lamps and decorate their homes with flowers. Diwali is to celebrate the victory of good over evil. People showcase their happiness and love towards each other. They give sweets to each other

Why Do People Worship Goddess Laxmi on Diwali?

People also worship Goddess Laxmi on Diwali. Goddess Laxmi showers wealth and happiness on everyone. People also worship Lord Ganesha and Goddess Saraswati. Everyone offers them sweets and flowers. They ask for their happiness, wealth, and good health.

Diwali also teaches us to always be happy even in bad times. We should also light lamps in others’ lives. We should help the needy and poor people. We should give them food and clothes. We should never disrespect them.

Diwali is the festival of lights and happiness. People celebrate Diwali as a victory of good over evil. They celebrate Lord Ram’s arrival in Ayodhya. People decorate their homes with lights and rangolis. They wear new clothes and offer sweets to everyone. Diwali is the favourite festival of most people. It teaches us to stay together and happy.

FAQs on Story of Diwali - Festival of Lights

1. How do people celebrate Diwali?

People celebrate Diwali by decorating their homes with lights, flowers, and diyas. Children also make rangoli at houses to make them pretty. People also cook tasty food and dishes which include sweets to eat and offer it to other people. Children firecrackers as well as light lamps. They go to each other's houses and offer their happiness and blessings. On Diwali, everyone worships lord Ram, goddess Lakshmi, Lord Ganesha, and Goddess Saraswati. Diwali is the festival that teaches us that good will overcome evil less.

2. Why do we celebrate Diwali?

Lord Rama defeated Ravana during his 14 years of exile. Ra one kidnapped goddess Sita in a deceived way. Lord Ram killed the forces of Ravana and saved the goddess, Sita. He returned to Ayodhya after 14 years with a victory. People were extremely happy to hear this news and that is why they decorated the whole city of Ayodhya. They covered it with flowers and light lamps. They offered sweets to each other. When lord Ram came they worshipped him with enlightened diyas everywhere.

3. What makes the festival of Diwali special among other festivals?  

Diwali is not only the festival of lights but also a festival for us to understand the importance of goodness. As we celebrate this festival to celebrate the victory of good over evil, this festival showcases the importance of light in our lives. People by wishing each other blessings and giving sweets offer them all the happiness of the world. We also light lamps in this festival and decorate our homes and surroundings to light our lives with happiness. People wear new clothes and make delicious dishes at their homes. These things together make Diwali extremely special.

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• English Essays for Kids
• Diwali Essay

An Essay On Diwali

Diwali is one of the most popular festivals of Hindus which is celebrated with great fervour and delight. Children have a great time when they are asked to write an essay on Diwali as they get an opportunity to share their joyful experiences about the festival. Youngsters usually love this festival as it brings a lot of happiness and delightful moments for everyone. They get to meet their family, friends and relatives and share greetings and gifts with their loved ones.

Download “An Essay On Diwali” PDF for Free

An essay on Diwali in English helps children to express their views and convey their feelings about the essence of the auspicious festival. Your children can check the essay on Diwali festival given below and try writing a few lines on this topic to express or share their personal experiences about the holy festival.

Here’s a short essay on Diwali for young learners to refer to while drafting an essay on their own:

“Diwali, also known as ‘Deepavali’ (a row of lamps), is one of the most fervently celebrated festivals of India. Diwali is often called the ‘Festival of Lights’, and is celebrated by lighting lamps, and bursting crackers and fireworks. It is a festival which commemorates the victorious return of Lord Rama to Ayodhya after saving his wife Sita from the demon king Ravana. This religious festival represents the triumph of good over evil and light over darkness.

People all over India celebrate Diwali by lighting earthen oil lamps and decorating their houses with lights of different colours and sizes. All these lights transform streets across India into a mesmerising sight to behold. Kids celebrate the occasion by bursting crackers and different fireworks like sparklers, rockets, flower pots, fountains, peony fireworks, etc.

Diwali falls on the 20th day after the festival of Dussehra, usually in October or November every year. Families and friends visit each other, exchange gifts, and share delicious food to celebrate the occasion. Goddess Lakshmi, the goddess of wealth, is also worshipped on the occasion.

