Diwali Facts for Children

Here are some Diwali Facts for Children and Adults wanting to Learn more about this great festival!

Diwali for Hindu's

1) Diwali is the festival of light which is celebrated by Hindu's in India and all around the world!

2) It is India's most important holiday.

3) It is the Hindu New Year 

4) Diwali falls within October or November each year. Its not fixed dates and changes each year.

5) It is a very exciting and colourful celebration.

6) Homes are cleaned and sometimes even redecorated for the festival. 

7) New clothes and jewellery are worn, parties are held, presents and delicious food are prepared and exchanged amongst family and friends.

8) Windows are left open to welcome the Hindu Goddess of Wealth, Lakshmi. Hindu's pray to Lakshmi to bring them good luck for the year ahead. It is believed that she can not enter a home which is not well lit so Hindu's light beautiful coloured Diva lamps. 

9) Hindu's believe the more lights they have the more tempted Lakshmi will be to visit them.

10) Diwali celebrates the return of Rama and Sita.

Diwali for Sikhs

1) Diwali is also celebrated by Sikh's but their reasons for this celebration are different.

2) For Sikhs, Diwali is important as it celebrates the release from prison of the sixth guru, Guru Hargobind, and 52 other princes with him, in 1619.

3) Diwali was well underway when the Sixth Guru and the 52 other Princes were released, people were overjoyed, so they too made it a Diwali celebration for them.

3) People believed their released meant good had overcome evil, light had overcome darkness.

4) Sikhs light up the Golden Temple.

Diwali is also used to celebrate a successful Harvest.