Diwali Festival 2012

Diwali Festival India

When and Where This Hindu Festival usually takes place in Mid-October/November and is celebrated by hindus worldwide. It is most famous in India and in 2012 the festival will begin on Tuesday November 13th.

Diwali is also known as the festival of lights and is also called Deepavali and is celebrated on the 'Kartika Amavasya' or New Moon. The festival lasts for five days the most popular/famous day of which includes a light nightime display of candles, lamps and fireworks. It should be noted that this Hindu festival is celebrated differently in different areas of India. In some places it is only a 1 day festival and in other Indian areas it is celebrated over 6 days.

The word Divali comes from the Sanskrit word Deepavali meaning a row of lights. Deep means light or lamp and avali means row. Hence Divali literally signifies a row or cluster of lights. If you would like to wish someone a happy diwali, the expression is 'shubh diwali'.

Accommodation in India

Deepavali Accommodation There is budget accommodation available in India here

Getting there Book a flight into any airport in India here it is also possible to book a train here.

Festival of Lights 5 days

Diwali Day 1: Vasu Baras Baras means 12th day and vasu means cow. The cow and calf are worshipped on Vasu Baras.

Deepavali Day 2: Dhanvantari an incarnation of the God of health and welfare: Vishnu, is worshipped. During this day people buy new clothes, new vessels, gold and silver etc. because this is the day that Dhanvantari came from the sea during Samudra Manthan.

Diwali Day 3: Naraka Chaturdashi This signifies the fourteenth day on which demon Narakasura was killed by god Krishna (the god Vishnu's incarnation. Naraka Chaturdashi signifies the victory of good over evil and light over darkness. In much of Southern India this is the main day of the festival. The are many traditions such as taking a bath before sunrise, which it is believed that when the stars are still visible in the sky a bath is equivalent to bathing in the holy Ganges. New clothes are worn and candles and lamps are used as well as large fireworks displays. Firecrackers are believed to repel the demons.

Day 4 Lakshmi Puja This is the most important day of Diwali celebrations in Northern India. Homes worship Lakshmi, the goddess of wealth, Ganesh the God of auspicious beginnings and then light lamps all across the streets and homes so as to welcome prosperity and well-being.

Festival of Lights Day 5: Bali Pratipada and Govardhan Puja/Govardhan Puja/AnnakutThis is celebrated as the day Krishna - an incaranation of god Vishnu defeated the god Indra and by the lifting of Govardhana Hill saved his kinsmen and cattle from rain and floods.

Diwali Day 6: Bhaiduj/Bhayyaduj/Bhaubeej/Bhayitika This is a day for families across India and other Hindu areas to meet and rejoice in life.

Diwali Dates 2012 , 2013... 2020

Here are the dates for the Diwali festival for the next couple of years:

Tuesday November 13 2012

Sunday November 3 2013

Thursday October 23 2014

Wednesday November 11 2015

Sunday October 30 2016

Thursday October 19 2017

Wednesday November 7 2018

Sunday October 27 2019

Saturday November 14 2020

Diwali History

Diwali has been celebrated for hundreds of years throughout the Hindu world. On 16th October 2009 32 people who in the fireworks warehouse in Pallipat, near Chennai, the capital of the southern state of Tamil Nadu. They were preparing for celebrations at the festival of light.

Plan your fun this year with our Festivals Calendar 2012

Festivals coming up
February 1st - 7th

Viareggio Carnival in Tuscany, Italy

Groundhog Day in Pennsylvania

Gasparilla Pirate Festival in Florida

Venice Carnival in Italy

Haerbin Ice Festival in China

Laneway Festival in Brisbane, Auckland, Melbourne, Sydney, Adelaide, Perth & Singapore

Thaipusam in Penang & Malaysia

Arts in the Plaza in St Maarten

Viareggio Carnival in Tuscany, Italy

Pingsi / Pingxi Lantern Festival in Taiwan

Venice Carnival in Italy



February 8th - 14th

Venice Carnival in Italy

Full Moon Party in Koh Phangan, Thailand

Pingsi / Pingxi Lantern Festival in Taiwan

Laneway Festival in Brisbane, Auckland, Melbourne, Sydney, Adelaide, Perth & Singapore

Mardi Gras in Sydney Australia

Thaipusam in Penang & Malaysia

Viareggio Carnival in Tuscany, Italy

Valentines Day Festival in Umbria, Italy

Viareggio Carnival in Tuscany, Italy

Good Vibrations Festival in Sydney & Melbourne is CANCELLED

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