Diwali

Diwali (Sanskrit Dīpãvali, "row of lights"), also transliterated Deepavali or Diwãli (contracted spelling) is a Hindu festival of lights lasting five days. For many Hindus, Diwali is also New Year's Eve.

Lighting Diwali candles.


Diwali oil lamps. Photo: Shrikrishna Pundoor.


Diwali display in a hotel. Photo:ravikiranr.


Diwali lights in Varanasi.


Mangalore temples at Diwali. Photo:David G.


Diwali fireworks. Photo: Sumith Meher.


Earthenware Diwali lamp. Photo:teraroop11.


Building in Hyderabad at Diwali. Photo:TigerPuppala.

Diwali is held on the final day of the Vikram calendar, a type of Hindu calendar followed by North Indians. The next day, called Annakut, is New Year's Day for North Indians.

Dates of Diwali

The Hindu calendar is a lunar calendar, with most years consisting of 12 lunar cycles and an extra month inserted approximately every seven years to resynchronize the calendar with the seasons.

On the Hindu calendar, Diwali is celebrated for the five days from the 13th day of the dark half of the lunar month Ashvina to the second day of the light half of Karttika.

On the Gregorian (western) calendar, Dipavali falls in the months of October or November, and always on a new moon day. Since the precise moment of the new moon falls on different Gregorian dates depending on geographical location, the date of Dipavali can also depend on one's location.

Specific dates for Diwali (the main, fourth day on the North Indian calendar) are as follows:

• November 9 , 2007
• October 28, 2008
• October 17, 2009
• November 5, 2010

Meaning and Rituals of Diwali

Diwali is celebrated with a variety of rituals, which depend in large part on one's location, but they center on the lighting of candles, electric lights and fireworks.

The “row of lights” for which the festival is named are lit on the new-moon night to welcome Lakshmi, the goddess of wealth. But in Bengal, it is the goddess Kali who is so honored, and in North India the festival also celebrates the return of Rama, Sita, Lakshmana, and Hanuman to the city of Ayodhya, where Rama's rule of righteousness was inaugurated.

Throughout the five-day festival, small earthenware lamps filled with oil are lighted and placed in rows along the tops of temples and houses and set adrift on rivers and streams.

Gambling is encouraged during the Diwali season as a way of ensuring good luck for the coming year and in remembrance of the games of dice played by the Lord Shiva and Parvati on Mount Kailasa or between Radha and Krishna. In honour of Lakshmi, the female player always wins during Diwali.

The fourth day — the main day of Diwali and the beginning of the lunar month of Karttika — marks the beginning of the new year according to the Vikrama calendar. On this day, merchants perform religious ceremonies and open new account books. It is generally a time for visiting, exchanging gifts, cleaning and decorating houses, feasting, setting off fireworks displays, and wearing new clothes.

Regional Variation

In South India, which uses the Shalivahana calendar, Diwali does not coincide with the beginning of a new year. In South India, the new year (Ugadi), is followed by persons in Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka. Vishu and Varsha Pirappu are celebrated in Kerala and Tamil Nadu respectively. These festivals occur at about the same time, generally during April. [1] [2]

In England, the days are Dhanteras, Narak Chatrudashi, Lakshmi-Puja, the most important day, Padwa or Varshapratipanda and Bhaiya Dooj or the Teeka Ceremony [3].

In Trinidad and Tobago, the day of Divali is a public holiday and celebrations precede the Lakshmi-Puja day for almost two weeks. This event is one of the foremost religious observances for the country.

Diwali in Other Religions

The Diwali season is also significant to Sikhs. During the festival time in 1620, the sixth Guru, Hargobind Singh, gained the release of 52 Hindu princes who had been falsely imprisoned in Gwallior Fort by the rulers of the area, the Mughals. The Golden Temple of Amritsar was lit with many lights to welcome the release of Guru Hargobind; Sikhs have continued the tradition.

Jains also celebrate Diwali, as a celebration of the establishment of the dharma by Lord Mahavira. The festival's lights symbolizes the light of holy knowledge that was extinguished with Mahavira's passing.

More Information

• Hinduism FAQ
• Hinduism Fast Facts
• Hinduism overview
• Hindu beliefs
• Hindu deities
• Hindu ethics
• Hindu holidays
• Hindu history
• Hindu symbols
• Hindu texts

References

1. Tamil New Year Celebrations - hindutemple.org
2. Saja.org
3. City of Leicester website
4. "festivals." John Bowker, ed., Oxford Concise Dictionary of World Religions (Oxford UP, 2000), p. 193.
5. Hindu Festivals 2031.
6. Diwali - Encyclopedia Britannica Online (2007)

Hindu Holidays & Festivals

As in most ancient religions, many of the Hindu holidays are based on the cycle of nature. They mark the change of seasons, celebrate the harvest, and encourage fertility of the land. Others are dedicated to a particular deity, such as Shiva or Ganesh. Still other popular holidays commemorate events in the lives of Rama or Krishna. In addition to the major Hindu festivals that are celebrated throughout India, many regional festivals are also held in honor of various deities.

