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[116] On this day, many Hindus clean their homes and business premises. [140] It is regionally called Annakut (heap of grain), Padwa, Goverdhan puja, Bali Pratipada, Bali Padyami, Kartik Shukla Pratipada and other names. The exact dates change each year because it follows the lunar calendar, but it is typically celebrated in October or November over a 5-day span: On day. More Topics The first day, November 2, is Dhanteras. Each day of Diwali is marked differently. A variety of entertainments are usually available for inhabitants of the local community to enjoy. [109] Textual evidence suggests that Bengali Hindus worshipped Lakshmi before the colonial era, and that the Kali puja is a more recent phenomenon. These purchases are often gold and silver items or new utensils. Diwali or Deepavali, also known as the "Festival of Lights," is the biggest festival in theHindu calendar, celebrated in early fall of each year. In 2023, Diwali is on November 12. Diwali is observed as a Gazetted Holiday throughout the nation. [68] In his paper on The Lunar Year of the Hindus, Jones, then based in Bengal, noted four of the five days of Diwali in the autumn months of Aswina-Cartica [sic] as the following: Bhutachaturdasi Yamaterpanam (2nd day), Lacshmipuja dipanwita (the day of Diwali), Dyuta pratipat Belipuja (4th day), and Bhratri dwitiya (5th day). Sharell Cook lives in Mumbai full-time and writes about India travel. Since the 18th century, Diwali has been celebrated in Sikhism as the time of Guru Hargobinds return to Amritsar from captivity in Gwalioran echo of Ramas return to Ayodhya. Diwali is celebrated for five days, each with its own special significance. When Is Diwali in 2021, 2022 and 2023? Though technically religious, it's also become a cultural event in North America that's celebrated with sweets and special foods. [154][155][91], Diwali marks a major shopping period in India,[31] and is comparable to the Christmas period in terms of consumer purchases and economic activity. [116] The term Dhan for this day also alludes to the Ayurvedic icon Dhanvantari, the god of health and healing, who is believed to have emerged from the "churning of cosmic ocean" on the same day as Lakshmi. Subhadra welcomes him with a tilaka on his forehead. Diwali along with Holi for Hindus, and Easter for Christians, was adopted as public holiday resolution by Pakistan's parliament in 2016, giving the local governments and public institutions the right to declare Holi as a holiday and grant leave for its minority communities, for the first time. [116][114] Women and children decorate doorways within homes and offices with rangolis, colourful designs made from rice flour, flower petals, colored rice or colored sand,[23] while the boys and men decorate the roofs and walls of family homes, markets, and temples and string up lights and lanterns. On this Wikipedia the language links are at the top of the page across from the article title. The Diwali festival actually runs for five days, with the main event happening on the third day in most places in India. In 2019, Diwali started on October 25 as reported by The Fact. It coincides with the day of Kali Chaudas. [124], As the evening approaches, celebrants will wear new clothes or their best outfits, teenage girls and women, in particular, wear saris and jewelry. It is a day in which people rid themselves of evil and everything negative. It is a time when families come together, friends are reunited and everyone celebrates the triumph of good over evil. Diwali for the year 2022 is observed on 24 October, which falls on a Monday. He has written several books about Hinduism for children and young adults. iStockphoto.com/SoumenNath What Do People Do? Answer (1 of 6): Hindus do not follow date system. There are many stories around the celebration of Diwali. Diwali, also known as Deepawali, is the Hindu festival of lights. [183] These invisible yet harmful particles affect the environment and in turn, put people's health at stake. The Jain Diwali celebrated in many parts of India has similar practices to the Hindu Diwali, such as the lighting of lamps and the offering of prayers to Lakshmi. Encyclopaedia Britannica's editors oversee subject areas in which they have extensive knowledge, whether from years of experience gained by working on that content or via study for an advanced degree. [162][q] ASSOCHAM, a trade organisation in India, forecasted that online shopping alone to be over 300 billion (US$3.8billion) over the 2017 Diwali season. Residents of Amritsar lit lamps throughout the city to celebrate the occasion. October 18, 2019 By Simran Jeet Singh (RNS) With more than a billion people celebrating Diwali every year, the festival is one of the largest and most significant