Diwali 2023: Dates, History, Celebration & Snacking

Ah, Diwali mornings, do you remember that feeling of early morning excitement on Diwali? How we used to jump out of our bed, knowing that it was no ordinary day today. The sounds of distant firecrackers and the aroma of sweets, savouries, and flowers tickling our noses. The fresh, chill and misty morning air, as if it was a signal of a new beginning, and indeed, Diwali is a celebration of a new beginning!

The Auspicious Festival of Diwali:

Diwali, also known as Deepavali, ‘Deep’ means light, and ‘Avali’ means row; it translates into “Rows of Lights.” The grandeur of Diwali is reflected in the way the homes, offices, shops and streets of each and every town, city, and village are lit up in Diwali to welcome a new season and a new life. 

The streets and sky are lit with oil-filled diyas and bright and vibrant firecrackers against the backdrop of soft-orange hues of twilight. And people from all over the world come to witness the celebrations of this auspicious festival of Diwali.

Diwali Date 2023:

According to the Hindu Calendar, Diwali falls on Amavasya (new Moon), i.e. the 15th day of the month of Kartik every year. So, usually, it is somewhere between late October and early November. And this year, Diwali will be celebrated on 12th November 2023 (Sunday); [oh! That’s such a bummer for school-going kids and working professionals, iykyk! :) ]

Anyway, let’s now move on to read some interesting stuff about the history of and significance of Diwali.

History and Significance of Diwali

The different renditions of the origin of Diwali:

One story you all must have been taught since childhood would be that Diwali is celebrated to mark the return of Lord Rama after freeing his wife, Goddess Sita, from the chains of the demon King Ravan of Lanka and killing him, symbolising the victory of good over evil.

And the day they returned to Ayodhya was Amavasya (new moon), which is why thousands of diyas were lit in rows and firecrackers were burst by the residents of Ayodhya to welcome back their King and Queen, Lord Rama and Goddess Sita, along with Lord Rama’s brother, Laxmana.

Another popular story comes from the southern part of India, where there was a demon named Narakasur - meaning the one who made people’s lives like hell. Lord Krishna slayed the demon Narakasur, and people celebrated by lighting lamps in their homes. Since then, it has been known as Narak Chaturdasi.

Did you know, according to legends, it is also believed that Mata Lakshmi, goddess of wealth, was born on this day. And some believe that it is the celebration of the auspicious marriage of Goddess Lakshmi with Lord Vishnu. 

Not only this, Diwali is also an important time for Sikhs and Jains. 

For Sikhs, it's a time to celebrate the heroic spirit of their 6th Guru, Guru Hargobind, as he fought against Emperor Jahangir and came out of his chains only after ensuring that all 52 other Princes were free. 

It is of paramount significance for Jains as it is said that the last of their Tirthankars, Lord Mahavir, attained Nirvana, i.e., enlightenment, on this day and established the Dharma followed by all Jains worldwide.

Significance: The Five Auspicious Days of Diwali

Being one of the most important festivals of Hindus, Diwali is not just a one-day celebration. It is celebrated for 5 days, each day having a significance of its own. Let’s have a quick look at it with the help of the table below:

Dhanteras:

This comes from the legend of Samudra Manthan between Devtas and Asuras. During the Samudra Manthan, many invaluable things came out of the ocean, out of which Goddess Lakshmi, the goddess of wealth and God Dhanvantri, the god of health, also appeared. 

People pray for health and wealth on this day, and it is also considered an auspicious time to make new purchases or start something new.

Narak Chaturdasi/Chhoti Diwali:

When the demon Narakasur tormented people mercilessly and kidnapped 16,000 women, Lord Krishna and his wife Satyabhama (personification of Mother Earth) appeared to save people from Narakasur. As per his boon that he could be only killed by his mother when she wished, Satyabhama killed him, and Lord Krishna married the 16,000 women and gave them shelter in his palace. 

This is a legend from the South of India, and the day after this is celebrated as Diwali. People wake up early in the morning and take an oil bath to purify themselves physically, mentally and spiritually.

Diwali:

Diwali is celebrated pompously with firecrackers, earthen lamps and lighting, along with sumptuous food and the company of family and friends. It is an excellent reminder of the victory of good over evil through Lord Rama's and Lord Krishna's stories. Besides this, Goddess Kali, the destroyer of demons and sins, is also worshipped in eastern India.

All of it bears a deeper spiritual significance of going inwards and gaining victory over our evil thoughts and deeds. The light of Diyas is a representation to enlighten our hearts, minds and souls.

Govardhan Pooja:

You all must be aware of when Lord Krishna lifted the Govardhan mountain on his little finger to protect the residents of Braj Village from the heavy downpour of rain by an enraged Lord Indra. Once Lord Indra recognised Lord Krishna as the avatar of Supreme Lord Vishnu, he begged for forgiveness.

Lord Krishna showed the people that they must also worship Govardhan Mountain, which sustained their livelihoods and that he will always protect his devotees who will surrender to him. Later, Brajwasis offered 56 types of cooked foods and sweets to Govardhan Mountain. From there, the Govardhan Pooja and Annakoot (mountain of food) tradition started just the next day of Diwali.

Bhai Dooj:

Bhai Dooj originates from the story of Lord Yamraj, the Lord of Death. He went to meet his sister Yamuna and was welcomed with Aarti, Tika, and a feast in his honour. Pleased with this, he gave a boon that brothers who are welcomed by their sisters in this manner will be protected from the forces of evil.

One thing common throughout all the days of the celebration is the food. As children, we used to wait to sneak out laddus from the kitchen in a manner our mother would not notice. However, times have changed, especially post-Covid-19, and we have become more health conscious.

If you are one of those who struggle to have a balance between savouring yummy foods while keeping your health in check, read on to find out our recommendation for healthy snacking ideas this Diwali.

Healthy Diwali Snacks

Dried Fruits and Nuts

Of course, this was going to be on top of our list! There is an abundance of dried fruits and nuts in Diwali, and it's not only healthy but tasty as well. Don’t tell us you don’t like munching on them! Packed with lots of nutrients, minerals, protein, antioxidants, and much more to keep you filled for a good amount of time. We at Rewynd understand the importance of maintaining this balance. So check out here what we offer for your munching and Diwali snacking. 

Roasted Chickpeas

The superhero provides quick satisfaction with its high protein and fibre content. The saviour when you can literally not think of anything else, as this is common in Indian households; you would just need to find it sitting somewhere in a far corner of the storage. And don’t worry if you can’t find it in your home, Rewynd is there for you.

Chikkis

Diwali is just the perfect time to get these sweet and healthy snacks to your home. The goodness of protein, healthy fats, vitamins, minerals and more is one of the perfect Diwali healthy snacking options if you want to have something healthy but have also got a sweet tooth to satiate! You can have it made at home or you can come to us for some delicious chikkis.

Conclusion

Just before we bid adieu to this blog, and as you start preparing for the upcoming Diwali, new clothes, diyas, lighting the home with fairy lights, with all the excitement to meet your loved ones and sharing moments of joy and laughter, the firecracker shopping, while we can't rewind the clock, we can offer a taste trip with Rewynd Snacks. Relish, remember, and rewind, one scrumptious bite at a time.