In general, Hindu festivals "are intended to purify, avert malicious influences, renew society, bridge over critical moments, and stimulate or resuscitate the vital powers of nature." They include a wide variety of rituals, including worship, prayer, processions, magical acts, music, dancing, lovemaking, eating, drinking, and feeding the poor. {2}

Major festivals likely to be observed by most Hindus are:

• Holi - festival of colors and spring (February-March)
• Mahashivaratri (Shiva Ratri) - night sacred to Shiva (February-March)
• Rama Navami - birthday of Lord Rama (April)
• Krishna Jayanti - birthday of Lord Krishna (July-August)
• Raksābandhana - renewing bonds between brothers and sisters (July-August)
• Kumbh Mela - pilgrimage every 12 years to four cities in India (July-August; last one 2003)
• Ganesha-Chaturthi (Ganesha Utsava) - festival of Ganesh (August-September)
• Dassera - victory of Rama over demon king Ravana (September-October)
• Navaratri - festival of Shakti (in Bengal) or Rama's victory over Ravana (South India) (September-October)
• Diwali - festival of lights and Laksmi (September-October)

References

1. "festivals." John Bowker, ed., Oxford Concise Dictionary of World Religions (Oxford UP, 2000), p. 193.
2. "Hinduism." Encyclopædia Britannica. Encyclopædia Britannica Premium Service. 2005 <http://www.britannica.com/eb/article?tocId=59796>.

Books on Hindu Holidays and Festivals

• Linda Johnsen, The Complete Idiot's Guide to Hinduism.
• Om Lata Bahadur, Book of Hindu Festivals and Ceremonies (2nd edition).
• Paul Younger, Playing Host to Deity: Festival Religion in the South Indian Tradition.
• Dilip Kadodwala, Hindu Festivals.
• Swasti Mitter, Hindu Festivals.
• Cath Senker, My Hindu Year: A Year Of Religious Festivals.

Hindu Denominations, Sects and Schools

Modern Hinduism is divided into four major devotional sects: Vaishnavism, Shaivism, Shaktism, and Smartism. Vaishnavism and Shaivism are generally regarded as monotheistic sects: each believes in one supreme God, who is identified as Vishnu in Vaishnavism and Shiva in Shaivism.

Vaishnavism, Shaivism and Shaktism are the most prevalent Hindu sects; among these, Vaishnavism is the largest. The devotional sects do not generally regard other sects as rivals, and each sect freely borrows beliefs and practices from others.

In addition to the four theistic sects, there are six schools of Vedantic philosophy within Hinduism. These schools tend to emphasize Ultimate Reality as Brahman, the great "Self" who must be realized to attain liberation.

The six Astika (orthodox; accepting the authority of the Vedas) schools of Hindu philosophy are Nyaya, Vaisheshika, Samkhya, Yoga, Purva Mimamsa (also called just 'Mimamsa'), and Uttara Mimamsa (also called 'Vedanta'). Of these six, three continue to be influential in Hinduism: Purva Mimamsa, Yoga, and Vedanta.

Click on the links below for more information on each of these sects and schools of Hinduism.

Four Theistic/Devotional Sects of Hinduism

• Vaishnavism
• Shaivism
• Shaktism
• Smartism

Six Philosophical Schools of Hinduism

• Yoga
• Purva Mimamsa (Mimamsa)
• Uttara Mimamsa (Vedanta)
• Nyaya
• Vaisheshika
• Samkhya

devotion

The religious life of many Hindus is focused on devotion to God (perceived as Brahman, Shiva, Vishnu, or Shakti) or several gods. This devotion usually takes the form of rituals associated with sculptures and images of gods in home shrines.

More philosophically-minded Hindus ignore the gods altogether and seek Realization of the Self through intense meditation. Still others focus primarily on fulfilling the social and moral duties appropriate to their position in life.

These various approaches are regarded as equally valid, and in fact are formally recognized as three paths(margas) to liberation: bhaktimarga (the path of devotion), jnanamarga (the path of knowledge or philosophy), andkarmamarga (the path of works and action).

