Since then it has continued to be in the list of the world’s most polluted cities.

The fifth day focuses on the bond between siblings, specifically between brother and sister.In 2014, Delhi became the most polluted city in the world.

Traditions of the fourth day vary, but a common theme is the bond between husband and wife, so husbands will often buy their spouses gifts to celebrate.

On the third day-the main day of Diwali-families gather and celebrate by lighting lanterns and candles in their homes and in the streets, and by shooting off fireworks! (In southern India, the second day is the main day of celebration, rather the third.).

The second day is spent preparing or buying special food (especially sweets, called mithai), as well as praying for the spirits of ancestors in the afterlife.

On the first day, Indians clean their homes and create intricate rangoli-designs made of colored rice, sand, or flowers created on the floor of the home.

In much of India, Diwali consists of five days of celebrations rather than just one. Here’s a recipe for Coconut ladoos, one of the easiest Diwali recipes made within 15 minutes. In honor of Diwali, here are a few Indian-inspired recipes to try: The feast can be quite extravagant, with the table filled with special dishes and sweets. Businesses are generally closed (or close early) on Diwali to allow workers to celebrate with their families, too.

Wearing their best new clothes, families gather together to eat sweets and other special foods, light diyas (decorative oil lamps), and pray for their ancestors. Fireworks are also set off on the night of Diwali-said by some to ward off evil spirits.Īnother central theme of Diwali is family. Candles, clay lamps, and oil lanterns are lit and placed throughout the home, in the streets, in areas of worship, and floated on lakes and rivers. The main celebration of Diwali takes place on the day of the new Moon, when the sky is at its darkest, so a big part of the celebration revolves around light. Diwali Dates Yearīecause Diwali is celebrated by so many people worldwide, traditions are diverse, though there are a few common themes, including the lighting of candles and the gathering of families. (To put it in Western terms, Kartik begins around mid-October and ends in mid-November.) Specifically, Diwali occurs on the darkest day of the lunar month, which is the day of the new Moon. When Is Diwali?ĭiwali occurs annually in autumn (or spring, in the southern hemisphere), during the Hindu month of Kartik. Hindu, Sikh, and Jain communities in the United Kingdom, United States, Australia, and elsewhere around the globe also regularly celebrate Diwali.

However, the holiday is celebrated throughout India, Singapore, and several other South Asian countries as a national holiday, meaning that people outside these religions may participate in Diwali celebrations, too. Who Celebrates Diwali?ĭiwali is primarily celebrated by followers of the Hindu, Sikh, and Jain faiths. A specially-made clay lamp, called a diya, lit for Diwali. In other places where Diwali occurs, usually only the main day is celebrated. In most of India, Diwali consists of a five-day celebration that peaks on the third day with the main celebration of Diwali. The name comes from Sanksrit dipavali, meaning “row of lights.” On the night of Diwali, celebrants light dozens of candles and clay lamps (called diyas), placing them throughout their homes and in the streets to light up the dark night.

Diwali (also called Divali or Deepavali) is a “festival of lights” that celebrates the triumph of light over dark and good over evil, and the blessings of victory, freedom, and enlightenment.

Diwali fireworks hd