religious observances. This year's festival begins on Oct. 22. The third day is Diwali and the height of the festival. Diwali falls in either October or November each year, depending on the cycle of the moon. This year, Diwali or Deepavali will take place on October 24. Fireworks are often set off in the evening to celebrate Diwali. This legend is remembered through the ritual of building small mountain-like miniatures from cow dung. [73] According to Lorenz Franz Kielhorn, a German Indologist known for translating many Indic inscriptions, this festival is mentioned as Dipotsavam in verses 6 and 7 of the Ranganatha temple Sanskrit inscription of the 13th-century Kerala Hindu king Ravivarman Samgramadhira. While every effort has been made to follow citation style rules, there may be some discrepancies. [147] In historic times, this was a day in autumn when brothers would travel to meet their sisters, or invite their sister's family to their village to celebrate their sister-brother bond with the bounty of seasonal harvests. Dev Deepawali or Dev Diwali takes place on the full-moon night of the Hindu month of Kartika. A diya that is filled with sesame oil is lit at back of their homes facing in the southern direction. While different historical events are observed in different regions and by different faiths, Diwali represents the triumph of light over darkness, and knowledge over ignorance for all the cultures that celebrate it. Every year it is celebrated on the darkest night of the Hindu month Kartika. The Prayer Hymn (Aarti) for the Hindu Diwali Celebration, Hindu Calendar: Days, Months, Years and Epochs, The Real Reason for the Hindu Raksha Bandhan Celebration, History and Significance of Diwali, the Festival of Lights, Reasons to Celebrate Diwali the Festival of Lights, Calendar of Hindu Festivals, Fasts, and Religious Events 20202025, The History of Vasant Panchami, the Birth of Hindu Goddess Saraswati, A Guide to the 6 Seasons of the Hindu Calendar, A Guide to Lohri, The Hindu Winter Bonfire Festival, Evaluating Population Exposure to Environmental Pollutants During Deepavali Fireworks Displays Using Air Quality Measurements of the Safar Network, Whose Diwali Is It? Get a Britannica Premium subscription and gain access to exclusive content. [43], The artisan Hindu and Sikh community celebrates the fourth day as the Vishwakarma puja day. Diwali or Deepavali - "The festival of lights" is one of the most important festivals for Hindus. Diwali 2023: 12 th of November, Sunday It is mentioned in Sanskrit texts dating from the fourth century CE but was likely practiced for many hundreds of years before that. For the Jain community, the festival commemorates the enlightenment and liberation (moksha) of Mahavira, the most recent of the Jain Tirthankaras, from the cycle of life and death (samsara). Diwali celebrates Rama's eventual defeat of the evil spirit Ravana, and his triumphant return to his home. Confectioners and shops create Diwali-themed decorative displays, selling these in large quantities, which are stocked for home celebrations to welcome guests and as gifts. In the diaspora, all the countries in the world outside of the Indian subcontinent where Indian people have settled, Diwali is considered a public celebration open to Hindus and anyone else. A variety of sweets are prepared using flour, semolina, rice, chickpea flour, dry fruit pieces powders or paste, milk solids (mawa or khoya) and clarified butter (ghee). [174][175] Barack Obama became the first president to personally attend Diwali at the White House in 2009. "[74][h], Jain inscriptions, such as the 10th-century Saundatti inscription about a donation of oil to Jinendra worship for the Diwali rituals, speak of Dipotsava. In 2022, Diwali falls on October 24th which is a new moon day or Amavasya. In some parts of India, the day after Lakshmi Puja is marked with the Govardhan Puja and Balipratipada (Padwa). Dates for 2020 to 2025." It is one of the most important festivals within Hinduism[7][8] where it generally lasts five days (or six in some regions of India), and is celebrated during the Hindu lunisolar months of Ashvin (according to the amanta tradition) and Kartika (between mid-October and mid-November). It is traditionally a puja, or a celebration that worships, honors, and shows devotion to the divine. It is celebrated in October or November each year. [173], Diwali was first celebrated in the White House by George W. Bush in 2003 and its religious and historical significance was officially recognized by the United States Congress in 2007. (2021, October 12). The Diwali festival dates back to ancient times in India. The course of the five days includes cleaning . The 5 days of Diwali Most of the injuries sustained are Group I type burns (minor) requiring only outpatient