Diwali (दिवाली )
Diwali Festival in India is celebrated for five continuous days. There are specific rituals and joyous customs for each of these five days and people follow them with faith and enthusiasm. Given here is a brief description of all the five days of Diwali.
Day One – Dhanteras / Dhantrayodashi(धनतेरस )
Dhanteras or Dhantryodashi Festival marks the first day of Diwali. The word ‘Dhan’ in Dhanteras means wealth hence on this day people worship Goddess Lakshmi – the Goddess of Wealth. Hectic shopping can be seen as there is a custom to buy utensils and ornaments on this day. At some places in India Dhanteras is celebrated as “Yamadandeepan”. Here lamps are kept burning throughout the night in worship of Lord Yamaraj, the God of Death.
Day Two – Chhoti Diwali / Narak Chaturdasi(नरक चतुर्दसी)
Second day of Diwali Festival is celebrated as small or Chhoti Diwali or Narak Chaturdasi Festival. Hindus believe that it was on this auspicious day that Lord Krishna destroyed the demon Narakasur and made the world free from fear. On this day also people light diyas and burst firecrackers but the celebrations are at a much smaller level as people wait for the next or the main day of Diwali.
Day Three – Diwali / Lakshmi Puja( लक्ष्मी पूजा)
Third day is the most important of all the five days of Diwali Festival. Lakshmi Puja is the significant aspect of this day. People wake up early and clean their houses. Elaborate Rangoli patterns are drawn at the entrance of the house to welcome Goddess Lakshmi. Cleaning and decoration of home is considered important as it is believed that Lakshmi Ma visits the cleanest house first. During the day people pay visit to their dear ones to exchange Diwali greetings and traditional Diwali Gifts, mostly sweets and dry fruits. This custom is said to strengthen the bonds of love shared between families and friends.
Later in the evening people wear new clothes and light up earthen lamps and diyas all around their house. Following this all family members of the house gather to perform traditional Lakshmi Ganesh Puja. Through this Puja Hindus seek prosperity and well being in the coming year. Prasad is distributed at the end of the ceremony after which everyone relishes a sumptuous dinner. Firecrackers are burst later and everyone enjoys the sparkles of anars, chakris and phuljharis.
Day Four – Padiwa / Goverdhan Puja / Varshapratipada( गोवेर्धन पूजा )
Padiwa or Goverdhan Puja marks the fourth day of Diwali Festival. On this day Lord Krishna is said to have lifted the Govardhan Parvat to protect the people of Gokul from the Indra’s wrathful deluge. Padwa also marks the crowning of King Vikramaditya and beginning of Vikram Samvat.
Day Five – Bhai Dooj or Bhaiya Dooj( भैया दूज)
Bhai Dooj celebration marks the fifth and final day of Diwali Festival. On this day brothers and sisters renew the bond of love shared between them. Sisters’ apply sacred red tilak on their brother’s forehead and pray for their long life. Brothers reciprocate by blessing their sisters and indulging them with Bhai Dooj Gifts of love.
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