Diwali is The Festival of New Beginnings

Published October 27th, 2019 - 08:19 GMT

Diwali, Deepavali or Dipavali is the Hindu festival of lights, which is celebrated every autumn in the northern hemisphere (spring in the southern hemisphere). 

During the festival of lights, which is celebrated in India by followers of many faiths across the world, clay lamps are lit to signify the victory of good over evil. On a personal level, Diwali is a time for introspection to contemplate and dispel our own darkness and personal demons. Let light shine within yourself, and also shine this light outwards. The festival is based on the Hindu lunar calendar and takes place in October or November, depending on the cycle of the moon. 

The festival usually lasts for five days, and each day has its own individual meaning and associated celebration. The rituals vary according to region. However, special blessings are given to Goddess Lakshmi and Lord Ganesh, the remover of obstacles. 

During the celebration people distributing sweets to those children who are very poor as they can't afford it due to their financial conditions.

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Hindu devotees light earthen lamps on the banks of the River Sarayu on the eve of "Diwali" festival during an event organised by the Uttar Pradesh government, in Ayodhya on October 26, 2019. "Diwali", the Festival of Lights, marks victory over evil and commemorates the time when Hindu god Lord Rama achieved victory over Ravana and returned to his kingdom Ayodhya. SANJAY KANOJIA / AFP

Hindu devotees light earthen lamps on the banks of the River Sarayu on the eve of "Diwali" festival during an event organised by the Uttar Pradesh government, in Ayodhya on October 26, 2019. "Diwali", the Festival of Lights, marks victory over evil and commemorates the time when Hindu god Lord Rama achieved victory over Ravana and returned to his kingdom Ayodhya. SANJAY KANOJIA / AFP

Indian security personnel keep watch as Hindu devotees light earthen lamps on the banks of the River Sarayu on the eve of "Diwali" festival during an event organised by the Uttar Pradesh government, in Ayodhya on October 26, 2019. "Diwali", the Festival of Lights, marks victory over evil and commemorates the time when Hindu god Lord Rama achieved victory over Ravana and returned to his kingdom Ayodhya. SANJAY KANOJIA / AFP

Indian Sikh devotees pay their respects on the eve of "Bandi Chhor Divas" or "Diwali" at the illuminated Golden Temple, in Amritsar on October 26, 2019. Sikhs celebrate 'Bandi Chhor Divas', also on the same day as the Hindu festival of Diwali, to mark the historic return of the sixth Guru, Guru Hargobind NARINDER NANU / AFP

Indian Sikh devotees light candles as they pay their respects on the eve of "Bandi Chhor Divas" or "Diwali" at the illuminated Golden Temple, in Amritsar on October 26, 2019. Sikhs celebrate 'Bandi Chhor Divas', also on the same day as the Hindu festival of Diwali, to mark the historic return of the sixth Guru, Guru Hargobind NARINDER NANU / AFP

Sikh devotees visit the Golden Temple to mark Bandi Chhor Divas which coincides with the day of Diwali in Amritsar on October 27, 2019. Sikhs celebrate Bandi Chhor Divas on the same day as the Hindu festival of Diwali, to mark the historic return of the sixth Guru Hargobind. NARINDER NANU / AFP

A customer tries on gold jewellery at a store in Amritsar on October 25, 2019. Dhanteras, the first day to mark the Hindu festival of Diwali, is seen as an auspicious day on which to make purchases. NARINDER NANU / AFP

A craftsman paints earthen lamps ahead of the Hindu festival of Diwali in Amritsar on October 25, 2019. NARINDER NANU / AFP

Sikh devotees visit the Golden Temple to mark Bandi Chhor Divas which coincides with the day of Diwali in Amritsar on October 27, 2019. Sikhs celebrate Bandi Chhor Divas on the same day as the Hindu festival of Diwali, to mark the historic return of the sixth Guru Hargobind. NARINDER NANU / AFP

Nepal Armed Police personnel apply vermilion and flower garlands to a police dog during an event to mark the Hindu Tihar festival also known as Diwali at the Armed Police Dog Training School in Kathmandu on October 27, 2019. Tihar, as the Hindu festival of Diwali is known locally, sees Nepalese offering blessings to dogs, which according to Hindu tradition are the messengers of Yamraj, the god of death. PRAKASH MATHEMA / AFP

