Diwali Festival, When is Diwali in 2012?, Diwali Date, Diwali 2012, Deepavali
The festival of lights Diwali is celebrated on Ashwayuja Krishna paksha Amavasya or the no moon day of the Aswayuja month as per the lunar calendar. As per the Tamil calendar Diwali is celebrated in the Aipasi month. This year diwali is celebrated on Tuesday, 13th November, 2012.
Diwali is the short form of the Sanskrit word Deepawali or Deepavali, which means a row of lights. Deepa means light and wali or vali is a row. On Diwali people would light diyas and arrange them in a row hence the name Diwali. It is a festival of light and every one rich and poor would like to decorate his house with lights to the maximum possible extent. The main ritual of Diwali is the Laxmi Puja done in every household in the evening of the Diwali Day.
It is believed that Goddess Laxmi resides in oil on this day and hence people apply oil to their whole body before taking bath. The houses are cleaned and decorated witl lights to welcome Goddess Lakshmi or Laxmi. It is believed that Goddess Laxmi will only enter the house that is very clean and hence no one would take a chance with the cleanliness.
The legend for celebrating Diwali is different based on the region.
In North India Diwali is celebrated to mark the return of Lord Rama to Ayodhya along with Sita and Lakshmana, after killing the demon Ravana. In South India Diwali is celebrated on the occasion of killing of the demon king Narakasura by Lord Shri Krishna with the aide of his wife SatyaBhama.
It is a common practice to burn firecrackers in the evening after Lakshmi Puja in front of houses and other establishments. Diwali is normally observed as the start of new year for business and people would close the account books and start new account books on Diwali.