Diwali 2022: a bigger and brighter festival than ever

What is Diwali?

This five-day celebration is India’s most important festival of the year. Widely observed by more than one billion people from a number of faiths across India and its diaspora, it’s better known as a festival of lights. This name comes from the Sanskrit dipavali meaning “row of lights”. And so those celebrating line up brightly burning clay lamps outside their home during Diwali.

Celebrating good triumphing over evil, light overcoming darkness, it’s a time for prayer, feasts, fireworks, family gatherings and charitable giving (danya). It’s also the start of the Hindu new year, also known as Deepavali.

When is Diwali 2022?

The dates of the festival are based on the Hindu lunar calendar, which marks each month by the time it takes the moon to orbit earth. The festival begins just before the arrival of a new moon between the Hindo months of Asvina and Kartika. This year Diwali falls on Monday 24th October.

The story of Diwali: its legends

Diwali is an important religious festival for Hindus, but is also observed by Jains, Sikhs, and Buddhists. While each religion has its own legends behind the festival, they really all represent the victory of good over evil.

In Hinduism alone, there are several versions of the Diwali story that vary from one geographic community to another. However, they’re all tales of victory won by men who were considered incarnations of the Hindu god Vishnu, regarded as the sustainer of the universe, and whose role it is to restore the balance of good and evil in times of trouble.

Diwali is also a celebration of the Hindu goddess of wealth and good fortune, Lakshmi. In India’s early agrarian society, Diwali coincided with the last harvest before winter: a time to pray to Lakshmi for good fortune. Today, Indian businesses still consider Diwali the first day of the financial new year.

Celebrating Diwali

Just as the stories behind Diwali differ, so do the way people celebrate it. However, what most celebrations have in common are an abundance of sweets, family gatherings and the lighting of clay lamps (diyas) symbolising the inner light that protects each household from spiritual darkness.

It’s also a time for giving - charitable gifts and gifts to friends and family. Traditional gifts include Diwali decorations and wall hangings, as well as sweets, clothes, and candle holders.

If you’re away from loved ones for Diwali this year, why not send an international  money transfer with WorldRemit on our app or website? Send a gift for the family to spend on the Diwali meal or on decorations.

What are the five days of Diwali?

Each of the five days of Diwali have their own significance:

• Dhanteras: On the first day, people pray to the goddess Lakshmi, bake sweets and traditionally clean their homes in preparation for the festival.

• Naraka Chatursadi (Choti Diwali): On the second day, people usually wake early, bathe and wear new clothes.

• Lakshmi Puja (Diwali Festival): Diwali’s third day is its most important.  People may go to temples to honour Lakshmi or gather with friends and family for feasts and fireworks. Devotees also set ablaze the lamps they have displayed the day before.

• Govardhan Puja: For many, the fourth day of Diwali marks the new year and a time to exchange gifts and well wishes.

• Bhai Dooj: The final day is for feasting, and sisters will perform a “tilak” for their brothers, praying for longevity and happiness. In return for these prayers, brothers will give additional gifts to their sisters.

Diwali - wherever you are

Even if you can’t make it back to India for Diwali 2022, you can feel closer to your family and to this special holiday by having your own celebrations. Why not light up your house and decorate as you would in India? You can share the experience by doing this whilst on the phone with your family, via a video call.

Don’t miss out on the Diwali foods. You could meet with friends gifting Indian sweets including kaju katli, gulab jamun, and motichoor ladoo.

You could even check out and see if there are any Diwali celebrations near you. For example, in London, there is Diwali in the Square in Trafalgar Square on 9 October, the Deepavali Festival in Sydney and many celebrations across the US.

Celebrate Diwali with our best offer ever!

One of the best ways to stay close to those you love at Diwali is to send money home - a gift to help pay for meals and decorations. Or even send a charitable gift (danya).  And, if you send with us you can enjoy some epic savings. That’s because when you send a minimum of £500 you can enjoy the best exchange rates.

If it’s your first time sending money with WorldRemit, as well as improved FX, your first three transfers will be fee free.

And that’s not all. You can expect your money transfer to be fast and secure. 95% of transactions are ready within minutes* and security checks protect your money and personal information at all times.

You can send money to India with us via bank transfer - or recharge your loved ones’ phones with airtime top up.

We wish you a better and brighter Diwali this year - and may you realise all your hopes for the future.

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*95% of our July 2022 money transfers were authorised within 60 minutes.

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