In recent years, the use of crackers and fireworks has come down dramatically as it contributes to air pollution and noise pollution, especially in cities where you hear a cracker bursting every other second. There are also safety issues concerning the use of fireworks, especially by children. So let us celebrate this festival of lights with more care and responsibility.”

We hope the above essay for Diwali festival English proves beneficial for young learners who wish to compose an essay on this topic. We have made a modest attempt from our end to justify the essence of the auspicious Diwali festival in the essay given above. Kids can pick some ideas from this sample essay on Diwali and draft a few lines and learn how to frame sentences and enhance their English writing skills simultaneously.

For more such engrossing essay topics , you can check our Kids Learning page and make learning a fun experience for your little one.

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Why is Diwali celebrated | History of Diwali | Diwali Festival Essay

Diwali festival is probably the most significant festival in India. Over the past few years, it is celebrated all over the world. But why is Diwali celebrated? What is the history of Diwali festival?

The most well-known reason for Diwali celebration is the return of Lord Rama to Ayodhya after 14 years of exile.

But this is not the only reason. We will take a look at all the reasons for celebrating Diwali festival in the subsequent sections. 

So are you excited!

Let’s take a deep dive into the details of the festival of Deepawali. We will also see the details of Diwali Puja in the upcoming sections.

Let me first tell you about the Diwali 2018 Dates:

• Dhanteras 2018: 5th November 2018
• Choti Diwali 2018: 6th November 2018
• Diwali 2018: 7th November 2018
• Govardhan Puja 2018: 8th November 2018
• Bhai Dooj 2018: 9th November 2018

Diwali means “series of light”. That’s why it is also known as the “Festival of Lights”. In Sanskrit, Diwali is called as “Deepawali”.

It is a four-day affair in India usually starting from Dhanteras and ending at Govardhan Puja. 

Diwali is celebrated during the new moon (darkest night) at the end of the Hindu lunar month of Ashvin and the start of the month of Kartika (October/November) as per the Hindu calendar. 

Apart from India, there is an official holiday on Diwali in countries like Fiji, Guyana, Malaysia, Mauritius, Nepal, Singapore, Sri Lanka, Suriname, Trinidad and Tobago and recently Sindh Province in Pakistan.

History of Diwali Festival – Reasons why is Diwali celebrated

Return of lord rama to ayodhya in ramayana.

During 14 years of exile, Ravana in the form of a sage abducted Sita Mata (wife of Rama) using trickery.

Lord Ram, on hearing this, launches a war against the army of Ravana and reaches Lanka to fight Ravana and bring his wife back. The victory of Lord Rama in the epic battle of Ramayana symbolizes the victory of good over evil.

It is believed that when people of Ayodhya heard that Lord Rama is coming back to Ayodhya after 14 years of exile, they decorate the entire city with oil lamps (diyas), flowers and rangolis.

This is why Diwali is also known as the festival of lights.

Birthday of Goddess Lakshmi

Diwali celebration is also linked with the worship of Goddess Lakshmi who is the goddess of wealth and prosperity and is the wife of Lord Vishnu.

The 5-day festival of Diwali begins on the day Goddess Lakshmi was born from the churning of cosmic ocean (Kshir Sagar) of milk by the Devas (gods) and the Asuras (demons).

During the night of Diwali is the day Lakshmi chose Vishnu as her husband and they were married.

Along with Lakshmi, devotees make offerings to Lord Ganesha, Goddess Saraswati and God Kubera.

• People worship Lord Ganesha for noble beginnings and removal of obstructions.
• Saraswati is the goddess of music, literature and learning.
• Worshipping Kubera symbolizes book-keeping, treasury and wealth management.

Some people believe that Diwali is the day when Lord Vishnu came back to Lakshmi and their adobe in the Vaikuntha.

That is why those who Lakshmi during Diwali receive the benefit of her good mood.

Return of Pandavas to Hastinapur in Mahabharata

According to the Mahabharata, people celebrate the return of Pandavas along with their wife Draupadi and mother Kunti to Hastinapur

They illuminate the entire city of Hastinapur with bright earthen lamps.