Hindu devotees light earthen lamps on the banks of the River Sarayu on the eve of "Diwali" festival during an event organised by the Uttar Pradesh government, in Ayodhya on October 26, 2019. "Diwali", the Festival of Lights, marks victory over evil and commemorates the time when Hindu god Lord Rama achieved victory over Ravana and returned to his kingdom Ayodhya. SANJAY KANOJIA / AFP
Hindu devotees light earthen lamps on the banks of the River Sarayu on the eve of "Diwali" festival during an event organised by the Uttar Pradesh government, in Ayodhya on October 26, 2019. "Diwali", the Festival of Lights, marks victory over evil and commemorates the time when Hindu god Lord Rama achieved victory over Ravana and returned to his kingdom Ayodhya. SANJAY KANOJIA / AFP
Indian security personnel keep watch as Hindu devotees light earthen lamps on the banks of the River Sarayu on the eve of "Diwali" festival during an event organised by the Uttar Pradesh government, in Ayodhya on October 26, 2019. "Diwali", the Festival of Lights, marks victory over evil and commemorates the time when Hindu god Lord Rama achieved victory over Ravana and returned to his kingdom Ayodhya. SANJAY KANOJIA / AFP
Indian Sikh devotees pay their respects on the eve of "Bandi Chhor Divas" or "Diwali" at the illuminated Golden Temple, in Amritsar on October 26, 2019. Sikhs celebrate 'Bandi Chhor Divas', also on the same day as the Hindu festival of Diwali, to mark the historic return of the sixth Guru, Guru Hargobind NARINDER NANU / AFP
Indian Sikh devotees light candles as they pay their respects on the eve of "Bandi Chhor Divas" or "Diwali" at the illuminated Golden Temple, in Amritsar on October 26, 2019. Sikhs celebrate 'Bandi Chhor Divas', also on the same day as the Hindu festival of Diwali, to mark the historic return of the sixth Guru, Guru Hargobind NARINDER NANU / AFP
Sikh devotees visit the Golden Temple to mark Bandi Chhor Divas which coincides with the day of Diwali in Amritsar on October 27, 2019. Sikhs celebrate Bandi Chhor Divas on the same day as the Hindu festival of Diwali, to mark the historic return of the sixth Guru Hargobind. NARINDER NANU / AFP
A customer tries on gold jewellery at a store in Amritsar on October 25, 2019. Dhanteras, the first day to mark the Hindu festival of Diwali, is seen as an auspicious day on which to make purchases. NARINDER NANU / AFP
A craftsman paints earthen lamps ahead of the Hindu festival of Diwali in Amritsar on October 25, 2019.  NARINDER NANU / AFP
Sikh devotees visit the Golden Temple to mark Bandi Chhor Divas which coincides with the day of Diwali in Amritsar on October 27, 2019. Sikhs celebrate Bandi Chhor Divas on the same day as the Hindu festival of Diwali, to mark the historic return of the sixth Guru Hargobind. NARINDER NANU / AFP
Nepal Armed Police personnel apply vermilion and flower garlands to a police dog during an event to mark the Hindu Tihar festival also known as Diwali at the Armed Police Dog Training School in Kathmandu on October 27, 2019. Tihar, as the Hindu festival of Diwali is known locally, sees Nepalese offering blessings to dogs, which according to Hindu tradition are the messengers of Yamraj, the god of death. PRAKASH MATHEMA / AFP
Hindu devotees light earthen lamps on the banks of the River Sarayu on the eve of "Diwali" festival during an event organised by the Uttar Pradesh government, in Ayodhya on October 26, 2019. "Diwali", the Festival of Lights, marks victory over evil and commemorates the time when Hindu god Lord Rama achieved victory over Ravana and returned to his kingdom Ayodhya. SANJAY KANOJIA / AFP
Hindu devotees light earthen lamps on the banks of the River Sarayu on the eve of "Diwali" festival during an event organised by the Uttar Pradesh government, in Ayodhya on October 26, 2019. "Diwali", the Festival of Lights, marks victory over evil and commemorates the time when Hindu god Lord Rama achieved victory over Ravana and returned to his kingdom Ayodhya. SANJAY KANOJIA / AFP
Hindu devotees light earthen lamps on the banks of the River Sarayu on the eve of "Diwali" festival during an event organised by the Uttar Pradesh government, in Ayodhya on October 26, 2019. "Diwali", the Festival of Lights, marks victory over evil and commemorates the time when Hindu god Lord Rama achieved victory over Ravana and returned to his kingdom Ayodhya. SANJAY KANOJIA / AFP
Hindu devotees light earthen lamps on the banks of the River Sarayu on the eve of "Diwali" festival during an event organised by the Uttar Pradesh government, in Ayodhya on October 26, 2019. "Diwali", the Festival of Lights, marks victory over evil and commemorates the time when Hindu god Lord Rama achieved victory over Ravana and returned to his kingdom Ayodhya. SANJAY KANOJIA / AFP
