Date, timing and tithi of the festival
The most significant Hindu holiday, Diwali, is celebrated yearly with great fervour and passion throughout the nation. Diwali is one of the few yearly celebrations distributed over all states in some fashion, even though hundreds of festivals are observed throughout the country. The dates for Diwali 2023 are November 10 to November 13.
Tithi:
Amavasya (or new moon) — the 15th day — of the month of Kartik.
Diwali will be observed nationwide on November 12 this year. The Lakshmi Puja Muhurat is from 6:11PM to 8:15PM.
Timing
On November 12, 2023, at 2:44 PM, the Amavasya tithi begins.
On November 13, 2023, at 2:56 PM, the Amavasya tithi ends.
Overview
The largest holiday on the Hindu calendar, Diwali (sometimes spelled Deepavali), is commonly referred to as the “Festival of Lights.” Every year, it is observed in October or November. Diwali is a five-day holiday, with the main festivities on the third day. The night of Diwali’s major festival falls on the darkest new moon of the Hindu lunisolar month, Kartika, according to the Bikram Sambat calendar. Diwali Puja is a celebration of the triumph of good over evil. In a gesture of joy and hope, the lamps are lit. One of the most celebrated holidays in Hindu nations is Diwali. Diwali Puja is another name for Kali Puja which is known as Shyama Puja.
Significance
Diwali represents the spiritual triumph of good over evil, light over darkness, and wisdom over ignorance. The lights of Diwali symbolize a time to extinguish all evil intentions and fantasies, banish all shadowy forces, and give us the vigour and energy to continue spreading goodwill throughout the year. The festival of Diwali represents the triumph of good over evil, light over darkness, and wisdom over ignorance. This celebration’s fundamental significance and essence remain the same, regardless of whether it has anything to do with Lord Rama, Lord Krishna, or Goddess Lakshmi- the truth always wins. This holiday celebrates the triumph of truth over lies and good over evil and is always of great religious significance. While the Diwali holiday has religious significance, on the one hand, it is also thought to bring people together in society. By putting aside their animosity and rumours, everyone comes together and unites forever. The Deepawali or Diwali festival is crucial for fostering inter-religious harmony.
History Behind The Festival
Diwali marks the day Lord Rama, his wife Sita Devi, and his brother Lakshmana return to their home country after 14 years of exile in one of the major Hindu myths. People lit a route for Rama after he vanquished Ravana, the demon king. Celebrations in various areas include re-enactments of this tale.
Hindu mythology also associates Diwali with the day Lord Krishna vanquished the demonic Narakasura and set the inhabitants of his kingdom free. In some regions of India, people celebrate by burning the effigies of the demon kings from both tales. Lord Krishna made it a festive day after killing the demon.
During Diwali, people also honour the Hindu goddess Lakshmi. The romantic Diwali narrative claims that the goddess of prosperity, wealth, and fertility married Lord Vishnu, one of Hinduism’s most revered deities, on the eve of Diwali.
Diwali overlaps with harvest and new year festivals in various civilizations. No matter whatever Diwali tale you celebrate, the day is always one of the fresh starts and victory of light over darkness.
Beliefs
Diwali inspires its viewers to uphold the genuine principles of life while bringing to life the rich and magnificent past. The festival commemorates Prince Rama of Ayodhya’s return after a 14-year exile and a conflict in which he emerged triumphant, along with his wife Sita and brother Lakshman.
Rituals Conducted
First Day of Diwali
Dhanteras, or the first day of Diwali, is a festival. To welcome Goddess Lakshmi, people renovate, decorate, and create traditional “Rangoli” decorations on their entrances on this day. Candles and lamps are lit all night long. On this day, it is lucky to purchase gold and silver. On this day, many individuals choose to acquire new kitchenware. Dry coriander seeds that have been lightly mashed and mixed with jaggery are offered to the Goddess in Maharashtra. On this day, rural residents honour their livestock, and cows are particularly lucky.
Second Day of Diwali
On the second day, people bathe before daybreak and apply “Ubtan” and oil to their bodies (scrub made up of gramme flour and fragrant powders). On this day, according to Bengalis, Goddess Kali slew the demon Raktavija. The practise of setting off fireworks on the second day of Diwali is widespread. People use Diyas to greet guests and create the right atmosphere for celebrations the next day.
Third Day of Diwali
The major day of the Diwali festival is the third day. Because they hold that Lord Mahavir attained “Nirvana” (or Eternal Bliss) on that day, Jains have their own religious significance for the day. On this day, Swami Dayananda Saraswati, the revered saint who launched the Hindu Renaissance, also passed away. People dress in new clothing on this day and give gifts and treats to their friends and family members. Women cook delicacies while lighting candles and diyas throughout the entire house. On this day, the kids choose fireworks and crackers.
Fourth Day of Diwali
The fourth day is when the “Govardhan-Puja” or “Annakoot” is held. The gods are bathed in milk and dressed in priceless garments and jewellery in the Mathura and Nathadwara temples. Then a wide selection of dishes is offered to them.
Fifth Day of Diwali
Bhai Duj is the name of the fifth and last day of this celebration. Sisters host their brothers and their families at their houses on this day and treat them to delicacies. Brothers offer them toys and candy in exchange.
Traditional Foods Consumed
- Kheel Namkeen (Salted Parched Paddy)
Served with roasted papad, tomato chips, roasted peanuts, and kheel (sweet puffed rice), kheel namkeen is a salty-sweet snack (deep-fried dough). Because it is seasoned with chat masala, red chilli powder, and ginger powder, this snack definitely delivers a punch. If you serve it with hot tea, it is a delightful afternoon treat.
