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    • When is the holiday and why is it celebrated?
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    When is the holiday and why is it celebrated?

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    Diwali is one of the most important Hindu festivals and is celebrated in many South Asian communities.

    Starting Thursday, October 31, many people around the world will observe Diwali, or Deepavali, and take part in the festivities over the coming days.

    The dates of Diwali vary year by year according to the lunar calendar, but in 2023 the celebrations began on November 10 and continued through November 14, lasting a total of five days.

    Here’s everything you need to know about Diwali 2024, including when it starts, how it’s celebrated and what the holiday symbolizes.

    When is Diwali 2024?

    Diwali starts on October 31, 2024 and is celebrated for five days.

    Dhanteras, the preparation period leading up to the peak of Diwali on October 31, will begin two days earlier on October 29, The Times of India said.

    The date of Diwali is determined by the lunar calendar. According to Almanac.com, Diwali begins on the darkest day, the night of the new moon. According to Britannica, this day typically falls on the 13th day of the dark half of the lunar month, Ashvina.

    Diwali usually takes place in the fall and usually takes place in late October or early November.

    What is Diwali? Which religions celebrate it?

    According to National Geographic Kids, Diwali, or Deepavali, is known as the festival of lights. Over time, it has become a national holiday, and besides Hinduism, communities including Jainism and Sikhism have their own way of celebrating it.

    The word Diwali is derived from the Sanskrit word Deepavali, which means row of lights. This refers to the row (avali) clay lamps (deepa) that observers light outside their homes during Diwali to represent the light that protects against spiritual darkness.

    How is Diwali celebrated?

    Depending on the region and tradition, Diwali celebrations differ.

    The most common practice among Hindus is to light diyas (small clay lamps filled with oil) on the night of the new moon to invoke the goddess of prosperity, Lakshmi.

    When the diyas are lit, they are placed in rows in temples and houses or floating on rivers and streams. Houses are decorated traditionally, with intentional designs called rangolis, made of colored rice, sand or flower petals to invoke Goddess Lakshmi to bless their home with wealth and success.

    Each day of Diwali is celebrated differently, from cleaning your house to building colored designs called rangolis to eating a big meal and traditional Indian sweets.

    Reach the reporter at [email protected] or at X at @ZachBradshaw14.

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