Hindu religious practices center on the importance of fulfilling the duties associated both with one's social position and one's stage of life. With regard to the latter, traditional Hindus are expected to pass through four stages(ashramas) over the course of their life:

1. brahmacharga, which takes place during the school years, is focused on acquiring knowledge and developing character;
2. grastha, the middle years, is focused on worldly pursuits and pleasures such as marriage, family and career;
3. vanaprastha, when one's children reach adulthood, is a time of increased focus on spiritual things; and
4. sanngasu, in the last years of life, one may abandon the world entirely for a life of contemplation.

All stages of life for the Hindu, however, involve religious rituals and practices. Some of the major Hindu practices are described in the articles below.

	Ayurveda Ayurveda is an ancient Hindu system of medicine and healing that has found new popularity in the west today.
	Hatha Yoga Outside of Hindu culture, the word "yoga" is usually understood to refer to the practice of meditative movement, or Hatha Yoga. However, Hatha Yoga is only one part of the Hindu traditions of Yoga and Tantra. It is one of the paths leading to the ultimate goal of Raja Yoga, or contemplation of the One Reality.
	Kundalini Yoga Kundalini yoga is a tantric form of yoga focused on awakening the kundalini, the latent psychic energy that lies at the base of the spine, and making it rise through the seven chakras to the top of the spine.
	Namaste Greeting The gesture (or mudra) of namaste is a simple act made by bringing together both palms of the hands before the heart, and lightly bowing the head. In the simplest of terms it is accepted as a humble greeting straight from the heart and reciprocated accordingly.
	Puja (Pooja)  Puja is a religious ritual which some Hindus perform every morning after bathing and dressing but prior to taking any food or drink. Puja is seen as a way of relating humans to the domain and actions of the divine, and can be performed for anything considered divine, from Vishnu to a holy tree.
	The Sadhu (Holy Man) Some Hindus choose to leave their homes and dedicate their lives to spiritual disciplines. They renounce their possessions and devote themselves to a particular god and/or meditation, yoga and spiritual discussion. These are called sadhus, or holy men.
	Temples and Temple Rituals A guide to Hindu temples: how they are designed and built and the rituals and ceremonies that take place there.

sanatama dharma

meaning of name

Hinduism, from the Persian hindu (Sanskrit sindhu), literally "river." Means "of the Indus Valley" or simply "Indian." Hindus call their religion sanatama dharma,"eternal religion" or "eternal truth."

date founded

Earliest forms date to 1500 BC or earlier

place founded

India

founder

none

adherents

900 million

size rank

third largest in the world

main location

India, also United Kingdom and United States

major sects

Saivism, Vaisnavism, Saktism

sacred texts

Vedas, Upanishads, Sutras, Bhagavad Gita

original language

Sanskrit

spiritual leader

guru or sage

place of worship

temple or home shrine

theism

pantheism with polytheistic elements (see Is Hinduism Polytheistic?)

ultimate reality

Brahman

human nature

in bondage to ignorance and illusion, but able to escape

purpose of life

to attain liberation (moksa) from the cycle of reincarnation

how to live

order life according to the dharma

afterlife

if karma unresolved, soul is born into a new body; if karma resolved, attain moksa (liberation)

major holidays

Mahashivarati (mid-February) Holi (Spring) Ramnavami (late March) Dusserah (early November) Diwali (mid-November)

Compare Hinduism to over 40 other religions

Hinduism by the Numbers

three paths:	karmamarga - path of works and action jnanamarga - path of knowledge or philosophy bhaktimarga - path of devotion to God
three debts:	debt to God debt to sages and saints debt to ancestors
four stages of life:	brahmacharga - school years - grow and learn grhastha - marriage, family and career vanaprastha - turn attention to spiritual things sanrgasu - abandon world to seek spiritual things
four purposes of life:	dharma - fulfill moral, social and religious duties artha - attain financial and worldy success kama - satisfy desires and drives in moderation moksha - attain freedom from reincarnation
seven sacred cities:	Ayodhya Mathura Gaya (Bodhgaya) Kasi (Varanasi, Benares) Kanci Avantika (Ujjain) Dvaraka
ten commitments:	1. Ahimsa - do no harm 2. Satya - do not lie 3. Asteya - do not steal 4. Brahmacharya - do not overindulge 5. Aparigraha - do not be greedy 6. Saucha - be clean 7. Santosha - be content 8. Tapas - be self-disciplined 9. Svadhyaya - study 10. Ishvara Pranidhana - surrender to God

Sources

1. "Hinduism." Oxford Concise Dictionary of World Religions.
2. "Hinduism." Encyclopedia Britannica. Encyclopedia Britannica Premium Service. 2004.
3. Huston Smith, The World's Religions.
4. Linda Johnsen, The Complete Idiot's Guide to Hinduism, pp. 222-24.

