Diwali: The festival of lights
Diwali, the Hindu festival of lights, is celebrated over four days in November this year.
JOHANNESBURG SOUTH – Diwali or Deepavali, the Hindu festival of lights is celebrated every year and marks the homecoming of the Hindu god, Lord Rama, and the beginning of the Hindu new year.
This year, Diwali falls on Wednesday, November 11, and will continue for four days. Each day of Diwali has it’s own legends associated with it, according to Subhamoy Das, editor of the Hindustan Times. The festival symbolically marks the victory of light over darkness.
Fireworks and lights on the four days are traditional and hold a special significance to celebrants. People light lamps, candles and bonfires on the holiday, as the word ‘Deepavali’ means ‘a row or cluster of lights’ or ‘rows of diyas or clay lamps’.
The calculation of the first day of Diwali is dependent on the moon and falls on the 15th day of the month of Kartika in the Hindu calendar.
Diwali is usually sometime between October or November each year. The festival is celebrated at different times in different regions because it is based on the position of the moon and sun. The day is also significant in other religions including Buddhism, Sikhism and Jainism.