care. Traditionally, Marathi Hindus and South Indian Hindus receive an oil massage from the elders in the family on the day and then take a ritual bath, all before sunrise. Amavasya Tithi on Diwali begins at. Cookies collect information about your preferences and your device and are used to make the site work as you expect it to, to understand how you interact with the site, and to show advertisements that are targeted to your interests. All the days except Diwali are named using the designation in the Indian calendar. The celebration of Diwali aligns with the new moon, so it's celebrated on a different day each year. amnta / primnta. Cook, Sharell. This year it was from November 5th-9th and in 2019 it will be October 25-29th. To produce colors when crackers are burst, carcinogenic and poisonous elements are used. [41], Diwali (English: /dwli/)[9] or Divali[44] is from the Sanskrit dpvali meaning "row or series of lights". UCF's Indian Student Association (ISA) will host Diwali event at the Hindu Society of Central Florida Nov. 4 at 6 p.m. [135][136] At dusk, lamps placed earlier in the inside and outside of the home are lit up to welcome Lakshmi. While the dates vary annually based on the Hindu lunar calendar, Diwali usually occurs in October or November. Diwali is the Indian "festival of lights"a holiday that celebrates the triumph of good over evil. Earlier in the season's fortnight, some welcome the souls of their ancestors to join the family for the festivities with the Mahalaya. Diwali will become a public school holiday in New York City starting next year, Mayor Eric Adams (D) announced Thursday.. Why it matters: Diwali, a celebration of light over darkness that starts on Oct. 24 this year, is one of the most sacred holidays observed by Hindus, Sikhs, Jains and Buddhists. Every occasion represents two main things: 1. Diwali 2021: What the holiday . Illustrative Islamic records, states Stephen Blake, include those of 16th-century Sheikh Ahmad Sirhindi who wrote, "during Diwali. the ignorant ones amongst Muslims, particularly women, perform the ceremonies they celebrate it like their own Id and send presents to their daughters and sisters,. they attach much importance and weight to this season [of Diwali]. Meaning "rows of lighted lamps," Diwali is a celebration of light over darkness for different cultures across the world, especially South Asia. Among Hindus the most widespread customis the lighting of diyas (small earthenware lamps filled with oil) on the night of the new moon to invite the presence of Lakshmi, the goddess of wealth. The Hindu calendar is lunisolar but most festival dates are specified using the lunar portion of the calendar. [79], Hindus of eastern India associate the festival with the Goddess Kali, who symbolises the victory of good over evil. "When Is Diwali (Deepavali)? In India, the holiday always falls on the 15th of Kartik, the first month of the Hindu lunar calendar . [181][182], The use of firecrackers on Diwali increases the concentration of dust and pollutants in the air. Important Read: Tips to Celebrate Diwali in 2021 History and Significance of Diwali In his 11th-century memoir on India, the Persian traveler and historian Al Biruni wrote of Deepavali being celebrated by Hindus on the day of the New Moon in the month of Kartika. The name is derived from the Sanskrit term dipavali, meaning row of lights. The festival generally symbolizes the victory of light over darkness. [43] In western states such as Gujarat, and certain northern Hindu communities of India, the festival of Diwali signifies the start of a new year. Join half a million readers enjoying Newsweek's free newsletters. What are the 5 Diwali Days in 2022? Diwali is celebrated on the 15th day of Kartik which is considered as the most serene months according to the Hindu Lunar calendar. While Diwali spans five days, the holiday reaches its peak on day three this year, falling on Oct. 24, 2022. The Diwali-related inscription is the 4th inscription and it includes the year Vikrama Era 1268 (c. 1211 CE). Monier Monier Williams (2008 updated, Harvard University), Sanskrit English dictionary, . Updates? [83][84][85] Hindus from the Braj region in northern India, parts of Assam, as well as southern Tamil and Telugu communities view Diwali as the day the god Krishna overcame and destroyed the evil demon king Narakasura, in yet another symbolic victory of knowledge and good over ignorance and evil. Make sure you check the dates online if you plan on visiting India during Diwali. Here is the schedule for Diwali 2022: Day 1: October 22, 2022 Trayodashi - Dhanteras; Day 2: October 23, 2022 Chaturdashi - Choti Diwali; Day 3: October 24, 2022 Amavasya - Diwali (The corresponding dates in the Gregorian calendar usually fall in late October and November.) These two