Main Diwali Days

Diwali is celebrated over five days in most of North India as:

First day
The first day of the festival is known as Dhan teras or Dhantrayodashi. Dhan means "wealth" and Trayodashi means "13th day". Thus, as the name implies, this day falls on the 13th day of the first half of the lunar month. On this day, it is believed that Lord Dhanvantari emerged from the waters of the ocean holding the knowledge of the spiritual medicines of Ayurveda, to help mankind fight against sickness, disease and death.

On this day people purchase valuables, light lamps using oil-filled clay cups and worship the Goddess of Wealth. They also worship Yama, the Lord of Death, seeking protection against untimely death. Parents and elders accompany children to the market looking for firecrackers and sweets, if they have not bought some already. Those who have brought them home spread the crackers in the sunlight and allow them to dry, so that when the time comes they perform well.

In certain parts of the country especially Maharashtra, People also consume a mixture made from crushed "Neem" leaves, Jaggery and Corriander seeds as it provides protection from diseases.

Second day
The second day of the festival is known as Naraka Chaturdasi. (Narak means of a new era of Light and Knowledge. Chaturdasi implies fourteenth day.) Narakasura ruled the kingdom of Pradyoshapuram. Puranas have it that Naraka, son of Bhudevi, acquired immense power from a blessing given by Lord Brahma after a severe penance. Under his rule, the villagers suffered a lot of hardship as the demon tortured the people and kidnapped the women to be imprisoned in his palace with his invincible might.

Unable to bear the tyranny of the demon, the celestial beings pleaded with Lord Krishna to save them from his torture. But Naraka had a boon that he would face death only at the hands of his mother Bhudevi. So, Krishna asks his wife Sathyabhama, the reincarnation of Bhudevi, to be his charioteer in the battle with Naraka.

When Krishna fell unconscious after being hit by an arrow of Naraka, Sathyabhama takes the bow and aims the arrow at Naraka, killing him instantly. Later Lord Krishna reminds her of the boon she had sought as Bhudevi. The Narakasura Vadh by Sathyabhama could also be taken to interpret that parents should not hesitate to punish their children when they step in to the wrong path.

The message of Naraka Chaturdashi Parva is that the good of the society should always prevail over one's own personal bonds. It is interesting to note that Bhudevi, mother of the slain demon Naraka, declared that his death should not be a day of mourning but an occasion to celebrate and rejoice. It is said Lord Krishna had an oil bath to rid himself off the blood spattered on his body when Naraka was killed.

The tradition is followed and people offer prayers on the previous day of the Naraka Chaturdashi to the vessel in which water is being heated for having bath. Hindus light fireworks, which are regarded as the effigies of Narakasura who was killed on this day.

On this auspicious day, people usually take a ritual bath before sunrise, using traditional herbs and materials, just as Lord Krishna is believed to have done after He returned victorious from the battlefield. They spend the remaining day restfully in the company of friends and family. It is believed that on this day, Lord Vishnu was incarnated upon earth as Vamana and set his third step on the head of the demon king Bali to send him down into the nether worlds to free the worlds from his rule and release the goddess Lakshmi from his control.

Third day (actual day of Diwali)
Lighting fireworks is an essential part of Diwali celebrations
The actual day of Diwali is celebrated on the third day of the festival, when the moon completely wanes and total darkness sets in the night sky. It is in this darkness that Diwali finds its true expression. On this day people worship Lakshmi, the goddess of wealth, and express their gratitude for previous favors.

Usually the puja is performed both in the morning and again in the evening when the sun is ready to set or has already set. It is believed that the Goddess would not visit a devotee's house if it is not kept clean and properly lighted, so everyone strives to keep their houses clean, the doors and windows open and all the lights and lamps glowing brightly.

During the worship, devotes make offerings to Lord Vinayaka and Mother Goddess also, in addition to the principal deity, with traditional chants, rituals, purified water, new clothes, fruit and flowers, sweets, light, sandal paste, incense, rice, turmeric and vermilion. Money and valuables are placed before the principal deity during the invocation.

