Diwali, also known as Deepavali, is a festival celebrated in almost all parts of India.

It is an Indian
festival that marks the victory of good over bad (evil). It is a festival celebrated by Indians with
great enthusiasm. The festival commemorates joy, harmony, and victory. It also marks the
return of Lord Ram from exile, which is described in the epic Ramayana. 

Diwali is derived from the Sanskrit word Deepavali which means row of lights. So, this festival is
celebrated by lighting lamps (usually earthen lamps) all around the house/office. It also
symbolises light as the victory over darkness. Generally, according to the stars, the date for
Diwali falls in October or November and is expected to be 20 days after Dussehra. It is
celebrated in the Hindu month called Kartika. 

Essay On Diwali
Diwali is a festival of lights. It is one of the biggest and grandest festivals celebrated mainly in
India. Diwali is a festival commemorated to mark joy, victory, and harmony. Diwali, also known
as Deepavali, falls in October or November. It is celebrated after 20 days of the Dussehra festival.
‘Deepavali’ is a Hindi word that means an array of lamps (‘Deep’ means earthen lamps, and ‘Avail’
means a queue or an array).

Diwali is celebrated in honour of Lord Ramchandra because on this day, Lord Rama returned to
Ayodhya after 14 years of exile. During this exile, he fought with demons and the demon king
Ravana, the powerful ruler of Lanka. On Rama’s return, the people of Ayodhya lit diyas to
welcome him and celebrate his victory. Since then, Diwali has been celebrated to declare the
victory of good over evil.

How is Diwali Celebrated in India?

In India, it is a festival of fun and happiness. People decorate their homes and offices with
various lights, cook delicious food, exchange gifts, and share happiness. Indian businesses
consider Diwali the first day of the financial new year. 

On this festival day,  courtyards are decorated with colourful rangoli, and lamps are lit on the
rangoli. People dress in new clothes, eat the delicacies, light lamps, and as the Sun sets, they
burst crackers. 

5 Days of Long Diwali Celebration

Diwali celebrations go on for five days. The five days are Dhanteras, Naraka Chaturdashi,
Lakshmi Pooja, Govardhan Pooja, and Bhai Dooj. The first day of the Diwali celebration marks
‘Dhanteras’ or the worship of wealth. On this day, Goddess Lakshmi is worshipped, and there is
a custom to purchase something precious.

The second day of the Diwali celebration marks Naraka Chaturdashi or Choti Diwali. On this
day, people wake up early in the morning and apply aromatic oils to them before taking a bath
to remove all sins and impurities from their life. 

The third day is the main festival. On this day, Lakshmi (God of wealth) is worshipped with
great devotion. People wear new clothes, offer Puja, and enjoy by lighting diyas and bursting a
few crackers.

The fourth day of the Diwali celebration marks Govardhan Puja or Padva. It is said that Lord
Krishna defeated Indra on this day by lifting the massive Govardhan Mountain. Using cow dung,
people make a small hillock that symbolises Govardhan and worship it.
The fifth day of the Diwali celebration marks Bhai Dooj. On this day, sisters visit their brother's
house and perform a ‘tilak’ ceremony. Sisters pray for their brother’s long and happy life while
the brothers give precious gifts to their sisters.

5 Days Diwali Celebration in 2022 - Important Dates

First Day Saturday Dhanteras October 22, 2022

Second Day Sunday Narak Chaturdashi October 23, 2022

Third Day Monday Diwali October 24,  2022

Fourth Day Tuesday Govardhan Puja October 25, 2022

Fifth Day Wednesday Bhai Dhooj October 26, 2022

Significance of Diwali Celebration

Diwali preparations have an important significance for Indians. The preparations start one
month before the actual date of the festival, and people indulge in buying new clothes, gifts,
books, lights, crackers, sweets, dry fruits, etc.

Some also believe in discarding old things and buying new ones. This also involves discarding
unused old items at home and buying new ones on Diwali, so the festival brings in everything
fresh and new. 

It is believed that Goddess Lakshmi visits the place of worship (maybe house or office) on Diwali
and blesses them. Hence, a lot of discipline and devotion goes into the celebration of this
festival. 

Effects of Festival Diwali on the Environment

However, considering the environmental pollution, it is advised not to burn too many crackers,
and also, they are not safe as they are made of harmful materials. There are many instances
where kids hurt themselves while bursting crackers. It is advised to burst crackers only under
adult supervision. Also, it is best to reduce the number of crackers you burst as it causes a lot of
air and noise pollution. Noise also hurts animals, and they get scared. 

So let us not forget the environment and the animals to which these crackers cause harm. We
can still enjoy the festivities with just the lights and have fun. However, to keep up the tradition,
we can just burst a few crackers and celebrate in an eco-friendly way. 

Conclusion
Diwali is a festival enjoyed by everyone. Amid all the festivities, we tend to forget that bursting
crackers lead to noise and air pollution. It can be very dangerous for kids and can even cause
fatal burns. Bursting crackers reduces air-quality index and visibility in many places, responsible
for accidents that are often reported after the festival. Hence, it is important to have a safe and
eco-friendly Diwali.

So let us all join hands and take an oath to celebrate this traditional festival with responsibility so
that everyone, including mother earth, is safe and free from pollution.