festivals likely developed in tandem over their recent histories, states McDermott. Diwali is celebrated on the fifteenth day of the Hindu month of Kartika and, much like Easter, the date changes every year. [170] National and civic leaders such as the former Prince Charles have attended Diwali celebrations at prominent Hindu temples in the UK, such as the Swaminarayan Temple in Neasden, using the occasion to highlight contributions of the Hindu community to British society. Diwali is celebrated in the Hindu month of Kartik. [95] According to the Jain tradition, this practice of lighting lamps first began on the day of Mahavira's nirvana in 527 BCE,[j] when 18 kings who had gathered for Mahavira's final teachings issued a proclamation that lamps be lit in remembrance of the "great light, Mahavira". A Hindu devotee lights oil lamps at a temple during . [13][14][15][16] The festival is widely associated with Lakshmi,[17][18] goddess of prosperity and Ganesha, god of wisdom and the remover of obstacles, with many other regional traditions connecting the holiday to Sita and Rama, Vishnu, Krishna, Durga, Shiva, Kali, Hanuman, Kubera, Yama, Yami, Dhanvantari, or Vishvakarman. Diwali as a new-moon day, marks the last day of a 15-day period. The fourth day, known as GoverdhanPuja,Balipratipada,or Annakut, commemorating Krishnas defeat of Indra, the king of the gods, is also the first day of Karttika and the start of the new year in the Vikrama (Hindu) calendar. Diwali usually falls in October or November. [50] It is mentioned in mentioned in early Sanskrit texts, such as the Padma Purana and the Skanda Purana, both of which were completed in the second half of the 1st millennium CE. Diwali was not a public holiday in Pakistan from 1947 to 2016. Spiritually, Diwali symbolizes the victory of light over darkness, good over evil, and knowledge over ignorance. Every year Hindus, Sikhs, and Jains around the world celebrate the Indian Festival of Lights called Diwali. [117][118][119], The third day is the height of the festival,[126] and coincides with the last day of the dark fortnight of Ashwin or Kartik. The common celebratory practices are known as the festival of light, however there are minor differences from state to state in India. On the third day, Lakshmi Puja, families seek blessings from Lakshmi to ensure their prosperity; light diyas, candles, and fireworks; andvisittemples. The five days are as follows:. The names and events of the individual days of Diwali are as follows: The first day, known as Dhanteras, is dedicated to cleaning homes and purchasing small items of gold. [129] At dusk, family members gather for the Lakshmi Pujan,[129] although prayers will also be offered to other deities, such as Ganesha, Saraswati, Rama, Lakshmana, Sita, Hanuman, or Kubera. The word Deepawali comes from the Sanskrit word deep, which means an Indian lantern/lamp. Although not a primary festival of Buddhism, Diwali is celebrated by some Buddhists as a commemoration of the day when Emperor Ashoka converted to Buddhism in the 3rd century bce. This year, celebrations began on Saturday, with the "main Diwali " falling today, Monday October 24, which marks the . This is followed by Choti Diwali the next day and Diwali on November 4. The word "avali" means row and "deepa . [140] According to Handelman and Shulman, as quoted by Pintchman, this legend is a Hindu metaphor for the cosmic process for creation and dissolution of the world through the masculine destructive power, as represented by Shiva, and the feminine procreative power, represented by Parvati, where twelve reflects the number of months in the cyclic year, while thirty are the number of days in its lunisolar month. The exact date changes every year because the Hindu calendar is lunar. The festival falls sometime between October and November. The word "Deepavali" means "a row of lights" in Sanskrit, and its origins were likely as an ancient harvest festival. This year (2021), Diwali begins on Tuesday 2 November, with the peak day of celebrations happening on the third day, Thursday 4 November. The five day festival falls in the first week of Novmber. [115][144][145], The agricultural symbolism is also observed on this day by many Hindus as Annakut, literally "mountain of food". [19] Diwali is also marked with fireworks and the decoration of floors with rangoli designs, and other parts of the house with jhalars. [43][82] Along with Lakshmi, who is representative of Vaishnavism, Ganesha, the elephant-headed son of Parvati and Shiva of Shaivism tradition, is remembered as one who symbolises ethical beginnings and the remover of obstacles. The dates change each year because they are based on the Hindu lunar calendar, but it typically happens in October and November. It also marks the beginning of the Hindu