In western India, many Hindu and Jain communities consider Diwali the first day of the new year. In Nepal, the occasion is called Tihar (not Diwali) and focuses on the worship of the goddess Lakshmi.

Jain scriptures also mention that one of the ardent disciples of Mahavira, Gandhara Gautam Swami attained complete knowledge on this day. Diwali marks the beginning of the year for the Jain community.

Home News: Diwali is one of the most popular festivals in India. Better known as Deepavali or the festival of lights, it's a celebration that`s embraced by every ...

Diwali celebrates lightness over darkness and is celebrated by more than 1 billion Hindu people each year. It also has its own versions in the Buddhism, Sikhism and Jainism religions.

Diwali, the festival of lights, is celebrated by more than a billion people around the world. ... In Jainism, it marks the nirvana or spiritual awakening of Mahavira, ...

Diwali begins on Thursday, Oct. 31, 2024. ... Over time, it has become a national holiday, and communities in addition to Hinduism, including Jainism and Sikhism, ...

Diwali begins on Oct. 31, 2024, and is celebrated over five days. ... Over time, it has become a national holiday, and communities in addition to Hinduism, including Jainism and Sikhism, ...

This year, Diwali coincides with Halloween, as it falls on Oct. 31, but the celebration lasts several days. According to National Geographic, Diwali is the biggest and most important holiday in India.

Penn students celebrate Diwali in Houston Hall on Nov. 4, 2022. Credit: Angela Ye. Around 250 people attended the Penn Hindu & Jain Association’s annual Diwali celebration last Friday. The celebration ...

For instance: in Jainism, Diwali marks the nirvana, or spiritual awakening, of Lord Mahavira on Oct. 15, 527 B.C.; in Sikhism, it honors the day that Guru Hargobind Ji, the Sixth Sikh Guru, was ...

Last year's Diwali celebration was organized by the Penn Hindu & Jain Association in the Hall of Flags in Houston Hall on Nov. 4, 2022. Credit: Angela Ye The Penn Hindu & Jain Association and Penn ...

In Jain Dharma, Diwali is celebration of Tirthankar Mahavira’s contributions to humankind; it commemorates Mahavira’s attainment of moksha or salvation in Bihar’s Pavapuri!