This tradition of lighting lamps in the memory of the return of the Pandavas is believed to be kept alive by celebrating the festival of Diwali.

Lord Vishnu defeated Demon King Bali in his Vamana Avatar

It is also believed that on this very day (Diwali day), Lord Vishnu in his fifth incarnation as Vamana-avatar defeated King Bali and pushed him into the nether world .

Although a demon, Bali was a generous king.

Thus pleased with his kindness, Lord Vishnu grants him a boon that he could return to earth for 1 day in a year to dispel darkness by lighting millions of lamps along with the people.

This day of the annual return of King Bali to earth is celebrated as Bali Padyami.

This is one of the reasons for celebrating Diwali.

Lord Krishna killed Narakasura

According to a legend, Narakasura was the son of Bhudevi (Mother Earth) and the Varaha incarnation of Lord Vishnu.

It was prophesied that he will be killed by later incarnation of Lord Vishnu. Thus his mother Bhudevi asks for a boon from Vishnu that his son should live long and become all powerful. Vishnu fulfils all her wishes.

Narakasura defeats all the kings on earth and brings all the kingdoms under his control. He was so powerful that even the King of Devas, Indra was not able to withstand his might and was forced to flee away from the heaven (Swarga).

Thus Narakasura becomes the lord of heaven and earth. He stole the earring of Aditi (mother of the gods) and abducted 16000 women.

Devas went to Lord Vishnu for help. He assured them he in his “Krishna” avatar will destroy Narakasura.

Later Vishnu incarnated as Krishna. Then Aditi approached Krishna’s wife Satyabhama (incarnation of Bhudevi) for help.

Krishna along with Satyabhama defeated Narakasura. Before his death, Narakasura asked for a boon from his mother Satyabhama that the day he died will be celebrated with colourful lights.

Thus the day before Diwali i.e. Choti Diwali is celebrated as Naraka Chaturdashi.

MUST READ:  How Krishna died in Mahabharata?

Kali Puja – Goddess Kali from the forehead of Goddess Durga

In regions like West Bengal and Odisha, devotees worship Goddess Kali instead of Goddess Lakshmi. It is known as Kali Puja.

According to legend, long ago after the gods lost in a battle with the demons, Goddess Kali was born as Kal Bhoi Nashini from the forehead of Goddess Durga.

Said to be a personification of Nari Shakti (female power), Kali was born to save heaven and earth from the growing cruelty of the demons.

After killing all the devils, Kali lost her control and started killing anyone who came her way which stopped only when Lord Shiva intervened.

The well-known picture of Ma Kali, with her tongue hanging out, actually depicts the moment when she steps on the Lord and repents.

That momentous day has been commemorated ever since and the main purpose of celebrating Kali Puja is to seek the help of the goddess in destroying evil both external and internal to us as also to get her blessings for general happiness, health, wealth, and peace.

Coronation of King Vikramaditya

King Vikramaditya was known for his generosity, bravery and wisdom. He was the legendary emperor of ancient India who is credited for the “Vikram Samvat”, the Hindu calendar.

It is believed that when he was coronated as the king, citizens of his kingdom celebrate this event by lighting small earthen lamps.

Many people and a few historians believe that this is the reason for the annual celebration of the festival of Diwali.

Enlightenment of Vardhamana Mahavira

In Jainism , Diwali is celebrated for a different reason.

On the day of Diwali, 24th and last Tirthankaras of the Jains of present cosmic age, Vardhamana Mahavira attains Nirvana or Moksha (enlightenment).

This event occurred on 15th October 527 BCE.

Read More about the Enlightenment of Mahavira and the Diwali celebration of Jains

Diwali in Sikhism

Diwali in Sikhism has a special place because of various reasons:

• It was on a Diwali day that the third Sikh Guru Amar Das systematized the celebration of lights as an event when all Sikhs would assemble to get the Gurus blessings.
• In 1619 on this day, Guru Hargobind (6th Sikh Guru) was released by Mughal Emperor Jahangir from Gwalior Fort.
• Also on the day of Diwali, the foundation stone of the “Sri Harmandir Sahib”, also known as Golden Temple was laid in 1577.