Sponsored Links

International Society of Krishna Consciousness

Hare Krishna (ISKCON)

Hare Krishna dancing and chanting in
Soho, London. Photo: Aaron Morton.


Hare Krishna temple in West Virginia. Photo: Taylor Davidson.


The Maha-Mantra of the Hare Krishna.

Hare Krishna is the popular name for the International Society of Krishna Consciousness (or ISKCON), a new religious movement based in Hinduism.

Established in America in 1965, the Hare Krishna worship the Hindu god Krishna as the one Supreme God. Their goal is "Krishna consciousness" and their central practice is chanting the Hare Krishna mantra for which they are named.

Fast Facts

Founded:	1965 in New York and San Francisco, USA
Founder:	His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada
Adherents:	250,000 devotees plus 10,000 full members [according to ISKCON]; other sources say there are 1 million total
Texts:	Bhagavad Gita as translated by the founder
Theism:	Monotheistic (based in Hindu theism) belief in Krishna
Practices:	Asceticism, celibacy, vegetarianism, abstinence from drugs and alcohol, chanting, evangelism

History

His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada. Photo © Bhaktivedanta Book Trust.

ISKCON has its historical roots in the Caitanya (or Gaudiya) movement of Hinduism, which began around 1510 with an ascetic who took the name Sri Krishna Caitanya. This devotee of Krishna became renowned for his ecstatic devotion, expressed in dance and song. His disciples believed Caitanya to be manifestation of Krishna himself, and established a movement based on his inspiration.

The International Society for Krishna Conciousness (ISKCON) is a modern movement within this tradition. It was founded by His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada (1896-1977), a devotee of Krishna, upon his arrival to America from India in 1965. Prabhupada was born in Calcutta and was 70 years old when he arrived in New York City. Prabhupada moved to the Haight Ashbury district of San Francisco in 1967, where he soon gained many followers.

The movement spread quickly, and became one of the most visible of the new religious movements that came from the East in the 1960s and 70s. ISKCON gained further publicity (and financial support) through the interest of the Beatle George Harrison. The first Hare Krishna commune was established by Prabhupada as "New Vrindavan" in West Virginia in 1968.

In 1970, Prabhupada established the Governing Board Commission (GBC) to help him administer the movement. After Prabhupada's death in 1977, 11 of his disciples became initiating gurus. Three of these are still active Hare Krishna teachers.

The Hare Krishna came under criticism during the anti-cult movement in the 1970s and 1980s, and still remains under the watchful eye of anti-cult organizations today. The identification of ISKCON as a cult is usually based on the abuses committed by some of its leaders and allegations by some former members of brainwashing and isolation from family and friends.

In 1998, the organization published an official report detailing abuse of children in ISKCON boarding schools in the US and India in the 70s and 80s. The movement was sued by a number of former students and actively sought to identify victims who had not sued in order to compensate them as well.

To prevent future abuses, ISKCON has established a worldwide child protection office to screen out actual or potential abusers and educate children and adults on child abuse, and has made other organizational changes to increase the transparency and accountability of ISKCON leadership.

Hare Krishna sacred text

Texts

The most important sacred text for the Hare Krishna is the Hindu text Bhagavad Gita, the "Song of the Lord," written around 250 BC. Beloved also by Gandhi and nearly all Hindus, the Gita tells the story of the warrior Arjuna and his encounter with Krishna. This text is regarded as literal truth by Hare Krishnas.

Specifically, Hare Krishnas use and distribute the translation by Prabhupada, The Bhagavad Gita As It Is, which includes an extensive commentary by the founder.

Beliefs

ISKCON identifies itself with Hindu Vedic philsophy and Vaishanvism (devotion to Vishnu). Its beliefs are especially rooted in the Bhagavad Gita (see Texts, above) and the teachings of the founder, Prabhupada. Most mainstream Hindus accept the Hare Krishna as an authentic sect within Hinduism.

Hare Krishnas teach that we are living in an evil age, the age of Kali, but can attain salvation and a "return to Godhead" by means of permanent Krishna-consciousness. Krishna-consciousness can be accomplished through ethical living and the "Hare Krishna" chant (see Practices, below).

Krishna. Image ©Bhaktivedanta Book Trust

This salvation is accomplished by Bhakti-yoga, the "way of devotion." The object of ISKCON devotion is Krishna, a manifestation of Vishnu and a beloved deity in mainstream Hinduism as well. As seen above, the Hare Krishna describe themselves as monotheists, who worship the Supreme Godhead in the personality of Krishna. They also believe that the Supreme God is known by other names, such as Yahweh and Allah.

