All about Diwali 2024
Diwali 2024 : Diwali festival is celebrated on the Amavasya of Krishna Paksha of Kartik month which is starting from – 31 October 2024 – 3:56 pm and will end on 1 November 2024 – 6:16 pm.
According to Sanatan Dharma, any date starts from sunrise, that is, it is necessary to have that date at the time of sunrise, so we will celebrate the festival of Diwali 2024 on 1 November 2024.
Dhanteras – 29 October 2024
Main Diwali (Diwali 2024) – 1 November 2024
Govardhan Puja – 2 November 2024
Bhai Dooj – 3 November 2024
Diwali is the most prominent and widely celebrated festival of India. This five-day festival is not only important from a religious point of view, but it also has deep cultural and social significance. Many mythological stories and traditions are associated with this festival celebrated every year on the new moon day of Kartik month.
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Religious significance | Diwali 2024
The religious significance of Diwali is extremely wide and it is associated with various stories and deities in different regions of India. The most prominent story is related to Lord Shri Ram. It is believed that when Lord Rama returned to Ayodhya after 14 years of exile after defeating Ravana, the people of Ayodhya decorated the city with lamps to welcome him. Diwali is celebrated every year in memory of this event.
Apart from this, this festival is also considered important for the worship of Goddess Lakshmi. Lakshmi Mata is considered the goddess of wealth, prosperity and splendor, and she is especially worshiped on the night of Diwali. People welcome Goddess Lakshmi on this day by cleaning, decorating and lighting lamps in their homes.
Five days of Diwali and their significance | All about Diwali 2024
Diwali is not just a one-day festival, but a five-day festival. Each day has its own special significance:
Dhanteras: On this day, Lord Dhanvantari, who is considered the god of Ayurveda, is worshiped. Also, there is a practice of buying new utensils, jewelry, and property on this day, which is considered a symbol of prosperity. Read more about Dhanteras here
Narak Chaturdashi (Chhoti Diwali): On this day Lord Krishna killed Narakasura and freed 16,000 women from his tyranny. It is celebrated as the victory of good over evil.
Main Diwali (Diwali 2024): This day is important for the worship of Goddess Lakshmi. On this day, Lakshmi Puja is performed by lighting lamps in homes so that Goddess Lakshmi is pleased and prosperity prevails.
Govardhan Puja: This day is celebrated to commemorate the incident of Lord Krishna protecting the people of Gokul by lifting the Govardhan mountain. It is a day of gratitude towards nature and agriculture.
Bhai Dooj: On this day sisters pray for the long life and prosperity of their brothers. It is a day to strengthen the relationship of love and protection between brother and sister.
Cultural and social significance
The significance of Diwali is not only religious but also very deep at the cultural and social level. This festival is considered a symbol of sharing happiness, harmony and cordiality among people. During Diwali in India, people clean and decorate their houses. Make rangoli, decorate the house with lamps and lights and give sweets and gifts to each other.
The customs of Diwali also vary in different regions. In North India, this festival is mainly associated with Ramayana, while in West Bengal it is celebrated as Kali Puja. In Maharashtra, Abhyanga Snan on the day of Narak Chaturdashi has special significance, and in South India it is celebrated as Deepam.
How to celebrate Diwali with environment and cleanliness
In today’s time, the festival of Diwali has also become important from the environmental point of view. In old times when people used only earthen lamps, then this festival was more sensitive towards nature. But in modern times, the increased use of firecrackers and decorative items made of chemicals has caused a lot of damage to the environment.
In such a situation, today it has become necessary that we celebrate Diwali with awareness towards the environment. Here are some tips for this:
Use firecrackers as little as possible or not at all: Firecrackers cause air and noise pollution, which is harmful for both health and the environment. Instead, use earthen lamps and natural decorations.
Make rangoli with natural colors: Use rangoli made of flowers, rice and turmeric instead of chemical colors. It is also eco-friendly and looks beautiful.
Light earthen diyas instead of electric lights: Earthen diyas are not only eco-friendly but also strengthen the economic condition of small artisans.
Diwali 2024 : The festival of Diwali is not only a festival of religious and cultural importance, but it also symbolizes mutual love, harmony, and spending time with family. We should celebrate it with the feeling that this festival illuminates not only our homes but also our lives. Also, we should celebrate it with sensitivity towards the environment so that this festival brings happiness to future generations as well.