The sparkling festival of Diwali 2022 extends beyond cultures and religions, embracing and enveloping all. This is the only reason why Diwali or Deepawali is the most popular Indian festival. From elaborate, long poojas for religious enthusiasts to late-night card parties and Haute Diwali dos for the younger, chic crowd, from spirited, fiery crackers for the edgy, youthful to beautiful colourful clay lamps and lanterns and delicate rangolis for the creative ones, the festival of Diwali has for something for everyone.
This celebration of lights is rarely an all-day festival and actually lasts almost a whole week, with the festivities lasting 5 days and the aftermath for a few days here and there. The uniqueness of this festival of joy, grandeur, brightness and happiness is its harmony of five different philosophies, with each day dedicated to a special idea or ideal. Thus, people celebrate each of the five days of festivities with true understanding to uplift and enrich their lives.
SIGNIFICANCE OF DIWALI 2022
According to the great Hindu epic “Ramayana”, Diwali 2022 is consider to be the time. When Lord Rama defeated and killed the evil king Ravana and returned to his capital Ayodhya (in the Faizabad district of Uttar Pradesh) after fourteen years of exile for the new moon of the Kartik season with his wife Sita and brother Lakshmana. This return of Lord Rama was celebrate with lights, fireworks, crackers and merriment.
This tradition continues today in the northern states of Uttar Pradesh, Punjab, Haryana, Bihar and surrounding areas, where huge effigies of Ravana are burn to symbolize the defeat of the demon king by Lord Rama. Diwali night is a night of fireworks in these areas with sparklers and crackers of all kinds burning throughout the night. In most Hindu homes, idols of Goddess Lakshmi, a symbol of wealth and prosperity, and Lord Ganesha, the elephant-headed God, a symbol of auspiciousness and wisdom, are worshipped together on this day. Most of the temples dedicated to the worship of Lord Rama or Krishna celebrate Diwali with great piety and zeal.
Below is a list of all 5 days of Diwali , their names and religious significance:
Names and Religious Significance of 5 Days of Diwali 2022
1st day of Diwali – Dhanteras
- Dhanteras Puja on Saturday 22 October 2022
- Dhanteras Puja Muhurta = 7:24 PM to 8:24 PM
- Duration = 01 hours 00 minutes
- Pradosh Kaal = 5:57 PM to 8:24 PM
- Vrishabha Kaal = 7:24 PM to 9:26 PM
- Trayodashi Tithi starts = 6:02 PM on 22 October 2022
- Trayodashi Tithi ends = 6:03 PM on 23 October 2022
The first day of Diwali is called Dhanteras (Dhanvantari Triodos) and marks the official start of the glittering Diwali festivities. This is actually the thirteenth lunar day of Krishna Paksha (according to the Hindu calendar), the dark fortnight of the month of Karthik. Dhanteras is a special day because on this day Lord Dhanwantari is believe to have come from the ocean with Ayurveda, the science of medicine, for the benefit of mankind. A huge amount of shopping is done on this day, namely gold, silver and precious stones, ornaments, new clothes and tableware.
On this day at sunset, Hindus bathe and offer a lit diya with Prasad (sweets offered at the time of worship) to Yama Raja, the Lord of Death, and pray for protection from an untimely death. This sacrifice is perform near a Tulsi tree, holy basil or any other sacred tree that one may have in one’s yard.
This day marks the beginning of Diwali celebrations.
Day 2 of Diwali – Choti Diwali
- Kali Chaudas on Sunday 23 October 2022
- Kali Chaudas Muhurat = 24 October from 23:39 to 00:28
- Duration = 00 hours 49 minutes
- Deepavali Hanuman Puja on Sunday 23 October 2022
- Chaturdashi Tithi starts = 6:03 PM on 23 October 2022
- Chaturdashi Tithi ends = 5:27 PM on 24 October 2022
The second day of Diwali week is called Kali Chaudas or Narak Chaturdasi. In some parts of India, it is simply Choti Diwali, the day before Diwali.
On this day Lord Krishna is know to have destroy the demon Narakasur and freed the world from fear.
