Diwali also was known as Deepavali or Diwali is one of the most remembered and awaited festivals for Hindus. Diwali is celebrated as the festival of lights all around India and have various exciting facts attached to them.

Let’s some of the awesome facts attached to Diwali:

• Diwali is one of the festivals that is celebrated by all Hindus commemorated to Lord Rama’s wife Sita returned to Ayodhya after their 14 years of exile. But the night they arrived in Ayodhya was quite dark and hence people lit their homes with the small diyas or lamps so that Rama and his followers can find their way to the house.
• For celebrating Diwali people light little clay lamps also known as diyas around their abode to signify the victory of good over evil and most importantly to invite prosperity and luck from the gods.
• On the occasion of Diwali, all Hindus worship God Ganesha and Goddess Laxmi who is said to represent enlightenment, wealth and good luck.
• The Diwali festival has been one of the festivals which offer public holidays not only in India but other countries too like Myanmar, Mauritius, Malaysia and in some non-Asian countries like Trinidad, Guyana, Tobago, etc.
• Gambling is also one of the traditions on Diwali and relates to a mythological story of goddess Parvati. According to the famous story, the goddess was playing dice with her husband Lord Shiva, and she won a handsome amount. The Diwali was the occasion, and she announced that whosoever would play gambling on the day will be bestowed with luck and wealth across the year.
• One of the surprising fact attached to Diwali is that Golden Temple foundation stone was also laid on the day. The golden temple celebrates the festival of lights since 1577.
• The significance of Diwali is said to vary initially within the country, depending upon the Hindus philosophy, beliefs, legends and local myths.
• Diwali is considered to be one of the major festivals in the country. The rituals and preparation for other celebrations start weeks and days before the festival in advance. Diwali formally begins two days before the night of the D-Day and ends two days after the festival too. Every day has a different significance and rituals to be followed.
• The first day starts with Dhanteras. Weeks before Dhanteras the Indian households do start the festivities with the cleaning decorating and renovating their houses. Children And women are said to decorate the entrance with colors and beautiful rangoli by making designs inside and through the walkways of your home. While men and boys get busy in fixing external lightning arrangements and also completing all renovations works at home. Some people consider the day to be quite auspicious and as a war between the forces of good and evil. The days also marks the birthday of Goddess Lakshmi symbol of prosperity and wealth and the birthday of Goddess Dhanvantari symbol of healing and health. The night of Dhanteras allows the lighting of lamps or dips, and they are kept burning for the honor of Dhanvantri and Lakshmi.
• The first day of Dhanteras is considered to be a shopping day, mainly for silver and gold articles. Traders, retailers, and merchants stock up various articles on sale while preparing for the day. People decorate their workplaces, shops or multiple items symbolizing their sources of prosperity and sustenance.
• The second day is the Narak Chaturdashi is the second day of festivities also known as Choti Diwali. The households are decorated with the colorful floor designs known as rangoli to be made on or before the say of Narak Chaturdashi. It also allows special bathing rituals with fragrant oil held in many regions and followed by small pujas. Many women decorate their hands with beautiful henna designs. Some households also prepare sweets at home while others consider buying from outside as the best option.
• The third day is Diwali. People wear their best and new clothes in the evening, diyas are lit, pujas are also offered to Goddesses and many other deities depending on the different regions of the nation Saraswati, Kubera, and Ganesha. Lakshmi symbolizes prosperity and wealth and their blessings to proceed for the great year ahead.
• The day proceeding Diwali is known to be as Padwa. The day is primarily celebrated by married couples like their anniversaries and people also perform Govardhan puja too in honor of Lord Krishna. The last day of Diwali festival is known as Bhai Dooj. Remarked for celebrating brother and sister relationship in the very spirit quite similar to Rakshabandhan but with different rituals. Girls and women perform puja with prayers for their brother’s well-being and then the ritual for gift-giving, food-sharing and conversations follow. In olden times the brothers use to travel to their sister’s house to celebrate this sister and brother bond with their seasonal harvest.
• Another essential feature for Diwali celebration is firecrackers. The whole country can be found into the resplendent buzzing sounds of fireworks and lights. This is one of the unique ways to show the heavenly bodies that we are here for joy and prosperity. The other benefits of lighting crackers are they ought to kill the harmful insects borne in the rainy season.
• Speaking about Diwali brings our mind and heart to the sight of flamboyant decorations, flashy display of lights and new clothes. As there is a saying behind these practices and the same leads to the happiness and wealth as the Goddess Lakshmi roams around the earth and on the mission of distributing prosperity on her path.
• Cooking and Shopping are must-dos and are considered one of the funniest activities conducted on the festival. The women of Indian household prepare delicious sweets for the guests and family members. The desserts served on Diwali includes murukku, gulab jamuns, jalebis, Laddu, Halwa and rice puddings.
