Thursday, November 12th kicks off the most famous Indian festival of Diwali - 5 days of celebrating love, light and luck.
Thursday, November 12: Day 1 of Diwali. Today is called Dhanteras, and is celebrated to bring wealth and good luck for the year to come. There are two things that mark the celebration - lighting diyas (small oil lamps) or candles and buying some precious metals. The candles are so that Laxmi, the goddess of wealth can find her way to your home and bless you with gifts for the next year. The precious metals are a symbol of that wealth. In India, it’s a big day for buying jewelry. And in order to celebrate some of that tradition here if you choose, I’m offering 10% the Bombay Taxi Boutique store - just use the code LOVEBTB at checkout to activate the discount.
Friday, November 13th: Day 2 of Diwali. This day is called choti Diwali (translation: little Diwali) and is primarily a prep day for the big event. Today is a good day to clean your home, and make sure you have your outfit planned for Diwali and the New Year celebration coming up. In India, you would also likely attend some Diwali parties (obviously not during COVID). Today is also the day many families will decorate the outside of their homes with a rangoli - art work created with colored powder, or colored rice or flowers and candles.
Saturday, November 14th: Day 3 of Diwali. This is the big day. Today it is appropriate to wish people a Happy Diwali!! In India, religious families would host pujas (religious ceremonies) to bless their homes and family members. Not being religious myself (and my family isn’t either) we forgo this bit. But we do participate in the rest of the day, which is getting dressed up and enjoying a meal (or several) with loved ones. Today is a day for fun, family, presents, desserts, all the good things. It’s a true celebration. Diyas or candles will be lit, and evening celebrations typically also include fireworks.
Sunday, November 15th: Day 4 of Diwali. This day is considered Hindu New Year - it’s a new moon too! My mother has a superstition that the things you do on New Year’s Day (both this one and the western calendar) will be how you spend the rest of your year. So you should do the things that you’re most passionate about, or most hope to achieve in the new year. It’s also a great day to revisit that vision board or reset goals for the remainder of 2020.
Monday, November 16th: Day 5 of Diwali. This day has the least significance to me personally since I don’t have any siblings. But, for those who do, today is the day that brothers would give their sisters a gift. So if you’re a woman, and you have a brother, it’s a good day to gently but not subtly remind him how awesome you are and then shake him down for a gift.
And there you have it! The five days of Diwali for 2020!! Make sure you’re following me on Instagram to follow along with my celebrations!
This was my Diwali outfit in 2019. Stay tuned for 2020!!