New Year. One tradition starts a new month from the new moon, while the other starts it from the full moon. [126] Family members light up firecrackers, which some interpret as a way to ward off all evil spirits and the inauspicious, as well as add to the festive mood. These clay lamps represent "the inner light that protects each household from spiritual darkness." While each day of Diwali has its own importance, on the third day of Diwali, this year on Oct. 24, people gather at temples to honor the goddess Lakshmi. Some suggest he lived in the 5th-century BCE contemporaneously with the Buddha. One of the earliest reports on this variation was by Wilson in 1847. Residents of Amritsar lit lamps throughout the city to celebrate the occasion. Many light diyas and keep them burning throughout the night. [60] It is mentioned in the Ramayana that Diwali was celebrated for only 2 years in Ayodhya. When you visit this site, it may store or retrieve information on your browser, mostly in the form of cookies. (The corresponding dates in the Gregorian calendar usually fall in late October and November.) This year, the biggest day of festivities (Lakshmi Puja) will take place on November 4, 2021. Diwali is an important festival in Jainism. In 2023, Diwali will be celebrated on 19th October (Sunday). When people are exposed to these pollutant particles, they may suffer from eye, nose, and throat-related problems. What makes Dev Deepawali different from Diwali? [56][57] Rajasekhara referred to Deepavali as Dipamalika in his 9th-century Kavyamimamsa, wherein he mentions the tradition of homes being whitewashed and oil lamps decorated homes, streets and markets in the night. The legislation will come into effect next year, and Diwali will replace Anniversary Day, which is also known as Brooklyn-Queens Day, so that schools can still deliver the 180-day requirement of . It's believed that on this day the Goddess Lakshmi, often associated with wealth, abundance and good fortune, visits people's homes and fulfils their desires. Today it is the "festival of lights," attached to various mythological stories, particularly tales about Lakshmi, the goddess of wealth. What is Diwali? Learn Religions. Dates for 2020 to 2025." Kartik overlaps with October and November. In 2022, Diwali is on October 24. In other regions, parents invite a newly married daughter, or son, together with their spouses to a festive meal and give them gifts. Thus, people worship Hanuman the day before Diwali's main day. Unlike some other festivals, the Hindus typically do not fast during the five-day long Diwali including Lakshmi Pujan, rather they feast and share the bounties of the season at their workplaces, community centres, temples, and homes. The Pontifical Council for Interreligious Dialogue was founded as Secretariat for non-Christians by Pope Paul VI. Where does Diwali get its name? [143][147], The day celebrates the sibling bond between brother and sister. According to the ancient calendar, Diwali is observed on Amavasya (or new moon) the 15th day of the month of Kartik, every year. The diyas (lamps) are mentioned in Skanda Kishore Purana as symbolising parts of the sun, describing it as the cosmic giver of light and energy to all life and which seasonally transitions in the Hindu calendar month of Kartik. Such events are also mentioned in Sikh historical records. Also known as the festival of lights, it's celebrated by Sikhs, Hindus, Jains and some Buddhists. [4] Diwali is celebrated by Hindus, Jains, Sikhs, and Newar Buddhists,[29] although for each faith it marks different historical events and stories, but nonetheless the festival represents the same symbolic victory of light over darkness, knowledge over ignorance, and good over evil. [20][45] The term is derived from the Sanskrit words dpa, "lamp, light, lantern, candle, that which glows, shines, illuminates or knowledge"[46] and vali, "a row, range, continuous line, series". Historical records appear inconsistent about the name of the lunar month in which Diwali is observed. They install diyas, small earthen oil-filled lamps that they light up for the next five days, near Lakshmi and Ganesha iconography. The Diwali night's lights and firecrackers, in this interpretation, represent a celebratory and symbolic farewell to the departed ancestral souls. . The day also marks a major shopping day to purchase new utensils, home equipment, jewelry, firecrackers, and other items. [13][14][93][94], A scholar of Jain and Nivethan, states that in Jain tradition, Diwali is celebrated in observance of "Mahavira Nirvana Divas", the physical death and final nirvana of Mahavira. [108] During Diwali, people wear their finest clothes, illuminate the interior and exterior of their homes with saaki (earthen lamp), diyas and rangoli, perform worship