Hanukkah and Diwali are two of the most popular religious festivals celebrated in the world today. Both festivities celebrate life, joy, and victory over evil. Despite coming from two different religious traditions, there are a few similarities between Hanukkah and Diwali that are worth exploring.
Commemoration of the Return of Light and Triumph over Evil
Hanukkah
Hanukkah is an eight-day celebration during the Jewish calendar, where the lighting of the Hanukkah menorah is used to remember the Maccabean revolt. Over two millennium ago, the Jewish people rebelled against the Greek seleucid empire in order to reclaim their religious practice, ultimately defeating their oppressors. In the Maccabean rededication of the temple in Jerusalem, only a tiny amount of oil miraculously lasted for eight days. Since then, Hanukkah has been celebrated with the traditional lighting of eight candles representing the eight days of the miracle, starting with one and increasing one by one each day of the festival.
Diwali
Also known as the festival of lights, Diwali is celebrated in India by Hindus, Sikhs, and Jains, and is celebrated each year in autumn. The festival marks the victory of light over darkness and good over evil, and commemorates the return of Lord Rama, Sita, and Lakshmana to Ayodhya after 14 years of exile. On the night of the festival, which symbolizes the return of Lord Rama, candles, diyas, or small oil lamps, are lit up in homes and elsewhere to represent the return of knowledge, hope, and light.
In both Hanukkah and Diwali, there’s a strong message of light and truth prevailing over darkness and ignorance. Both commemorate great victories and celebrate life, joy, and freedom. Both festivals include observances of lighting candles in the evening and exchanging of gifts, sweets, and treats with family and friends. As such, while the two festivals are celebrated in two different religious contexts, they still share common roots in celebrating the victory of truth over evil.
No matter the differences in how each festival is celebrated, both Hanukkah and Diwali are festivals of joy and light, and ultimately triumph over adversity, ignorance, and evil. The core beliefs behind them remain the same, and the similarities between the two festivals demonstrate the need for light, compassion, and justice in the world.
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Last update 2023-11-27. Price and product availability may change.