- Butter Murukku
The crunchy, chip-like snack known as butter murukku is native to South India. Murukku, which refers to the food’s characteristic shape, translates to “twisted.” These paper-thin rice dough strips are deep-fried. Take churros as an example, but considerably richer and crunchier. The dough is seasoned with salt, butter, and Indian spices, making them more addictive.
- Thattai
Thattai is another well-known deep-fried delicacy in India. Like murukku, it is also made with rice flour. These two appetisers are actually regularly prepared and served together. Murukku looks like a strand of food, but Thattai chips are rounded and flat.
- Ribbon Pakoda
The ribbon pakoda is one of the murukku variations. The ribbons are long and flat, with the same base of rice flour and besan dough. They look amazing in addition to tasting fantastic. They are incredibly light, crispy, and crunchy thanks to a blend of Indian spices, and they taste delicious.
- Aloo Chaat
In addition to being a Diwali favourite, aloo chat is a typical street food eaten all year round. Fried potatoes seasoned with chutney and Indian spices make up this filling snack. You can boil the potatoes instead if you prefer a healthier option to fried snacks. The potatoes are pan-fried in this particular meal and seasoned with yoghurt, tamarind, dates, and chutney. The flavour contrast in this snack is strong!
- Sev
Sev is yet another delicious snack with a salty and crispy profile. The dough is created by combining gramm flour and spices. It is then shaped into long, thin strands and deep-fried in oil. Sev is particularly recognizable for the mixture of flavourings that are added to the dough, including turmeric, red chile, hot oil, and Indian spices.
- Chakli
Chakli is one of the numerous varieties of murukku, a delicious deep-fried snack made of rice flour, gramme flour, and spices. These spiral-shaped, tasty snacks are crunchy, light, and delightful. Chakli can be made as mild or spicy as you like because of the multitude of flavours that can be added.9.
- Mathri (Mathiya Or Mathari)
Crisp and flaky crackers make up the North Indian snack known as mathri. Salt, spices, and herbs add taste and go well with chai tea and pickles. The wonderful thing about this recipe is that you can mix or fry the crackers. They will come out brilliantly in either situation.
- Aloo Tikki
A popular snack is aloo tikki, crisp potato patties seasoned with herbs and spices. Chana dal, a mixture of split chickpeas, chat masala, and other herbs and spices, can all be used to fill aloo tikkis. But you’ll keep to the essentials when making this dish. Put these tikkis inside hamburger buns for a complete snack, then serve with mint chutney.
- Karasev
In terms of flavour and look, karasev is similar to the deep-fried spiral snack murukku but has a stronger aroma. Its characteristic flavour comes from red chilli powder and peppers that have been ground into a coarse powder. They are spicy; only try them if you can handle the heat.
- Paneer Makhani
The garam masala and other Indian spices give it a little fire. With butter, tomatoes, and cream, a luxurious Indian stew known as paneer makhani is created. In this rich gravy are chunks of flaky paneer or cottage cheese. Serve this with rice, naan, or roti for a filling vegetarian supper.
- Nippattu
Rice crackers called nippattu are a staple of Karnataka cuisine in southwest India. They are crispy and snappy. These spherical, biscuit-like treats are flavoured with roasted peanuts, cumin, dried coconut, sesame seeds, and chilli powder. In addition to being adored as a late-night snack, they are also widely enjoyed during Diwali and other Indian holidays.
- Kheer
The traditional Indian rice pudding known as kheer is made by slowly cooking basmati rice with milk, sugar, saffron, and cardamom. This transforms the rice into the kheer dessert, a highly creamy and silky delicacy. Different nuts and dried fruit are added to the kheer for texture variety.
- Dahi Papdi Chaat
Dahi papdi chaat is made with fresh papdi (deep-fried dough) and is topped with boiled potatoes, chickpeas, onions, chutneys, tomatoes, and spices. It’s a colourful plate full of great flavours that will fill you up! It’s a delicious mash-up of sweet, salty, acidic, or spicy flavors.
- Namak Para (Spiced Diamond Cuts)
The words namak and para/pare, which mean respectively salt and pieces, suggest that namak para is a salty snack that has been sliced into pieces. They have been divided into diamond-shaped parts to add to their charm. Namak para is made of deep-fried dough until it is perfectly crunchy, like many other snacks on our list.
- Simple Badam Burfi (with Almond Flour)
Badam burfi is fudge’s counterpart in India. It is made with ghee, rosewater, cardamom, almond flour, and those ingredients. This simplified version of badam burfi, which generally needs some amount of culinary proficiency to prepare, can be made by even novice home cooks.
- Badusha
The final item on this list is the badusha, an original donut from India. It is soft, and pillowy, like a standard Western donut, and has a characteristic flaky texture. A mixture of flour, baking soda, and ghee is used for the dough. Before being topped with saffron, almonds, and lemon sugar syrup, they are deep-fried till golden brown.
FAQS
- What is the most crucial aspect of Diwali?
Throughout the five-day festival, there will be delicious cuisine, spectacular fireworks, colourful sand, and distinctive candles and lamps. Depending on their origin, Hindus have several interpretations of the Diwali story. In every celebration, the victory of good over evil is the one thing that unites all participants.
- What hues are significant during Diwali?
The primary colours connected with Diwali are red, bright yellow, brilliant magenta, and pure blue. People who celebrate Diwali use these hues to create clothing and vibrant Rangoli designs to support the festival of lights.
- What makes the ideal Deepavali gift?
Traditional selections for Diwali gifts include Indian sweets like laddus, jalebis, and burfi, but other sweets are fine. This gift box has 36 dark, milk, and white chocolates with fillings like ganache, praline, caramel, and even crunchy nuts, a Diwali tradition.
