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Diwãli |
Dipãvali (also transliterated Deepavali; Sanskrit: row of lights) or Diwãli (contracted spelling) is the Hindu Festival of Lights. It is also a significant festival for the Sikh and Jain faiths.
Typically, celebrations focus on lights and lamps, particularly traditional diyas, although electric lights have become widespread. Fireworks may also be associated with the festival in some regions.
Customs vary according to faith and region. For example, although Diwali is sometimes referred to as the "Hindu New Year", the new year is celebrated at different times according to different regional calendar traditions:
In North India, the festival is held on the final day of the Vikram calendar,
one type of a Hindu calendar that is followed by North Indians. The following
day, marking the beginning of a new year, is for North Indians entitled Annakut.
In South India, Diwali does not coincide with the beginning of a new year as
South Indians follow a different calendar, the Shalivahana calendar. In South
India, new year festivals occur at about the same time, generally during April:
Ugadi is observed by persons in Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka. Vishu and Varsha
Pirappu are celebrated in Kerala and Tamil Nadu respectively.
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