Table of Content
- Dhanteras
- Naraka Chaturdashi/ Chhoti Diwali
- Diwali
- Annakoot/ Padwa/ Govardhan Puja/ Bali Pratipada/ Vishwakarma Puja
- Bhai Dooj
Diwali, also known as the festival of lights, is one of the biggest Indian festivals. It is celebrated with much pomp and zeal in almost every Indian household. Depending on the Hindu lunar calendar, Diwali is celebrated between mid-October and mid-November. Diwali, or Deepavali, is derived from its Sanskrit roots where deep means lamps made of clay and avali meaning a row of lights. Therefore, as the nomenclature suggests, Diwali is celebrated by lighting a row of earthen clay lamps all around one’s house.
The Various Stories of Diwali
There are many versions behind the origins of Diwali. These stories vary from one region to another, and also from one community to another.
The most prevalent story across major parts of north India is taken from the Hindu epic Ramayana. This recounts the arrival of Lord Rama, his wife Sita and his younger brother Lakshman to Ayodhya, after 14 years of exile. During this period of exile, Sita was abducted by the King of Lanka, Raavana. A battle of epic proportions ensued between Lord Rama and Raavana, and their armies. Eventually Lord Rama defeated king Raavana and set back with his wife Sita to Ayodhya. People of the kingdom celebrated this occasion by lighting lots of diya (clay lamps) in their homes in order to welcome Lord Rama, Sita, and Lakshman.
In western parts of India, the fourth day of Diwali is celebrated as the day Lord Vamana (an incarnation of Lord Vishnu, also known as the Preserver in the Hindu trinity), sent the demon king Bali, to hell.
However, in southern parts of India, the second day of Diwali is marked as the day the Hindu god Lord Krishna killed the demon Narakasura, by splitting him into two halves.
What is common in all these stories is that they glorify the victory of good over evil, and this is the underlying message during the festival of Diwali. Thus, Diwali is considered an auspicious time to let go of all the negative things in one’s life and start afresh, with good intentions.
The day of Diwali holds great importance not only for Hindus but it is also a day of significance for Jains, Sikhs, as well as, Muslims.
In Jainism, Diwali is celebrated as the day the Jain Lord Mahavira, the 24th Jain Tirthankara attained Nirvana (spiritual awakening). This occasion was celebrated with the lighting of lamps in heaven and Earth.
In Sikhism, the day of Diwali is also celebrated as Bandi Chorh Diwas (Day of emancipation). The sixth Guru of the Sikh religion, Guru Hargobind Sahib (1529-1644), along with 52 other prisoners, was released from captivity of the Mughal emperor Jahangir (1569-1627) in the year 1619.
Apart from this, Muslims in India and most parts of South Asia, have been known to celebrate Diwali since the time of the Mughal emperor Akbar’s (1542-1605) rule. It was considered a gesture of goodwill between Hindus and Muslims during this time. Some of the most prominent mosques of India, such as the Haji Ali Dargah in Mumbai and the Hazrat Nizamuddin Dargah, Delhi are known to be illuminated on Diwali.
Being a pan-Indian festival, this day signifies the harmonious bond which the whole nation shares with one another. Let us now look at the five days around the day of Diwali, that make it all the more special:
Day 1: Dhanteras
Goddess Lakshmi in Mysore by Raghavendra B B
Dhanteras marks the first day leading up to the festival of Diwali. This word is derived from ‘dhana’, meaning wealth, and ‘Trayodashi’ (13th day), and is considered as an auspicious day for invoking wealth and prosperity in one’s family and life. People clean their houses and the areas around it, as it is considered propitious to do so. The belief is that the gods bless the homes of those who have cleaned it with good fortune. Goddess Lakshmi, Lord Kubera, and Lord Dhanvantari are worshipped on this day.
It is also considered an auspicious day for people to buy precious metal jewellery of gold and silver, as well as utensils. This is thought of as a good omen to welcome prosperity and wellbeing into one’s home.
Day 2: Naraka Chaturdashi/ Chhoti Diwali
Divine Melodies: Lord Krishna in Kalamkari Splendour, Kalamkari Painting by Harinath N.
This day is celebrated as the victory of Lord Vamana over the demon Narakasura. As explained above, this story is a tale of the victory of good over evil and is mostly celebrated by people in Western India.
This day is also known as Chhoti (little) Diwali. On this day, people buy mithai (traditional Indian sweets) and prepare their homes for the next day, which is the day of Diwali. People also visit each others’ homes to wish them well and exchange gifts. Many people also wear new clothes on this day as it is considered auspicious.