On this day, it is believe that one should massage the body with oil to get rid of fatigue, take a bath and rest so that Diwali can be celebrate with vigour and devotion. It is also believe that one should not light diyas or go out on this day and rather stay at home and rest. However, in modern times, on Choti Diwali, people go to their homes to wish ‘Happy and Prosperous Diwali’ and also exchange gifts and sweets.
3rd day of Diwali
- Lakshmi Puja on Monday 24 October 2022
- Lakshmi Puja Muhurta = 7:16 PM to 8:23 PM
- Duration = 01 hour 07 minutes
- Pradosh Kaal = 5:56 PM to 8:23 PM
- Vrishabha Kaal = 7:16 PM to 9:19 PM
- Amavasya Tithi starts = 17:27 on 24 October 2022
- Amavasya Tithi ends = at 4:18 PM on 25 October 2022
Lakshmi Puja Mahanishita Kaal Muhurat
- Mahanishita Kaal = 25:39 to 00:28, 25 October
- Simha Kaal = 01:39 AM to 03:42 AM, 25 October
- Amavasya Tithi starts = 17:27 on 24 October 2022
- Amavasya Tithi ends = at 4:18 PM on 25 October 2022
- Lakshmi Puja Choghadiya Puja Muhurat
- Morning Muhurat (Chara, Shubha, Amrita) = 01:36 to 06:11, October 25
- Afternoon Muhurat (Chara, Labha, Amrita) = 5:27 PM to 5:56 PM, October 24
- Evening Muhurat (Chara) = 17:56 to 19:28, October 24
- Night Muhurat (Labha) = 25:32 to 00:04, October 25
The third day of these festivities is the actual Diwali or Deepawali. This is the day when Mother Lakshmi is worship along with Lord Ganesha. Hindus purify themselves and unite with their families and their Pandit (priest) and worship the divine Goddess Lakshmi for the blessings of wealth and prosperity, the victory of good over evil and light over darkness. People light diyas and candles in their homes and streets across India are lit up with millions of sparklers, crackers and fairy lights. After worshipping Mahalakshmi in the evening with their families, people visit temples, gurudwaras and even churches to light candles. They also exchange sweets like prasad.
4th Day of Diwali – Govardhan Puja
Govardhan Puja on Wednesday 26 October 2022
Govardhan Puja Pratahkal Muhurat = 06:12 to 08:32
- Duration = 02 Hours 21 Minutes
- Dyuta Krida on Wednesday, October 26, 2022
- Pratipada Tithi starts = 4:18 PM on 25 October 2022
- Pratipada Tithi ends = October 26, 2022 at 2:42 PM
The fourth day is celebrate in various forms all over India. In western states of India like Gujarat, this day is celebrated with great pomp and shown as Best Baras, New Year according to their calendar.
In the northern states of India, this day is widely celebrate as Govardhan Puja and Vishwakarma Day when people worship their tools, weapons and machinery. Most establishments thus remain closed on this day. This day is also called Annakut.
Many thousands of years ago, Lord Krishna made the people of Vraja perform Govardhan Puja. Since then, Hindus worship Govardhan every year to honor the first puja performed by the people of Vraja.
5th day of Diwali 2022
- Bhai Dooj on Wednesday 26 October 2022
- Bhai Dooj Aparahna Muhurat = 1:14 PM to 3:35 PM
- Duration = 02 Hours 21 Minutes
- Dwitiya Tithi starts = 14:42 on 26 October 2022
- Dwitiya Tithi ends = 27 October 2022 at 12:45 PM
The fifth day of Diwali is celebrate as Bhai Dooj or Bhai Beej or Bhai Teeka/Tilak or Bhai Fota (in Bengal). Many moons ago, in the Vedic era, Yama (Yamraj, Lord of Death) visited his sister Yamuna on this day. He gave his sister a Vardhan (boon) that whoever visits her on this day will be freed from all sins. They attain Moksha or final emancipation. Since then, brothers visit their sisters on this day to inquire about their well-being, and sisters celebrate and prepare sweets, especially in honour of their brothers, wishing them a long, happy, healthy life and many successes.
This day marks the end of the five days of Diwali celebrations.