Diwali 2022 – Date, History, Significance, Celebration

Diwali is one of the biggest festivals of India and is celebrated with full zeal and enthusiasm. It symbolises the victory of light over darkness, and good over evil. It is on this auspicious day that people decorate their houses, lit up lamps, diyas, wear new clothes, have sweets, and much more. Diwali is a festival that is celebrated for five days.

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.

Diwali is most often celebrated around late October or early November. According to the Hindu calendar, the month of Kartik, and hence it varies every year. Diwali 2022 date is discussed later. All four days in Diwali have their unique traditions that fill people with good hope, love, peace and a rejuvenated mind, not to forget unadulterated happiness.

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History and Origin of Diwali

The history of Diwali can be traced back to ancient India when it most likely began as an important harvest festival. However, there are several legends pointing to the origins of Diwali. There are various reasons why people celebrate Diwali. Different states in India have different reasons for this celebration according to their Gods.

There are many who believe Diwali to be the celebration to mark the wedding of Lakshmi, the goddess of wealth, with Lord Vishnu. Diwali is probably the commemoration of their blissful marriage. Others think it to be a celebration of Lakshmi’s birthday, as Lakshmi is said to have been born on the new-moon day of Kartik.

In Bengal, the Deepavali, or Deepabali, is dedicated to the worship of the powerful goddess Kali, the dark goddess of strength. the elephant god Lord Ganesha is also worshipped in some homes on Diwali because he is a symbol of auspiciousness and wisdom. In certain Jain homes, Diwali has the added significance of marking the great event of Lord Mahavira attaining the eternal bliss called nirvana.

Diwali is not only important to Hindus, but, has is also celebrated among Jains, Buddhists, and Sikhs. For Hindus, it often signifies the return of Lord Rama to Ayodhya, after his 14 years of exile and victory over Ravana.

Ram, on that special day, was welcomed to the kingdom of Ayodhya with rows of diyas, lightened throughout the kingdom. Thus, the tradition of lighting oil lamps on Diwali symbolizes the victory of good over evil and freedom from spiritual darkness.

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Significance of Diwali

Following are the list of reasons why Diwali is an important festival of India:

• With all the lights and diyas eradicating dark shadows and evil, and all the prayers and love among people create a wonderful atmosphere full of goodness and purity. The festival of Diwali fills everyone’s hearts with an aura of purity and a happy, compassionate mood. This is a very crucial Diwali 2021 theme.
• Diwali is not just the lights, gambling, and fun-filled surprises and gifts; Diwali is also a time to reflect on one’s life, past deeds and make the right changes for the upcoming year.
• Diwali is also a celebration to give and forgive. It is a common practice in Diwali for people to forget and forgive the injustices and grudges. People celebrate with an air of freedom, festivity, and friendliness everywhere.
• Diwali marks the birth of a new and rejuvenated soul. A happy and refreshed mind during Diwali charges up a person to make changes as a healthy, ethical individual, who will be more efficient in their work and will also be spiritually advanced.
• Diwali is a celebration that unites people from every corner, religion and caste. The simple smile and a kind, accommodating heart melt even the hardest of hearts. It is a time when people mingle about in joy and embrace one another.
• A celebration of prosperity, Diwali gives us the strength and the zeal to carry on with our work and goodwill for the rest of the year and thus, promising us success and prosperity. Thus, people give gifts to employees, family, and friends.

Most importantly, Diwali illuminates our inner self. The lights of Diwali also signify a time to destroy all our dark desires, dark thoughts, and have a deeper, inner illumination and self-reflection. Diwali 2021 quotes are circulated among friends and family to showcase the love for this festival.

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The festival symbolises the victory of light over darkness, knowledge over ignorance, good over evil, and hope over despair. Diwali festival is celebrated for five days at most of the places.

The origin of the festival is traced to the Era of Lord Rama or probably even before at the time of the churning of the milky ocean. It is the time when Goddess Lakshmi came out as the boon to the Gods and whole humanity.  During the five days of the Diwali festival, several deities are worshipped. However, the most prominent names that come to mind when Diwali puja is performed are Goddess Lakshmi, Lord Ganesha, Lord Kuber.

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