Diwali (and also known as Deepavli) is the official holiday of India, Pakistan, Fiji, Guyana, Malaysia, Mauritius, Nepal, Myanmar, Singapore, Sri Lanka, Trinidad and Tobago, and Suriname. It is the Hindu festival of lights and celebrated in the autumn or spring, depending on location. The exact date of the holiday is determined by the position of the moon and the Hindu lunar calendar.
The festival is marked by five days of celebration, marked by fireworks, large family feasts, houses decorated with candles, and lit up with lights, where people share gifts and say prayers.
One of the primary events of Hinduism, Diwali celebrates the victory of light of dark, good or evil, and knowledge of ignorance. The festival is celebrated over five days, but the primary celebration is reserved for the new moon night of Hindu Lunisolar. Before the Diwali night, celebrants clean and decorate their place of work and homes. That night, people get dressed up, light diyas (candles and lamps) both inside and outside of their home.
Prayers are most often said to Lakshmi, and after the prayers the fireworks take place. The family then has a feast that includes special sweets, and gifts are exchanged.
Diwali celebrations differ by region in India, and from country to country.
The Diwali festival is one of the most joyous of all holidays in India and involves a large amount of preparation before the festival. It is also one of the most important shopping times of the year, and important to the economy.
Diwali is celebrated by Hindus, Jains, Sikhs, and Buddhists. The holiday is a metaphor for being wary of evil, conquering it, and having a proactive approach to goodness, and self-improvement.
Prayer for Diwali (in Sanskrit and English):
Om Asato Ma Sad Gamaya
Tamaso Ma Jyotir Gamaya
Mrityor Ma Amritam Gamaya
Om Shanti Shanti Shanti
Lead us from untruth to truth
From darkness to light
From death to immortality
Om Peace Peace Peace
True Message of Self–Enlightenment & Enlightening To All (Ajay Singh Niranjan):
O cosmic power!
Ignite our spirits for purposeful mission
Inject positive energy in our brains
Transmit divine virtues in our attitudes
Transform inner self on the path of Self–Enlightenment
O Infinite Intelligence!
Supercharge the light of knowledge in our hearts
Circulate the wave of creativity in our minds
Stabilize thy adorable glory in our consciousnesses
Spread thy glorious radiance on our bodies.
O Super Consciousness!
Pour purity of knowledge in our thoughts
Lead our deeds towards self- realization
Equalize our frequencies of souls with thy super soul
For attaining perfect condition of Resonance-Bliss
O eternal love!
Inspire us for structuring an architect of character
Supercharge high intensive love in our all actions
Illuminate our life with glare, grace and grandeur
Generate rays of happiness in our family matrix.
Diwali Explained: