Deepavali, also known as Diwali, is one of the major festivals in India that celebrates the triumph of good over evil. It is a five-day festival marked by lighting lamps, sharing sweets and gifts, decorating entrances with rangoli patterns, and lighting fireworks. Deepavali falls in October or November according to the Hindu calendar and commemorates the return of Lord Rama to his kingdom after 14 years in exile.

1. Welcome to this presentation of
Deepavali

2. What is Deepavali?
• Diwali derived from the Sanskrit word Deepavali
Deepavali = Deep + Avali
Deep = light
Avali = a row
Diwali = Deepavali = Row of Light

3. When ?
• T he Indian calendar is based on the lunar
cycle and the movement of the moon, unlike
the conventional Gr e gorian/English calendar.
• T he r esult is that Indian festivals move
sideways the English calendar fr om year to
year.
• Diwali, for example falls on the date of the
no moon In the month of Kar tika (Hindi
Calendar), usuall y this is in October or
November.

4. DEEPAVALI
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One of the most common festival of
India
Triumph of good over evil
Remove darkness and ignorance
Bring in light and knowledge
Stories Behind the Celebration
Five Day Celebration
Rongoli
Fireworks
Family Get Together
New Colorful clothes
Distributing Sweets

5. On Diwali people exchange sweets and good wishes

7. Lights-Lamps and Fireworks

8. On Diwali, the story is that a famous Indian
God & King, Rama returned home after 14
years

9. But it was a moonless, dark night. Rama couldn’t see. The
citizens of ayodhya decorated the entire city with the
earthen lamps and illuminated it like never They lit the
roads with little lamps to show them the way home. It was
a huge celebration that day. This is Diwali, the festival of
lights.

10. Significance of Lamp
• Light symbolizes knowledge
• Light is Lord Himself
• Light removes darkness that
symbolizes ignorance

11. Significance of Light
Deepavali is a
people oriented
festival when
enimities are
forgotten and
families and friends
meet to enjoy and
establish a world of
closeness. As the
light from within
shines through, the
ignorance that blinds
us fades away!

12. Celebrations…
After sunset, fireworks are seen everywhere…each
and every street…

13. Fireworks light up the sky in celebration of Diwali

14. Celebrations…
Beautiful and colorful
designs are put in
front of their houses
called “rangoli”

15. On Diwali people worship Lakshmi, the
goddess of wealth is worshipped for a
prosperous year ahead.

16. Rongoli Patterns

17. A Rangoli is a
colourful design
drawn on the
floor near the
entrance to a
house to
welcome
guests.

18. During Diwali,
Indians draw bright
Rangoli patterns on
the floor by the
front door to
encourage the
goddess Lakshmi to
enter their homes.

19. Rangoli is also made with
flowers

20. U.S. President Barack Obama lights a traditional oil lamp as Sri Narayanachar Digalakote,
Hindu Priest from the Sri Siva Vishnu Temple in Maryland, chants in observance of Diwali,
in the East Room at the White House October 14, 2009 in Washington, DC