ceremonies of Lakshmi, the goddess of prosperity and wealth,[l] light fireworks, and partake in family feasts, where mithai (sweets) and gifts are shared. [114], According to Tracy Pintchman, Dhanteras is a symbol of annual renewal, cleansing and an auspicious beginning for the next year. A few, notably the Mughal emperor Akbar, welcomed and participated in the festivities,[62][63] whereas others banned such festivals as Diwali and Holi, as Aurangzeb did in 1665. In 2021, Diwali is on November 4. Observances of Diwali differ depending on region and tradition. Choti Diwali is the major shopping day for festive, Annakut community meals (left), Krishna holding, A sister ritually feeding her brother on Bhai Duj-Diwali, Dhanteras, Dhanatrayodashi, Yama Deepam (Day 1), Naraka Chaturdashi, Kali Chaudas, Chhoti Diwali, Hanuman Puja, Roop Chaudas, Yama Deepam (Day 2), Annakut, Balipratipada (Padwa), Govardhan Puja (Day 4), Bhai Duj, Bhau-Beej, Vishwakarma Puja (Day 5). [80], Per another popular tradition, in the Dvapara Yuga period, Krishna, an avatar of Vishnu, killed the demon Narakasura, who was the evil king of Pragjyotishapura, near present-day Assam, and released 16000 girls held captive by Narakasura. [79] The festival formally begins two days before the night of Diwali, and ends two days thereafter. The festivals and . Diwali was celebrated as a signifier of triumph of good over evil after Krishna's Victory over Narakasura. This event is free and UCF students of all backgrounds are encouraged to attend. As per India's official holiday calendar, Diwali in 2020 will be on Saturday, November 14, coinciding with the 15th day of Kartik, the holiest month in the Hindu lunar calendar. It is the main day of the Diwali festival. This is done via a bathing ritual called Abhyanga Snan. For some Hindus, it is a day to pray for the peace to the manes, or defiled souls of one's ancestors and light their way for their journeys in the cyclic afterlife. This festival gets its name from "Deepa" meaning "Light" and "Avali" meaning "Row". This festive day is interpreted by some to symbolise Yama's sister Yamuna welcoming Yama with a tilaka, while others interpret it as the arrival of Krishna at his sister Subhadra's place after defeating Narakasura. [92][12], Originally a Hindu festival, Diwali has transcended religious lines. [23] Another aspect of the festival is remembering the ancestors. Hence Deepavali has been . Also known as the 'festival of lights', the celebration usually lasts for five days. Diwali Decor. [102] The festival of Diwali, according to Ray Colledge, highlights three events in Sikh history: the founding of the city of Amritsar in 1577, the release of Guru Hargobind from the Mughal prison, and the day of Bhai Mani Singh's martyrdom in 1738 as a result of his failure to pay a fine for trying to celebrate Diwali and thereafter refusing to convert to Islam. Das, Subhamoy. Diwali, which is celebrated on different dates each year as it follows the lunar calendar, will begin on October 24 this year and last for five days. [171][172] Since 2009, Diwali has been celebrated every year at 10 Downing Street, the residence of the British Prime Minister. Some 200,000 New Yorkers celebrate Diwali each year, per state Assemblymember Jenifer Rajkumar . [12] Chhoti Diwali is also a day for visiting friends, business associates and relatives, and exchanging gifts. [20], The festival is an annual homecoming and bonding period not only for families,[17][18] but also for communities and associations, particularly those in urban areas, which will organise activities, events and gatherings. This day marks the beginning of deepawali celebrations. How is Diwali celebrated? Deepavali means a row of lights, where 'deep' means light and 'avali' means row. [27] Newar Buddhists, unlike other Buddhists, celebrate Diwali by worshipping Lakshmi, while the Hindus of Eastern India and Bangladesh generally celebrate Diwali by worshipping the goddess Kali. The meaning of Diwaliand its many legends Diwali is so widely. The height of Diwali is celebrated on the third day coinciding with the darkest night of Ashvin or Kartika. It's a one-day celebration, known as Deepavali, that usually falls a day before the main Diwali date but sometimes occurs on the same day (when the lunar days overlap). [79] Throughout the epic, Rama's decisions were always in line with dharma (duty) and the Diwali festival serves as a reminder for followers of hinduism to maintain their dharma in day to day life. Although most important for Hindus, the festival is also observed by Jains, Sikhs, and some Buddhists. It began sending official greetings and message to Muslims in 1967 on. Diwali is celebrated in the Hindu month of Kartik. Diwali festivities include a celebration of sights, sounds, arts and flavours.