DIWALI – THE HINDU FESTIVAL OF LIGHTS 1

by Vishal Agarwal
 DIWALI CELEBRATIONS
Our Homes, Temples, Markets and Neighborhoods are cleaned, decorated and lit up
Little India (a 2 mile stretch) lit up in Singapore

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DIWALI CELEBRATIONS
We wear our finest clothes and
ornaments.

Hindu girl on the island of Reunion (France) in the

Indian Ocean in her Diwali attire 

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DIWALI CELEBRATIONS
Our families get
together at least once
a year during this
festival.

3 generations of family get together

for Diwali in Chennai (India) 

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 Firecrackers in Kathmandu

DIWALI CELEBRATIONS: WE CELEBRATE BY SETTING OFF

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FIRECRACKERS
DIWALI CEBRATIONS: We celebrate our Kharif Crop
Harvests and thank Devi Lakshmi
• Diwali signifies the end of the
harvest of the Kharif crop.
• On Lakshmi Puja, poha and other
delicacies of partly cooked rice
from fresh harvest are made and
offered to the Devi, especially in
Western India.
• Firecracker fumes kill the insects
and bugs that damage grains and
cause diseases in humans 
very timely due to change of
seasons at time of the year!

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 DIWALI CELEBRATIONS
We Buy, Exchange and Eat Sweets

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 DIWALI (MAINLY A 5 DAY CELEBRATION)
# Hindu Calender Lunar Half Day in lunar Festival
Month half
0 Ashwin Dark (Krishna 12 Vasu Baras (in peninsular India and
Paksha) Gujarat)
1 Ashwin Dark (Krishna 13 Dhanvantari Jayanti
Paksha) Dhantrayodashi (Dhanteras)
Yama Deepa Dāna
2 Ashwin Dark (Krishna 14 Naraka Chaturdashi
Paksha) Ganga Snāna
Kālī Pūjā
3 Ashwin Dark (Krishna 15 (Amavasya) Lakshmi Pūjā
Paksha) Return of Lord Rama
Bāndi Chhor Diwas (Sikh)
Swami Mahavir Nirvana (Jain)
Rishi Dayanand Nirvana
4 Kārttika Bright (Shukla 1 Bali Pratipada
Paksha) Govardhan Puja, Annakut
Gudi Padwa
5 Kārttika Bright (Shukla 2 Bhai Dooj (Yama Divitiya)
Paksha)
6 Kārttika Bright (Shukla 15 (Poornima) Deva Deepavali (in Varanasi, Gujarat,
Paksha) parts of Maharashtra)

Note: The actual order and celebrations vary a bit amongst different Hindu communities. The festival is
called Diwali in North India and Deepavali in South India.
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 DAY 0: Worship of Cattle - Vasubaras
• In rural Maharashtra, an Arati of cow
and calf is performed a day before the
13th day to symbolize motherly love.

•In other parts of South India, cows are

worshipped as an incarnation of Devi
Lakshmi on the following day.

•For many poor rural households in

India, the cow is the only wealth of the
family. Therefore, the household
women pray for the long life of cows
and their calves.

•In Gujarat, the celebrations start on

the 11th day itself, when delicious
snacks are prepared and exchanged
with dry fruits and nuts.
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DAY 1: DHANATERAS OR
DHANATRAYODASHI

• Beautiful color
patterns from colored
rice floor beads are
drawn at home
entrances to welcome
Devi Lakshmi. Called
Rangoli in N. India and
Kolam in South India.

Kolam in Kuala Lumpur (Malaysia)

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DAY 1: DHANTERAS
• In anticipation of the arrival of Devi
Lakshmi, lamps are light throughout
the night.

•Homes are cleaned.

•Small footprints of rice-flour and

vermillion are marked on the floor of
the house starting from the entrance
to symbolize Her footprints.

•People consider it auspicious to

purchase gold, silver or metal
utensils on this day (metals
represent wealth and Devi Lakshmi is
the deity of wealth).

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DAY 1: DHANVANTARI JAYANTI

• On this day, Lord Dhanavantari, the founder of

Ayurveda, emerged from the ocean being churned
by Devas and Asuras with a pitcher of Amrit
(ambrosia).

•Practitioners of Ayurveda give neem leaves (which

have medicinal properties) and sugar (to sweeten
the taste) to visitors for their good health.

