Diwali is less than 100 days away, at Gaura Travel we celebrate India’s diverse religions and ethnic groups, where a vast number of local festivals are celebrated throughout the year. Each festival brings a unity of culture and celebration with festivities for families, relatives and friends to enjoy.
The next biggest festival of the season, Diwali, is celebrated nationwide in India on October 24th, 2022 and symbolises the triumph of good over evil and light over darkness.
Diwali – The festival of Lights
Diwali is a festival that symbolises the triumph of good over evil and is celebrated by many different religious groups in India, each with a unique interpretation. Hindus celebrate Diwali to celebrate the return of Rama to Ayodhya after defeating the evil king Ravana and the rebirth of goddess Lakshmi, whereas Jains celebrate and honour Lord Mahavira’s enlightenment. For the Sikh population, the festival is held to celebrate Guru Hargobind’s release from prison.
5-day celebration of this Holiday
This year, Diwali will fall on 24th October, with the 5-day celebration commencing on 22nd October with Dhanteras – the act of cleaning and purchasing gold, silver and other new items to decorate the house. For the second day, Choti Diwali, houses are decorated with diyas and candles, with families gathering to create rangolis. On the auspicious day of Diwali, extended families come together with their traditional attires and perform a ritual called ‘Lakshmi Puja’, afterwards celebrating with delicious food and lighting diyas together.
On the fourth day, Padwa, festivities are dedicated to celebrating the loving bond between husband and wife by exchanging gifts. On Bhai Duj, the fifth day, families get together to celebrate the special bond between brothers and sisters, with sisters tying a special bracelet called ‘rakhi’ around each brother’s wrists. In return, the brothers give gifts and sweets to their sisters and promise to protect them for life.
Diwali in Australia
Diwali or Deepavali is the most important occasion for the Indian community in Australia. To Hindus, this is a symbol of hope, harmony, joy and renewed togetherness of life. The Hindu Council of Australia is organising an array of cultural events to be held at Martin Place, Parramatta Park and other venues around Sydney by cooperating with the local Indian communities. These events will not only represent religious significance, but also have something to offer for attendees of all ages, from exciting Bollywood recitals, traditional foods and music, henna artworks and more. Entrance to many of the fair’s cultural events is free, and open to all Australians to experience the rich multicultural traditions, cuisines, music and much more.
With joy and laughter in the air, there’s no better time to travel to India and celebrate this auspicious festival with your loved ones. Find out more about our special flight offers to India during the festival season here:
https://gauratravel.com.au/flights/
Learn more about Australia’s Deepavali events happening near you;
https://www.sydneypoint.com.au/events/deepavali-festival/
Event Date: 24 October 2022 (TBA)
Venue: Multiple Venues, all around Sydney (Including Cherrybrook, Rouse Hill Town Centre, Liverpool, Hornsby, Sydney NSW)
Entrance: Free
Travelling in 2022 with Gaura Travel
As there are no quarantine or travel restrictions required in place, plan your journey to reunite with your family & friends with Gaura Travel in this year 2022. Find all available flights options with us.
https://gauratravel.com.au/flight-deals/
Sources: https://www.asiahighlights.com/india/festivals-and-celebrations#Next%20Big%20Festival%20in%20India , https://www.asiahighlights.com/india/diwali , https://www.asiahighlights.com/india/diwali-legends-and-stories , https://www.sydneypoint.com.au/events/deepavali-festival/