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Diwali 2017 - Calender With Dates, Significance Of Diwali:- The biggest Hindu festival celebrated in India is Diwali or Deepavali - the festival of lights. It is on October 17, the five-day festivities start, with Dhanteras and conclude with Bhai Dooj on October 21. According to the Hindu calender, the main Diwali falls on the darkest night of the month, Amavasya (New Moon). The festival will be commemorated on October 19 (Thursday). The ultimate victory of good over evil just like the light conquers over darkness is signified by the Diwali celebration.
According to Hindu mythology, in the honor of Lord Rama’s return to Ayodhya and coronation after an exile of 14 years, the Diwali festival is celebrated. To seek blessings from Devi Lakshmi, the Goddess of wealth, fortune and prosperity, devotees do Lakshmi Puja, on the occasion. Lord Ganesha is also worshiped as he is considered the God of Good Luck and obstacle remover (Vighnaharta).
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The word “Deepavali” derives its name from the words – Deepa (clay lamps) and Avali (the row). Diwali is a Sanskrit word meaning “series of lights”. The Diwali festival is also called Dipotsavam. It translated to the meaning to “festival of lights”. The main festival night of Diwali falls on the darkest, new moon night of the Hindu Lunisolar month Kartika in Bikram Sambat calendar (the month of Aippasi in Tamil Calendar). As per Gregorian calendar, it corresponds to October or November.
Diwali 2017 Calendar With Dates
Here are the five-day Hindu festivals starting with Dhanteras and ends with Bhai Dooj.
- Dhanteras
- Naraka Chaturdasi
- Diwali Padva
- Govardhan Puja
- Bhai Dooj.
- Dhanteras 2017: October 17, 2017
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It is the first day of Diwali, celebrated on the thirteenth lunar day of Krishna Paksha (dark fortnight) in the Vikram Samvat Hindu calendar month of Ashwin. Also also known as “Dhanatrayodashi” or “Dhanvantari Trayodashi”, Dhanteras revers Dhanvantari. The teacher of all physicians and the one who initiated Ayurveda is considered to be Dhanvantari.
- Choti Diwali or Naraka Chaturdashi 2017: October 18, 2017
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It is the second day of the festival. The festival, in the Vikram Samvat Hindu calendar month of Kartik, falls on Chaturdashi (14th day) of the Krishna Paksha. According to legends, Krishna, Satyabhama and Kali killed a powerful demon asura named Narakasura on this day. It is also known as Kali Chaudas, Roop Chaudas, Choti Diwali or Naraka Nivaran Chaturdashi.
- Lakshmi Puja on Diwali 2017: October 19, 2017:
Diwali Padva also known as Varshapratipada or Pratipad Padwa is celebrated as the fourth day of Diwali. The festival is dedicated to the husband-wife relationship. The wives put red vermillion (tilak) on her husband’s forehead and pray for his long life, in many Hindu households. Govardhan Puja is celebrated a day after Diwali. It marks the defeat of God indra by Lord Krishna. It is also known as Annakut Puja with worshipers making food made of cereals like wheat, rice, curry made of gram flour and leafy vegetables and offered to Lord Krishna.
- Bhai Dooj 2017: October 21, 2017
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The fifth and final day of Diwali is observed as Bhai Dooj. Depending on the regions it is celebrated in, the festival is also known as Bhaiya Dooj, Bhai Teeka, Bhai Phonta or Bhau Beej depending on the regions it is celebrated in. It is dedicated to the brother-sister relationship. Bhai Dooj is celebrated with sisters wishing for their brothers’ long life, much like Raksha Bandhan. Brothers visit homes of their married sisters who present them with gifts.
Significance Of Diwali
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For a reason, Diwali is called the Festival of Lights. The presence of knowledge will bring an end to ignorance, just like a flame of light ends the darkness. Diwali is widely celebrated as the homecoming of Lord Rama with his wife, Goddess Sita to Ayodhya in Hinduism. After completing his exile of fourteen years, he returned to the kingdom, much to the joy of his followers, which saw him kill devil king Ravana and establish Dharma in the world. Diwali is also celebrated as an occasion when Lord Rama was coronated. Diwali is celebrated to honor Lord Krishna who defeated the demon Narakasura in South India.
The diwali celebrations are also equally important among the non-Hindus. Diwali marks the nirvana or spiritual awakening of Lord Mahavira in Jainism and the festival marks the day when Guru Hargobind Ji, the Sixth Sikh Guru was freed from imprisonment in Sikhism.
The significance remains same - victory of light over darkness, good over evil and knowledge over ignorance, no matter the the legends and stories behind the celebration of Delhi might be different.
Diwali has long been a national holiday not only in India but also an official holiday for main Diwali day is declared in other countries such as Fiji, Guyana, Malaysia, Mauritius, Myanmar, Nepal, Singapore, Sri Lanka, Suriname, Trinidad and Tobago, and recently Sindh Province in Pakistan.
We wish our readers a happy and prosperous Diwali !
SUPRAJA