Lord Dhanvantari, the patron Deity of Ayurveda 

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DAY 1: Yama Deepa Dāna
• According to the legend, The daughter in law of
King Hima lit a special lamps and sang songs all night
to distract Yama (the Lord of Death) and prevent him
from taking the life of her husband. She also made a
heap of her jewels, silver coins, gold and silver
ornaments to dazzle Yamaraja who came as a snake.
Her efforts were successful. Dazzled by the lamps
and distracted by her melodious songs, Yamaraja left
without doing his task.

•This event is celebrated by lighting 1 or 13 lamps of

wheat flour dough on the South side of the house 
Symbolizes prayer against untimely death in the
household.

•This is the only day on which lamps are lit in the

south side of the house (South = direction of death).

Image of Yamaraja from Nepal 

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DAY 2: Narakasura Chaturdashi
Causes for Celebration:

•Narakasura, the evil king of

Pragjyotishapura (in modern Assam,
India), imprisoned 16000 daughters
and wives of Devas and Rishis and also
snatched the ear rings of Aditi – the
mother of Indra. Lord Krishna and his
wife Satyabhāmā invaded his kingdom
and they killed the evil king, freeing his
captives.

•This is the major day of celebration in

South India in the entire Deepavali
festival.

• Celebrated as ‘Chhoti Diwali’ (little

Diwali) in N India  Hindus do last
minute shopping before the markets
close the next day.

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 DAY 2: Bath in the Ganga (Narakasura
Chaturdashi Gangāsnāna)
Cause:
• When Lord Krishna returned to Dwaraka after killing Narakasura, his
wives applied fragrant oils, sandal paste etc. to him to clean him of
the demon’s blood and other dirt from the battle.

Celebration:
• To commemorate the above event, Hindus in peninsular India dip
marigold petals in their bathing water. Before sunrise, they apply the
‘ubtan’ (a paste of chick-pea flour and fragrant powders) and oils and
then take a bath. A bitter fruit representing Narakasura’s head is
broken, and then people apply a paste of kumkum (vermillion), oil
and the fruit on their forehead. Finally, another bath with oil and
sandalwood paste is taken.
•It is believed that Ganga is present in all waters this day. Therefore,
Hindus ask each other – “Did you take a bathe in the Ganga river?”
Girls and elderly women perform Arati of men and receive gifts.
•In Maharashtra, the entire family prays at temples and eats spicy
and sweet Marathi delicacies.
•In Gujarat, Hanuman is worshipped to ward off evil spirits (‘Kali’).
The festival is called Kali Chaudas.
•In Rajasthan, the day is celebrated as ‘Roop Chaudas’ (beauty
makeover). Women bathe before sunrise and apply fragrant
ointments and beauty aids.

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 DIWALI DAY 2: Kālī Pūjā in Bengal
In Bengal, this day is celebrated as Kali Chaudas to
commemorate the victory of Devi Kali over the
demon Raktabija. It is said that he was
invincible because every drop of his that
touched the ground during battle generated his
duplicate.

Therefore, the Devi Parvati assumed the horrific

form of Kali and killed the demon. She spread
her tongue on the battlefield so that his blood
would not touch the ground.

Drunk with his blood, she started killing everyone

who came in her way and decorated herself
with the skulls and limbs of her victims - till her
husband Lord Shiva lay in her path. This pacified
Mother Kali and she reverted back to her
pacifying form as Devi Parvati.

In Bengal, Hindus pray to Mother Kali for strength

and also remember their departed ancestors.
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DAY 2: Hanuman Pujā & Hindu Halloween
• On this day, Shri Hanuman as
a child swallowed the sun,
thinking it to be a fruit.
•Indra hurled his weapon
‘vajra’ (thunderbolt) at him to
get the sun released and bring
back light to the Universe.
• We worship Shri Hanuman
with rice, ghee, sindhur
(vermillion), coconuts etc to
ward off evil.
•In western India, Hindus
worship their ‘Kula-Devi’ to
protect themselves from evil.
•Jains avoid eating potatoes
and other tuberous
vegetables.

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DAY 3: Return of Devi Sita, Lord Rama and Lakshmana to Ayodhya
• Main cause and day of celebration in Northern India and Nepal.
•According to Ramayana, Shri Rama, Devi Sita and Lakshmana returned from their 14
year long exile to Ayodhya. To welcome them, the citizens of Ayodhya lit lamps of butter
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to illuminate the moon-less night.
DIWALI: DAY 3 – The (Re)Birth
of Mahādevi Lakshmi
Devi Mahalakshmi appeared from the Ksheer Sagar
(ocean of milk) on this day as the Devas and Asuras
churned the ocean using Snake Vasuki as the rope 

Therefore, this day is celebrated as –Mahalakshmi

Pujan.

