Diwali 2024 date and time, significance and Deepawali 2024 in Odisha
by Himanshu · KalingaTVBhubaneswar: Diwali is the festival of lights. It is the festival of winning of light over darkness. In the whole year this is the only day when people definitely light their homes with deepa, lamp and electric lights. People also use to decorate the entrance of the house with banana trees because this is considered auspicious. Besides, women draw rangoli, alpana etc. with colours and put diyas on that to decorate their house. And last but not least, people burst crackers on Deepawali.
Background
Lord Shree Ram defeated the king of Lanka and rescued his consort Mata Seeta from Ravana. Later, he made Bibhisan, the brother of Ravana, the king of Lanka and returned Ayodhya with brother Laxman, Mata Seeta, Lord Hanuman and others who had helped him during his hermitage and his battle against Ravana. As they all were returning to Ayodhya the people of Ayodhya welcome them by decorating their houses, lighting deepas at home and bursting crackers. That certain day is called Deepawali. As per mythology, Lord Ram had defeated and assassinated Ravana on Dussehra and then arrived in Ayodhya on Deepawali.
Why the name Diwali or Deepawali
In the earlier days on this festival of lights people used to light several earthen lamps called diya or Deepa in Hindia and in some other Indian languages (in Odia also it is called Deepa) and put it in a row so that it would look beautiful when looked from some distance. This keeping the diyas in a line is called Diwali or if these are Deepas then the festival can be called Deepawali. Later, during Deepawali, decorative items were made available. Like colourful candles, decorated diyas, lichu and running lights and these days LED lights. So, to make the house look beautiful, people these days are also putting these items.
Diwali 2024 Date and time
According to Drik Panchang, Diwali falls on October 31. Lakshmi Puja will also be performed on that evening, as the Amavasya moon will be visible. The Amavasya Tithi for Diwali 2024 will start on October 31 at 3:52 PM and end on November 1 at 6:16 PM.
As per media reports Diwali Mahurat in New Delhi is from 5:36 pm to 6:16 pm; in Mumbai, it is from 6:57 pm to 8:36 pm; in Chennai, it is from 5:42 pm to 6:16 pm; in Kolkata, it is from 5:45 pm to 6:16 pm and in Bengaluru it is from 6:47 pm to 8:21 pm.
Diwali in Odisha
As per the Kohinoor Press almanac (mini panjika) Chaturdashi is on October 31 and Amabasya is on November 1. However, though normally Deepawali is celebrated on Amabasya, in the same panjika the day for Diwali, Deepawali and Shyama Kali puja has been prescribed as October 31.