Spiritual Significance of Diwali

Festival of Diwali signifies the victory of light over darkness, good over evil and knowledge over ignorance.

It is a symbol of hope over despair. The night of new moon indicates despair because it is the darkest night. Despite this darkness, we illuminate our homes and subsequently our lives by lighting candles and diyas. 

It symbolises the victory of inner light (Rama) over spiritual darkness (Ravana).

Ravana was the greatest devotee of Lord Shiva and also a great scholar. But when his ego overshadowed his intellect, he was defeated by Rama.

Details of Diwali Puja

1. day 1 – dhanteras.

Dhanteras is celebrated on the first day of Diwali. It is also known as Dhanwantari Trayodashi.

During this day, people usually buy utensils, silverware or gold. It is believed that if you buy some form of precious metal on Dhanteras, it will bring you good luck and prosperity.

Dhanvantari ( God of Ayurveda) is also worshipped on Dhanteras .

From 2016 onwards, this day is also declared as the “ National Ayurveda Day ” by the Government of India.

Yamraj Story – Dhanteras:

There is an ancient legend associated with Dhanteras [ Source ] . Once there was a King named Hima. He has a son who was newly married.

His horoscope prophesied his death on his 16th birthday due to a snake-bite. In order to protect her husband, his wife kept him awake all night on his birthday.

She accumulated all her ornaments in a heap and placed them at their doorstep. Inside, she lit the room with lamps to eliminate darkness from every nook and corner.

She thought that her husband may die if he falls asleep. So to keep him awake, she started singing songs and reciting poems.

When Yama Raja, the god of death arrived, disguised as a snake, to take the life of his husband, his eyes get dazzled by the bright light of lamps inside the room. Because of this, he was unable to enter the room.

Thus he failed in his attempt to enter the room and sat on the top of the heap of ornaments and listen to songs recited by the prince’s wife all night.

In this way, the prince was saved. Thus many people keep the lamps burning throughout the night of Dhanteras. 

2. Day 2 – Choti Diwali or Naraka Chaturdashi

On the second day, Choti Diwali is celebrated. It involves preparations for the Badi Diwali. People start decorating their houses with lights and hold get-togethers.

As I told you earlier that according to Bhagavata Purana, the asura (demon) named Narakasura was killed by Krishna, Satyabhama and Kali on this day. That’s why Choti Diwali is also known as Naraka Chaturdashi.

3. Day 3 – Badi Diwali – Lakshmi Puja

On the fourth day, Badi Diwali is celebrated. People wear new clothes or their best outfits during this day.

They lit the diyas or the candles and perform Lakshmi Puja and also worship Ganesha, Saraswati and Kubera.

Lakshmi is believed to roam on earth on Diwali night. On the evening of Diwali, people open their doors and windows to welcome Lakshmi and place diyas on their windowsills and balcony ledges to invite her in.  

After Diwali Puja get over, people on the streets burst crackers. The fireworks signify the celebration of Diwali as well a way to chase away evil spirits.

4. Day 4 – Govardhan Puja

The day after Diwali is celebrated as Govardhan Puja in honour of Lord Krishna.

According to Bhagavata Purana, on this day when  Krishna lifted Govardhan Hill  to provide the villagers of Vrindavan shelter from torrential rains.

The incident is seen to represent how God will protect all devotees who take singular refuge in him.

5. Day 5 – Bhai Duj or Bhaiya Dooji

It celebrates the sister-brother loving relationship. It is similar to Raksha Bandhan but with different rituals. The day ritually emphasizes the love and lifelong bond between siblings.

On this day, sisters apply tilak on their brother’s forehead and siblings pray for each other’s well-being.

What people do in Diwali Holidays

People during Diwali paint their houses, buy new clothes and light their houses. On Diwali night, people dress up in new clothes or their best outfits. light up diyas inside and outside their houses

People light up diyas inside and outside their houses, participate in family puja typically to Lakshmi (goddess of fertility and prosperity).

After the puja, people burst firecrackers. By the Diwali for kids is all about burning crackers all night.