Day 3: Diwali
Laxmi, Ganesha and Saraswati Tanjore Painting Sanjay Tandekar
On the day of Diwali, people wear new clothes, make festive foods, decorate their houses with rangoli (a Indian traditional art of decorating the floor of one’s house with colourful designs) and enjoy the evening post their worship to Lord Ganesha and Goddess Lakshmi, by lighting diyas and sometimes lighting firecrackers. Although, with the current environmental issues, it is advised to give up the use of firecrackers for all purposes of celebration or at least keep it to a minimum.
Despite Diwali being a day that is understood in the wider conscience of the country as the day when Lord Rama, his wife Sita and his brother Lakshman returned to Ayodhya after 14 years of exile into the forest, people worship Lord Ganesha and Goddess Lakshmi in their homes. The reason behind this is an interesting one. An episode from Hindu mythology states that Goddess Lakshmi adopted Lord Ganesha from Goddess Parvati (Lord Ganesha’s mother) as she could not have a child of her own. Goddess Lakshmi loved Lord Ganesha so dearly that she dedicated all her prosperity and luxury to Lord Ganesha. She also declared that Lord Ganesha’s worship is mandatory in all of the tri lok (three worlds: Heaven, Earth, and the Nether world) for anyone seeking prosperity and wellbeing.
Hence, it is customary for everyone to worship Lord Ganesha and Goddess Lakshmi on the day of Diwali.
Day 4: Annakoot/ Padwa/ Govardhan Puja/ Bali Pratipada/ Vishwakarma Puja
Annakoot in Pichwai by Naveen Soni
Annakoot, also known by many other names, literally translates to a ‘mountain of food’. This day is dedicated to the celebration of the bond between a husband and a wife. Families pray for their prosperity by offering food, also known as ‘Annakoot’, to the gods. This day is also known as Govardhan Puja, and is celebrated as the day Lord Krishna saved the villagers of Vrindavan from the wrath of the mighty Lord Indra. Lord Indra had cursed the village with relentless rains, however Lord Krishna saved them by lifting the Govardhan hill with his little finger and giving shelter to the farmers, cowherds, cattle and other animals under the hill.
In the Sikh community, Vishwakarma, the god of engineering and architecture, is also worshipped on this day as this is considered the first day of the new year, according to Sikhism and Hinduism.
Day 5: Bhai Dooj
Yamuna’s Divine Play: Pichwai Painting by Jayesh Sharma
These festivities are culminated with the celebration of Bhai Dooj on the fifth day. Bhai Dooj translates to ‘Brother’s Day’. It is a day that celebrates the sacred bond between brothers and sisters.
According to a Hindu mythology, the Hindu god of death Yama goes to visit his sister Yamuna on this day. He is welcomed in his sister’s home with a tilak (an auspicious Hindu mark of protection and greeting, on the forehead), many types of gifts and food.
Sisters celebrate this day by inviting their brothers to their homes and after the tilak ceremony, sisters offer various festive and delicious food and sweets to their brothers. The day also signifies a brother’s duty to protect his sister and the importance of the sister’s blessings for her brother.
- Desk, India TV News. “Why We Worship Lakshmi-Ganesh on Diwali and Not Rama? | IndiaTV News.” Www.indiatvnews.com, 9 Nov. 2015, www.indiatvnews.com/lifestyle/news/diwali-lakshmi-ganesh-worship-5661.html.
- Little, Becky. “The Ancient Origins of Diwali, India’s Biggest Holiday.” HISTORY, Sept. 2018, www.history.com/news/the-ancient-origins-of-indias-biggest-holiday.
- Mclaughlan, Scott. “What Is the History and Significance of Diwali?” TheCollector, 11 Nov. 2023, www.thecollector.com/what-is-the-history-and-significance-of-diwali/.
- National Geographic. “Diwali—Festival of Lights.” National Geographic Kids, 23 Oct. 2014, kids.nationalgeographic.com/pages/article/diwali.
- Soni, Aastha. “Diwali: Origins and the Evolution of the Festival of Lights.” Sahapedia, 6 Nov. 2018, www.sahapedia.org/diwali-origins-and-the-evolution-of-the-festival-of-lights.
- “The Many Legends of Diwali.” Google Arts & Culture, artsandculture.google.com/story/the-many-legends-of-diwali/0QVxpSl4NnfrEQ?hl=en.