Indian security personnel keep watch as Hindu devotees light earthen lamps on the banks of the River Sarayu on the eve of "Diwali" festival during an event organised by the Uttar Pradesh government, in Ayodhya on October 26, 2019. "Diwali", the Festival of Lights, marks victory over evil and commemorates the time when Hindu god Lord Rama achieved victory over Ravana and returned to his kingdom Ayodhya. SANJAY KANOJIA / AFP
Indian security personnel keep watch as Hindu devotees light earthen lamps on the banks of the River Sarayu on the eve of "Diwali" festival during an event organised by the Uttar Pradesh government, in Ayodhya on October 26, 2019. "Diwali", the Festival of Lights, marks victory over evil and commemorates the time when Hindu god Lord Rama achieved victory over Ravana and returned to his kingdom Ayodhya. SANJAY KANOJIA / AFP
Indian Sikh devotees pay their respects on the eve of "Bandi Chhor Divas" or "Diwali" at the illuminated Golden Temple, in Amritsar on October 26, 2019. Sikhs celebrate 'Bandi Chhor Divas', also on the same day as the Hindu festival of Diwali, to mark the historic return of the sixth Guru, Guru Hargobind NARINDER NANU / AFP
Indian Sikh devotees pay their respects on the eve of "Bandi Chhor Divas" or "Diwali" at the illuminated Golden Temple, in Amritsar on October 26, 2019. Sikhs celebrate 'Bandi Chhor Divas', also on the same day as the Hindu festival of Diwali, to mark the historic return of the sixth Guru, Guru Hargobind NARINDER NANU / AFP
Indian Sikh devotees light candles as they pay their respects on the eve of "Bandi Chhor Divas" or "Diwali" at the illuminated Golden Temple, in Amritsar on October 26, 2019. Sikhs celebrate 'Bandi Chhor Divas', also on the same day as the Hindu festival of Diwali, to mark the historic return of the sixth Guru, Guru Hargobind NARINDER NANU / AFP
Indian Sikh devotees light candles as they pay their respects on the eve of "Bandi Chhor Divas" or "Diwali" at the illuminated Golden Temple, in Amritsar on October 26, 2019. Sikhs celebrate 'Bandi Chhor Divas', also on the same day as the Hindu festival of Diwali, to mark the historic return of the sixth Guru, Guru Hargobind NARINDER NANU / AFP
Sikh devotees visit the Golden Temple to mark Bandi Chhor Divas which coincides with the day of Diwali in Amritsar on October 27, 2019. Sikhs celebrate Bandi Chhor Divas on the same day as the Hindu festival of Diwali, to mark the historic return of the sixth Guru Hargobind. NARINDER NANU / AFP
Sikh devotees visit the Golden Temple to mark Bandi Chhor Divas which coincides with the day of Diwali in Amritsar on October 27, 2019. Sikhs celebrate Bandi Chhor Divas on the same day as the Hindu festival of Diwali, to mark the historic return of the sixth Guru Hargobind. NARINDER NANU / AFP
A customer tries on gold jewellery at a store in Amritsar on October 25, 2019. Dhanteras, the first day to mark the Hindu festival of Diwali, is seen as an auspicious day on which to make purchases. NARINDER NANU / AFP
A customer tries on gold jewellery at a store in Amritsar on October 25, 2019. Dhanteras, the first day to mark the Hindu festival of Diwali, is seen as an auspicious day on which to make purchases. NARINDER NANU / AFP
A craftsman paints earthen lamps ahead of the Hindu festival of Diwali in Amritsar on October 25, 2019.  NARINDER NANU / AFP
A craftsman paints earthen lamps ahead of the Hindu festival of Diwali in Amritsar on October 25, 2019. NARINDER NANU / AFP
Sikh devotees visit the Golden Temple to mark Bandi Chhor Divas which coincides with the day of Diwali in Amritsar on October 27, 2019. Sikhs celebrate Bandi Chhor Divas on the same day as the Hindu festival of Diwali, to mark the historic return of the sixth Guru Hargobind. NARINDER NANU / AFP
Sikh devotees visit the Golden Temple to mark Bandi Chhor Divas which coincides with the day of Diwali in Amritsar on October 27, 2019. Sikhs celebrate Bandi Chhor Divas on the same day as the Hindu festival of Diwali, to mark the historic return of the sixth Guru Hargobind. NARINDER NANU / AFP
Nepal Armed Police personnel apply vermilion and flower garlands to a police dog during an event to mark the Hindu Tihar festival also known as Diwali at the Armed Police Dog Training School in Kathmandu on October 27, 2019. Tihar, as the Hindu festival of Diwali is known locally, sees Nepalese offering blessings to dogs, which according to Hindu tradition are the messengers of Yamraj, the god of death. PRAKASH MATHEMA / AFP
Nepal Armed Police personnel apply vermilion and flower garlands to a police dog during an event to mark the Hindu Tihar festival also known as Diwali at the Armed Police Dog Training School in Kathmandu on October 27, 2019. Tihar, as the Hindu festival of Diwali is known locally, sees Nepalese offering blessings to dogs, which according to Hindu tradition are the messengers of Yamraj, the god of death. PRAKASH MATHEMA / AFP

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