Relatives distribute sweets with each other. There is an exchange of gifts between family members and close friends. 

Diwali is one of the biggest shopping seasons in India and Nepal. People buy new clothes for themselves and their families, as well as gifts, appliances, kitchen utensils, even expensive items such as cars and gold jewellery.

Kaju Katli, Besan Laddoo and Soan Papdi are some of the most common sweets enjoyed during Diwali.

I'm Ron Baker, a curious soul who loves exploring the fascinating worlds of entertainment, mysteries, and religion. I enjoy sharing my thoughts and discoveries on this website, hoping to connect with like-minded individuals.

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The Legacy of Pericles: Defining Leadership and Democracy in Ancient Athens

This essay is about Pericles, the eminent statesman of Ancient Athens, whose legacy transcends time. It explores his rise to prominence, his dedication to democratic principles, and his significant impact on Athenian culture and governance. Despite facing criticism for his ties to the aristocracy and imperial ambitions, Pericles’ contributions to democracy, justice, and cultural excellence remain influential, inspiring leaders and shaping modern democratic ideals.

How it works

In the vast expanse of human history, there stands a figure whose brilliance eclipses even the most resplendent stars of antiquity. Pericles, the eminent statesman of Ancient Athens, emerges as a monumental figure whose legacy defies the erosion of time, echoing through the aspirations of generations yet to come.

Born into the turbulent tides of the fifth century BCE, Pericles rose from a privileged background to become the architect of Athenian democracy. His life was intricately woven with the fate of Athens, a city alive with ambition and innovation.

Within this crucible of change, Pericles, equipped with a keen intellect and unwavering determination, carved his name into the annals of history.

At the core of Pericles’ lasting legacy is his unwavering commitment to democratic principles. Unlike the tyrants and autocrats of his era, Pericles embraced the radical idea that power should rest not with a select few but with the collective will of the people. His vision of democracy was more than a political system; it was a sacred covenant, affirming the inherent dignity and agency of every individual.

Under his enlightened leadership, Athens thrived as a dynamic democracy, where the Assembly became the heart of civic engagement and debate. Here, citizens from various backgrounds and perspectives gathered to discuss and decide the city’s future, guided by the belief that the people’s voice should prevail. Pericles’ eloquence and statesmanship invigorated the Athenian polity, transforming it into a beacon of governance that would inspire future generations.

Pericles’ legacy, however, extends beyond politics to encompass the rich tapestry of Athenian culture and intellectual vitality. Under his patronage, Athens flourished as a center of artistic and philosophical enlightenment, drawing luminaries from across the Hellenic world. The Parthenon, with its majestic columns and intricate friezes, stands as a testament to Pericles’ vision of Athens as a cradle of cultural excellence, where the pursuit of knowledge and beauty was a revered duty.

Yet, Pericles’ legacy is not without complexity and contradiction. While he championed the ideals of democracy and equality, his leadership was also subject to criticism. Some accused him of elitism, pointing to his close ties with the aristocracy and his role in advancing Athens’ imperial ambitions. Furthermore, his advocacy for assertive foreign policies, which culminated in the tumultuous Peloponnesian War, remains a topic of scholarly debate. Despite these controversies, Pericles’ legacy endures, reflecting the nuanced nature of leadership and the ongoing struggle to balance power with principle.

In the centuries following Pericles’ death, his legacy continued to resonate through the corridors of power and the pages of history. His impassioned speeches, immortalized by Thucydides, inspired leaders across epochs and civilizations, from Roman orators to the architects of modern democracies. His vision of democracy as a force for progress and enlightenment continues to reverberate in the collective consciousness of humanity.

Ultimately, the true measure of Pericles’ legacy lies not in monuments of stone and marble but in the enduring ideals he championed. His steadfast belief in the power of the people, his relentless pursuit of justice and equality, and his indomitable spirit in the face of adversity are the hallmarks of genuine leadership—timeless virtues that transcend the boundaries of time and space. As we reflect on the remnants of ancient Athens, let us see not just relics of a bygone era, but the enduring legacy of a visionary leader whose influence continues to light the way toward a brighter future.

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