• Jains also celebrate the day as their god Mahavira is said to attain Moksha on the very day.
• Rangoli is decorating the house, fireworks illuminating the skies and Diya lights the homes of Hindu households. They conduct these activities to attract Goddess Lakshmi to bestow them for good fortune.
• On comparing to the whole world more than 800 million people celebrate the festival Diwali which falls on the fifteenth day of the month known as Kartika as per the Hindu calendar every year.
• Buying new things for home or workspace is considered to be auspicious on Diwali, and this is one of the primary reasons why there are so many discounts and offers launched by brands on the Diwali season.
• Traditional or ancient diyas used during the celebration of Diwali is comprised of earthen lamps. Although there are metallic and plastic diyas available, nowadays traditional ones have their charm. These diyas are said to be filled with oil or ghee, and a wick made up of cotton to bear the flame.
• As per the Hindu calendar, the day marks the beginning of the new year, and this is one the reason why households are clean thoroughly to make spotless. Another reason for the same is that Goddess Lakshmi is found to impart wealth only to the places which are tidy and clean.
• Being celebrated on the onset of winter the festival marks the opening of new accounting books in businesses, and for farmers, it is the end of their harvesting season.
• Diwali evenings showcase the worship of Lord Ganesha and Goddess Lakshmi in every household. The new idols of the god are bought and replaced by placing them side by side to each other. Lord Ganesha is worshipped first followed by Goddess Lakshmi.
• Outside India, the city named Leicester hosts the biggest Diwali celebrations.
• Wishing each other “Shubh Deepavali” on the day means “Have an auspicious Diwali”.
• In the southern part of India, Diwali is known by the name “Deepavali” which is considered to be the fusion of two Sanskrit words as “Dipa” means lights and “avali” means a row or series. The same here directly depicts the lights arranged in a row. Its celebration includes millions of lights shining on housetops, outside doors and windows, around temples and other buildings in the communities and countries where it is observed.
• While passing through Orissa, the Diwali celebration all together is taken as one of the rituals for calling spirits of their dead ancestors. Oriya people flame jute bags for tossing lights on spirits for showing their path towards the heaven.
• In Malaysia country, the festival is celebrated as Hari Diwali in Ashwayuja month and is also declared as a national public holiday for them.
• Swanti or Tihar are the names given to Diwali in Nepal. The fourth day of the festival marks the Yama to be worship for longer life of the loved ones.
• The Bengali people worship Goddess Kali and Diwali is celebrated as “Kali Puja” in the state.
• Not only the diyas lighten up the sky during Diwali. As the festival is said to hold the distinction for being one of the most popular days for lightening the fireworks across the globe. As per the recent estimations, the fireworks of over 1 billion$ are burned every year.
• The rituals performed in Diwali differs from place to place. Maharashtrian worships Ganesha; West Bengal worships one of the forms of Durga Ma, South look forward to worshipping Goddess Lakshmi. Every place has its charm on the festival of, and they are worth visiting.
• Due to import and post-independence restriction, the town that has risen for all these years is Tamil Nadu Sivakasi for manufacturing the firecrackers at large. In peak season they contribute more than 90 percent of the sales in the country.
• Kashmiri Pandits finds Diwali as one of the oldest rituals in the country. The Diwali celebrations are referred to as “Sukhssuptika” in Nilmat Puran. The Sukhssuptika means “to sleep with happiness.”
• Despite many revolts against the firing of crackers the revenue generated from the industry is getting increased every year. The amount of money spent on firing them can be put to good use too.
• Dhanvantri known as the god of health is also born on the day of Deepavali.
• In Tamil Nadu state people wake up early in the morning and go for oil bath while massaging with gingelly oil is also known as Nallennai in Tamil. For Tamilians taking oil, bath is a must. Newlywed couples celebrate their first Diwali at the bride’s house and receive gifts too. The first Diwali in Tamil Nadu is known as Talai Deepavali.
• Sikhs lighten lamps for the arrival of their religious guru known as Guru Hargobind who got free from imprisonment at Gwalior fort in 1699. The day is celebrated in Golden Temple and is also known as Bandi Chhor Divas.
• The day of Diwali is considered as quite auspicious for the god Kuber known as a symbol of wealth and bookkeeping.
• The Mughal Emperor known as Akbar have declared Diwali as one of the official government holidays and also allows his people to have leisure and firecrackers.
• The day also marks great importance in the life of Lord Buddha as he has gained Nirvana Biksha on this auspicious day.
• Some of the states, for example, Himachal Pradesh, Govardhan puja is conducted in honor of Sri Krishna on the day.
• The greatest hindu king Vikramaditya was coronated on Diwali day and this is one of the reasons why Diwali is known as one of the historical events too.
• Maharishi Dayanand (founder of Arya Samaj), the greatest Hinduism reformers are attained Nirvana on this day.

A festival which is attached to endless events in one of its kind and cant be comparable to any event. Diwali is celebrated as its best in India with your loved one, relatives and friends. Do visit India with Travelastu, to experience the real spirit of Diwali in Indian Households. Travelastu can prepare customized itineraries as per your requirements.