Deepavali, "a row of lamps", falls on the new-moon night of Ashwayuja. At dusk every threshold, window ledge and compound wall is lined with clay lamps, Lakshmi is welcomed into the house, and the night is given over to sweets and fireworks.
The story
The festival gathers several stories. It follows the killing of Narakasura the dawn before; it is the night Lakshmi rose from the churned ocean; and in the Ramayana it is the night Ayodhya lit lamps for Rama's return.
Telugu children have a rite of their own. At dusk they whirl burning stalks, traditionally of the gogu plant, round and round in the yard, chanting to the festival that it should come again next year.
దిబ్బు దిబ్బు దీపావళి, మళ్ళీ వచ్చే నాగుల చవితి
Dibbu dibbu Deepavali; and next comes Nagula Chavithi
Chanted by children as they whirl the burning stalks
How it is kept in Telugu homes
- Lamps at duskClay pramidalu filled with sesame oil are lit as the Sun goes down and set out in rows. The front step is washed and drawn with muggu.
- Lakshmi pujaThe goddess of fortune is worshipped in the evening, when the new moon is in force after sunset. Traders open their new account books.
- Kedareswara VratamMany Telugu families keep this vow to Shiva on Deepavali Amavasya, tying a thread of twenty-one knots and offering twenty-one kinds of food.
- Divvela katteluChildren swing lit stalks and sing "Dibbu dibbu Deepavali".
- Sweets and visitsAriselu, laddu, kajjikayalu and bobbatlu are made in the days before and carried to neighbours and relatives.
Why this date
Deepavali is the new-moon tithi (Amavasya) of Ashwayuja. The lamps and Lakshmi puja belong to the evening, so the calendar gives the day on which Amavasya is in force just after sunset (pradosham). When the new moon spans two evenings, different almanacs can differ by a day.
Deepavali in other years
| Year | Date | Day |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | Sunday | |
| 2027 | Friday | |
| 2028 | Tuesday | |
| 2029 | Monday | |
| 2030 | Saturday | |
| 2031 | Friday |
More Telugu festivals
28 OctoberNaraka Chaturdasiనరక చతుర్దశి
2 NovemberNagula Chavithiనాగుల చవితి
14 NovemberKarthika Pournamiకార్తీక పౌర్ణమి
9 OctoberVijayadasamiవిజయదశమి
8 OctoberMaha Navamiమహర్నవమి
4 DecemberSubrahmanya Shashthiసుబ్రహ్మణ్య షష్ఠి
Where to see Deepavali
In the Telugu states
- Venkateswara Temple, TirumalaAndhra PradeshThe Deepavali Asthanam, a formal court held before the Lord in the Bangaru Vakili, is one of the few of its kind in the year.
- Padmavati Temple, TiruchanurAndhra PradeshThe temple of Lakshmi as Padmavati, at the foot of the hills; Deepavali evening is Lakshmi's.
- Ashtalakshmi Temple, HyderabadTelanganaThe eight forms of Lakshmi under one roof, lit with rows of lamps.
Across India
- AyodhyaUttar PradeshDeepotsav lines the ghats of the Sarayu with lamps in their hundreds of thousands, for Rama's return.
- Golden Temple, AmritsarPunjabSikhs keep the same night as Bandi Chhor Divas; the temple and its pool are ringed with lamps and fireworks.
- Kalighat, KolkataWest BengalIn Bengal this new moon is Kali Puja, kept through the night.
- JaipurRajasthanThe bazaars of the old city compete to be the best lit.