10 fabulous facts about Diwali!
Discover the fascinating festival of lights…
It’s time for vibrant colours, eye-popping fireworks, twinkling lights and delicious food! Ready? Then check out our ten facts about Diwali…
When is Diwali 2024?
The exact dates change each year. This year, Diwali is being celebrated on either Thursday 31 October or Friday 1 November, depending on where people are in the world.
Facts about Diwali
1) Diwali is an important religious festival originating in India. People often think of Diwali as a Hindu festival, but it is also celebrated by Sikhs and Jains.*
2) Diwali takes place annually and lasts for five days, marking the start of the Hindu New Year. The exact dates change each year and are determined by the position of the moon – but it usually falls between October and November.
3) The word Diwali (or Deepavali as it’s sometimes called) means “row of lights” in an Ancient language of India, called Sanskrit. During this festival, people decorate their homes with lights and oil lamps, called diyas.
4) For many people, Diwali honours the Hindu goddess of wealth, Lakshmi. The lights and lamps are said to help Lakshmi find her way into peoples’ homes, bringing prosperity in the year to come!
5) It’s also a celebration of good triumphing over evil, and different legends based on this theme are associated with Diwali. In northern India, Hindus celebrate the return of the deities (gods) Rama and Sita to the city of Ayodhya, after defeating the evil king Ravana!
6) In the region of Bengal people worship the goddess Kali, the destroyer of evil forces, during Diwali. And in Nepal (a country bordering north-east India), people celebrate Lord Krishna’s victory over the wicked king Narakaasura.
7) But it’s not just about lights and legends –– Diwali is a time to have fun with friends and family! People exchange gifts and sweets, enjoy delicious feasts, watch firework displays and wear new clothes. It’s a time to clean and decorate your home, too.
8) Rangoli is a popular Diwali tradition –– beautiful patterns made using colourful powders and flowers. People draw rangoli on the floor by the entrance of their homes to welcome the gods and bring good luck!
9) Today, this fascinating festival is celebrated by thousands of people in countries all around the world. During Diwali, Hindus living outside India gather at places of worship called mandirs to leave offerings to deities, watch firework displays and eat yummy food together!
10) The city of Leicester, in the United Kingdom, holds the largest Diwali celebrations outside of India. Every year, tens of thousands of people gather in the streets to enjoy vibrant shows of light, music and dancing!
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COMMENTS
so intresting and as always helpful
I am not Indian but I do it with my friends
it is good
Very interesting and a lot of knowledge. Thanks so much for the education of other cultures.
So cool!!!
Very nice and actually helpful
Wow this is totally interesting
this is a very good fact teller I was doing a Diwali poster and found it very useful. thanks
i love it
Amazing facts perfect for a informative essay and very lovely
Very interesing!
I am southern indian.
Everyone should celebrate this in all cultures way to bring us all together as a nation
WOW!
Very intresting facts about this celebration
it is sooooooo cool
this was very helpful thank you for this info
This is an awesome facts about Diwali!
I was researching and this is so helpful. Also I think natgeo kids itself is in it's own league
A lot of information. I’m a Hindu.
I loved learning about Diwali!
so cool! I love new cultures!
So cool!
Didn’t know that stuff. AWESOME!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
So incredibly interesting
Amazingvi found it helpful because i had a project and i really needed this info thsnk so much!
Best information
I celebrate the northern way of Diwali! I can’t wait for Diwali!
i love the facts about the festavil!
I live in India
THIS IS GREAT
Thanks for sharing !
COOL
WOW THIS REALLY HELPED FOR MY SCHOOL PROJECT!!
hey
Really good facts! As I am a Hindu myself I agree with the facts you told, and all of those facts were amazing!
[…] and the triumph of good over evil. Additionally, the festival is also known as a time for “vibrant colours, eye-popping fireworks and twinkling lights”, so don’t feel shy when it comes to your outfit as this is a celebration full of […]
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this things awesome it’s cool and really good
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I love this festival so much.
great
its good and informative
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