What is Diwali, festival of lights?

Around the world this week, millions of people were celebrating one of the biggest festivals in the Hindu lunar calendar – Diwali. We bring you a quick overview of the festival, alongside some extra reading on a few other key celebrations in both the Hindu culture and across other parts of Asia.  

The festivals of Diwali and Holi are two of the biggest on the Hindu lunar calendar.  

Diwali or Deepavali is a five-day festival that usually falls between October and November and celebrates the victory of light over darkness. The five-day celebrations begin with Dhanteras on the first day and are concluded with Bhai Dooj. Diwali (or Deepavali in some places) is observed on the third day of the festival – in 2022, this is Monday, October 24.      

Also known as the Festival of Lights, Diwali stretches back thousands of years and is linked to different myths or religious texts. These stories often revolve around good winning over evil, such as King Rama rescuing his wife Sita from an evil king and returning home, where they are welcomed by millions of lights lit by their subjects. 

During Diwali, families come together to share food and people light lamps to banish the darkness. In more modern times, these lights are replaced with huge, city-wide fireworks displays. Gifts are exchanged, food is shared and pooja (prayers) are offered to deities such as Lakshmi, the goddess of fertility and prosperity. 

Learn more about Diwali:
Happy Diwali: The real joy is in community partnership and goodwill - Indian Newslink
Diwali 2022: Date, history, significance, celebration and all you need to know about the festival of lights - Hindustan Times
Diwali: Date, puja timings, history, importance, and significance - Indian Express

Holi – or the Festival of Colours – celebrates the end of winter with light, colour, and love. Normally taking place around March, the two-day festival traditionally starts with a bonfire night, known as Holika Dahan in some parts of India.  

This act is often associated with the story of Holika, a demoness. Her nephew, Prahlada, is a devotee of Vishnu and she attempts to kill him by fire, relying on her immunity to flames to protect her. However, Vishnu intervenes, protecting Prahlada. As punishment, Holika has her immunity taken away and she burns to death on the bonfire meant for Prahlada.  

A scene of devotees inside Krishan temple Nandgaon during Holi. Photo: Wikimedia Commons

The following day is Holi and is probably best known around the world as a day full of colour, where people pelt one another with coloured powder known as gulal. The powder symbolises the flickering bonfire of Prahlada and the bright colours welcome spring. Each colour also holds a specific meaning, ranging from love to new beginnings.   

Over the years, the Asia Media Centre has had people write on different significant cultural events across Asia. Here, we’ve republished some excerpts from an article first published in 2018. To read the piece in full, click here.  

The big holidays in Vietnam 
Kate Phong – Co-founder, AUT-Asia Connect Club, Vietnam: 

“The Tết holiday (Vietnamese Lunar New Year) and the Vietnamese Mid-Autumn Festival are major cultural events. 

“During Tết, people traditionally give each other red packets. Chưng cakes and dày cakes are eaten. People from the north display peach blossoms at home, and those from the south display yellow plum blossoms. 

“During the Mid-Autumn Festival, people eat moon cakes. Children play with lanterns and shops put up lantern displays for decoration. 

During the Vietnamese Mid-Autumn Festival, moon cake is eaten.

“There are long holidays such as Liberation Day (also known as Reunification Day) and International Labour Day too, which hold historic meanings to the country. On both days, everyone hangs the country flag at home.” 

The food on the table at Chinese New Year 
Shao Wei, researcher, China: 

“The celebration of Chinese New Year, also called the Spring Festival, is filled with customs. 

“Food is essential for a happy Chinese New Year. The dinner on the eve is the most important meal for the festival. It usually consists of eight to 10 dishes. A whole chicken and steamed fish are a must, as the pronunciation of the word chicken (ji) is similar to the word that means auspicious. The Chinese character for fish symbolises prosperity. 

In southern China, spring rolls are eaten on the eve of the lunar new year.

“In southern China, spring rolls must appear on the table to celebrate the coming of spring on the eve of the lunar new year. People from northern China eat dumplings to send away the old and welcome the new year. 

“One of the most exciting moments during the Chinese New Year celebration is to receive ‘hongbao’, or cash-filled red envelopes, from the family’s elders. The money in the hongbao brings receivers good luck and according to legend, also scares illness and evil away. 

This article is a republished version of a previous article on seasonal celebrations across Asia from 2020. To read that in full, click here. 

- Asia Media Centre