According to ISKCON's official website:

The mission of this nonsectarian, monotheistic movement is to promote the well being of society by teaching the science of Krishna consciousness according to Bhagavad-gita and other ancient scriptures. [1]

More specifically, Prabhupada identified the following Seven Purposes of ISKCON:

1. To systematically propagate spiritual knowledge to society at large and to educate all people in the techniques of spiritual life in order to check the imbalance of values in life and to achieve real unity and peace in the world.
2. To propagate a consciousness of Krishna (God), as it is revealed in the great scriptures of India, Bhagavad-gita and Srimad-Bhagavatam.
3. To bring the members of the Society together with each other and nearer to Krishna, the prime entity, thus developing the idea within the members, and humanity at large, that each soul is part and parcel of the quality of Godhead (Krishna).

Hare Krishna dancing in Soho, London. Photo: Aaron Morton.

4. To teach and encourage the sankirtana movement, congregational chanting of the holy name of God, as revealed in the teachings of Lord Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu.
5. To erect for the members and for society at large a holy place of transcendental pastimes dedicated to the personality of Krishna.
6. To bring the members closer together for the purpose of teaching a simpler, more natural way of life.
7. With a view towards achieving the aforementioned purposes, to publish and distribute periodicals, magazines, books and other writings. [1]

Practices

"Congregational members" of ISKCON put the movement's teachings about Krishna consciousness into practice while living a normal home and work life. They attend temples for congregational worship.

"Temple-based" or full members of the Hare Krishna movement live in temples and are expected to lead austere and ascetic lifestyles in which they follow these four regulative principles:

• eat no meat, fish, or eggs;
• drink no alcohol and take no drugs (including caffeine);
• do not gamble, and
• remain celibate except for purposes of procreation within marriage.

The reason for these prohibitions is that "indulgence in the aforementioned activities disrupts physical, mental and spiritual well-being, and increases anxiety and conflict in society." [1]

The central religious ritual of the Hare Krishna is the chanting of mantras. Their main mantra (maha-mantra) for which they are named is:

Hare Krishna, Hare Krishna,
Krishna Krishna, Hare Hare,
Hare Rama, Hare Rama,
Rama Rama, Hare Hare

This mantra expresses devotion to the gods Hare, Krishna and Rama and is believed to bring about a higher state of consciousness when it is chanted, sung, or meditated upon. It is thought to be the most effective means of self-purification. Hare Krishnas are expected to chant the mantra for 16 rounds of a rosary of 108 beads (i.e. 1,728 times) every day.

Hare Krishna singing and dancing in London. Photo: Esther Simpson.

Hare Krishnas are also known for their public singing and dancing and distribution of materials including their magazine, Back to Godhead. ISKCON is actively evangelistic, with the goal of spreading God-consciousness throughout the world.

Male Hare Krishnas dress in white or saffron robes and shave their head except for a topknot. Women wear brightly colored saris.

The movement's leaders are gurus in a successive lineage that is traced back to Caitanya himself. The job of the guru is to pass on the teachings unchanged to a disciple, who then carries on the line to others.

References & Sources

1. Official Website of ISKCON
2. International Society of Krishna Conciousness - Religious Movements Homepage
3. John Hinnels, ed., "Hare Krishna Movement." Penguin Dictionary of Religions (1997).
4. John Bowker, ed., "International Society of Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON)." Oxford Concise Dictionary of World Religions (2000).

Links

• ISKCON.com (official)
• Krishna.com - website of the Bhaktivedanta Book Trust (BBT)
• Bhagavad Gita As It Is - online version of the Hare Krishna sacred text
• Is the Hare Krishna Movement a Cult? - article by J. Gordon Melton of the Institute for the Study of American Religion
• Krishna/ISKCON - Rick Ross Institute (collection of news articles gathered by anti-cult website)
• Hare Krishna - Religion-Cults.com (highlights the scandals of Hare Krishna and strongly identifies it as a cult)

Books

• The Bhagavad Gita As It Is (Hare Krishna sacred text)
• Inside the Hare Krishna Movement
• Servant of the Lotus Feet: A Hare Krishna Odyssey (by a former member) 
• The Oxford Handbook of New Religious Movements
• Holy Cow: The Hare Krishna Contribution to Vegetarianism and Animal Rights
• Fortunate Souls
• The Hare Krishna Book of Vegetarian Cooking

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ReligionFacts!

Religion, or at least religious inquiry, is something that virtually all humans have in common. In all corners of the world and in all eras of history, people have wondered about the meaning of life, how to make the best of it, what happens afterwards, and if there is anyone or anything "out there."

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