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Reading facts about Diwali not only helps students learn about the significance of this festival but also about its traditions. It is an excellent way to improve your general knowledge for competitive exams and school competitions. Moreover, it also helps students learn interesting facts about Indian culture. Popularly known as the festival of lights, Diwali is widely celebrated in India as well as in many other countries. In this blog, you will read more interesting facts about Diwali for kids in English with pictures.
Table of Contents
Interesting Facts About Diwali
1. The name Diwali comes from a Sanskrit word, meaning row of lights.
2. The festival of Diwali lasts for 5 days.
3. Diwali or Deepavali also marks the beginning of a new year for some Hindu communities.
4. It is celebrated in the Hindu month of Kartika. The date of this festival changes every year.
5. Although it is majorly a Hindu festival, Diwali is also celebrated by Sikhs and Jains.
6. The month of Kartik concludes the end of the harvest season in India. Thus, farmers offer their harvest to goddess Lakshmi during Diwali for prosperity and peace.
7. Diwali falls on an Amavasya or moonless night.
8. The main deities of the Diwali festival are the goddess Lakshmi and Lord Ganesha. Families come together for Lakshmi Pujan (worshipping the goddess) to bring peace, prosperity, fortune, health, and wealth.
Unknown Facts of Diwali
1. Jains believe that Diwali marks the passing of Mahavira, one of the 24 Tirthankaras.
2. Sikhs celebrate Diwali to commemorate the victory of Guru Hargobind over the Mughal Emperor Jahangir. They call it the Bandi Chhor Divas.
3. In some folktales, the festival of Diwali marks the birth of goddess Lakshmi. She was born out of the great churning of the milk sea.
4. Annakut is celebrated on the fourth day of Diwali or the 1st day of the new year according to the Hindu calendar. On this day, devotees pray to Lord Krishna and pay gratitude to Krishna as he once lifted the Govardhan mountain to save villagers.
5. Myanmar, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Singapore, and Malaysia are some of the countries which observe a national holiday on Diwali.
6. Leicester, located in the United Kingdom, holds the largest Diwali celebrations outside India.
Also Read: Essay on Diwali in English
Facts About Diwali Celebrations
1. During this festival, people decorate their homes, classrooms, and temples with flowers and lights.
2. In Northern India, people celebrate Diwali to celebrate the return of Lord Rama after he defeated the demon king Ravana and completed his exile of 14 years.
3. In Southern India, devotees celebrate Diwali to celebrate the victory of Lord Krishna over the demon Narakasura.
4. The western parts of India celebrate Diwali to mark the day when Lord Vishnu sent the demon king Bali to rule the nether world.
5. Many people buy gold jewellery during the festival of Diwali as it brings good luck and fortune.
6. People exchange gifts, sweets, and dry fruits to wish their friends and family.
7. Making beautiful rangoli at the entrance of homes is a popular Diwali tradition.
8. The traditional way of celebrating Diwali includes filling small clay lamps with mustard oil and using a cotton wick to light them.
9. In Kolkata, West Bengal, Diwali is celebrated with a unique tradition of Kali Puja. This celebration includes huge structures called pandals that house big idols of the goddess Kali.
10. In Goa, the night before Diwali is celebrated as Narkasur Night. People create larger-than-life effigies of the demon and burn them in open places.
Read about The Rituals and Traditions of Diwali: Short and Long Speech
Scientific Facts About Diwali
1. It is believed that lighting clay lamps or diyas during Diwali purifies the air and kills harmful bacteria.
2. The arrival of Diwali encourages people to clean their homes to create a positive, safe, and hygienic environment.
3. Diwali generally falls around the transition of the rainy weather to the winter season. As the weather starts getting colder, lighting lamps bring warmth and improve our mood.
4. The festival brings people together and creates happy energies, making everyone feel joyous and refreshed
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FAQs
5 interesting facts about Diwali include that it is a 5-day festival, it is celebrated in the Hindu month of Kartika, it falls on an Amavasya or moonless night, people wear new clothes and pray to the goddess Lakshmi and Lord Ganesha, and lastly, it is observed as a national holiday in several countries like Sri Lanka, Singapore, and Nepal.
Some interesting Diwalif facts for kids include that it is a 5-day festival, it is celebrated outside in many countries like Nepal and Sri Lanka, and lastly, goddess Lakshmi and Lord Ganesha are worshipped on Diwali to bring prosperity, health, wealth, and success.
One special thing about Diwali is that there are several scientific explanations behind its traditions and customs. For instance, the burning of mustard oil in clay lamps is supposed to kill harmful bacteria and purify the air. Similarly, it encourages people to clean their homes and create a hygienic environment.
Hope you enjoy reading these interesting facts about Diwali festival for kids. If you want to know more about topics like this, then visit our Interesting Facts and General Knowledge page!