At the end of the worship, prasadam is offered to the family members and visitors. In wealthy households, the assistance of a temple priest is sought to conduct the worship according to the scriptural injunctions. After worshipping the goddess in one's own house, people start making rounds to the nearby temples, and the houses of friends and relations to see how the celebration has been going on and distribute sweets and gifts. Elsewhere, the goddess is worshipped ceremonially in temples, public places, business houses and offices.

As the evening comes, houses and streets are decorated with innumerable lights, lamps and candles. People keep the doors and windows open and all the lights on, expecting the goddess to come inside and take a survey of the things that have been done for her sake. Outside, people gather in the streets and front yards to burn firecrackers, or watch others burning them or keep an eye on the oil lamps. Some habitual card players use the occasion as an opportunity to play cards and gamble their money.

On this day Lord Krishna is believed to have completed His incarnation upon earth and left this world, leaving the pandavas and his kinsmen in utter confusion. According to Jain tradition, Lord Mahavira, the last of the Thirthakaras attained Nirvana on this day. It is also said that on this day, young Nachiketa of the Kathopanishad received divine and secret knowledge of immortality from Lord Yama, the Lord of Death.

Fourth day
The fourth day is variously known as Padwa, Varshapratipada and Kartika Shudda Padyami. The significance of this day lies in the story of Lord Krishna - who saw the villagers making offerings to the thunder God Indra. This was supposed to appease Indra, who would bring enough rain to the farmlands, and not cause storms or floods. Krishna questioned this practice and said that everyone should actually take care of their cattle, the very basis of their farm life, instead of worshipping an angry God in the sky. When Indra heard this, he was angry, and unleashed a storm. Krishna then lifted the hill of Govardhan, to protect and shelter his people. This story is sometimes used as a reference to the origins of why the cow is considered holy in Hinduism.

Even now, in northern India, in the region of Braj, people symbolically worship Govardhan on this auspicious day - and wish to retrace the steps of Lord Krishna. This is also sometimes interpreted as an act of invocation to appease the forces of Nature to prevent the occurrence of floods and cyclonic storms, a tradition that is probably rooted in the Vedic times.

In the temples of Mathura and Nathdwara, priests give a special bath to the principal deities on this occasion and decorate them with glittering robes and eye-catching jewelry. They offer many food preparations to Krishna and later distribute it (the prasadam) among the devotees.

In some traditional households, women give aarti to their husbands and receive gifts and blessings in return. Business people open new account books for the new financial year and offer prayers for luck and prosperity.

Fifth day
On the fifth and final day of the festival, which is known as Bhayiduj, Bhayyaduj, Bhaubeej or Bhayitika, brothers and sisters meet to express their love and affection for each other. Sisters put a ceremonial mark, usually with vermilion, on their brothers' foreheads and wish them long lives. According to a legend, the tradition began when Yamuna, the sister of Lord Yama, honored her brother with a tilak on his forehead and wished him long life.

The caste of Kayastha also celebrate this day to worship the deva Chitragupta, the patron deity of scribes and writing, himself being the keeper of the record-book of the dead under Yama. They do so by ceremoniously writing short prayer mantras for various devas on a sheet of paper.

In South India, naraka chaturdashii is the main day of celebration, with a lot of firecrackers at dawn, while in North India the main celebration is on Amavasya evening with Lakshmi Puja followed by lighting of oil lamps in and around the house and bursting of crackers.

In England, the days are Dhanteras, Narak Chatrudashi, Lakshmi-Puja, the most important day, Padwa or Varshapratipanda and Bhaiya Dooj or the Teeka Ceremony.

In Trinidad and Tobago, the day of Diwali is a public holiday and celebrations precede the Lakshmi-Puja day for almost two weeks. This event is one of the foremost religious observances for the country.