In Northern India and in Rajasthan and Gujarat, the

mercantile communities balance their account books
(‘chopda puja’) and close them for the fiscal year.

New accounting ledgers are started and worshipped

with an invocation to Lord Ganesha.

It is believed that on this day, Devi Lakshmi walks

through all the sources of wealth such as agricultural
fields and blesses them for prosperity.

Diwali signifies the harvest period for the Kharif crop

in India, and therefore its association with Devi
Lakshmi is quite apt.

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 DIWALI: DAY 3 - MAHĀLAKSHMI PŪJĀ
MAHALAKSHMI PUJA
To welcome Devi Lakshmi, Hindus clean their
homes thoroughly, decorate them and light them
up with dozens of earthen lamps (Diyas). In N
India, the broom is worshipped with turmeric and
kumkum because Devi Lakshmi visits the cleanest
house first. (However, Sindhi Hindus give their
brooms rest on this day).

The front door of the house is kept open to

ceremoniously welcome Devi Lakshmi during
midnight.

It is considered auspicious to gamble on this night

in parts of Northern India (e.g., Delhi) because
Devi Parvati played cards with Lord Shiva and
blessed gambling for this day only in the whole
year.

In the night, families perform worship of Devi

Lakshmi and Shri Ganesha (to herald a good New
Year) in their homes and temples. Sometimes,
Devi Saraswati and Kali are also worshipped.
Kubera, the Celestial treasurer is also worshipped.
The Shri Sukta from Rig-Veda is recited and
Brahmans are fed.

Sweets are distributed and exchanged.

Minneapolis (USA) Mandir Diwali Mahalakshmi

Puja. Picture in
The Wall Street Journal dt. 14 Oct 2009 
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 DIWALI: DAY 3 – Other Reasons for Celebration
1. Devi Parvati completed the
Kedāreshvara Vrata and united
with Lord Shiva to become
‘Arddhanārīshvara’ (The Lord
Who is Half Woman).
2. Lord Krishna left the earthly
abode to return to Vaikuntha
– His permanent abode, and
remarried Devi Lakshmi.
3. The residents of Hastinapur lit
lamps to welcome Pandavas
when they returned from 13
years of exile.
4. The young boy Nachiketa
encounters death and learns
the meaning of life from
Yamaraja, the Lord of death.
5. Celebrated as Kālī Puja in
Bengal on this day.
Pakistani Hindu women celebrating Diwali
(courtesy: WSJ, 14 Oct 09)

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 Day 3: Sikh Celebrations
1. Guru Nanak imprisoned by Emperor Babar
was freed when Hindus held a ‘candle-light
march’ on Diwali to protest his imprisonment.
2. Guru Amardas, the 3rd Sikh Guru, asked all
Sikhs to gather every year on Diwali to receive
Guru’s blessings.
3. In 1577 AD, the fifth Sikh Guru had a Sufi Mian
Mir lay the foundation of the Golden Temple
on this day in the Ramsarovar.
4. Celebrated as Bāndi Chhor Diwas (‘deliverer of
captives’): The 4th Mughal Emperor Jehangir
released the 6th Guru Hargobind from captivity
in Gwalior Fort in 1619 AD on Diwali. The
Guru accepted release on the condition that
the 52 Hindu kings imprisoned will also be
released. The demand was granted.
5. Also celebrated as day of martyrdom of Bhai
Māni Singh, the head priest of Golden Temple.
He was permitted to celebrate Diwali at the
Golden Temple in 1737 only if he paid Jaziya
to the Muslim governor of Punjab. Not being
able to pay the amount, he was offered choice
between conversion to Islam or death (by
hacking him limb by limb). Bhai Mani Singh
chose the latter.
6. Many Sikhs worship Lakshmi and Ganesha
today.
Golden Temple (Amritsar) lit up on Diwali 
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Day 3: Jain Celebrations:
Swami Mahāvīra Nirvāña
Diwas
The 24th (and last) Tirthankara
Swami Mahavir of Jains obtained
Moksha on this day in 527 BC.

As his soul left his body, Devas

gathered in the sky and illuminated
it.

Swami Mahavir’s principle disciple

Ganadhara Gautama Swami attained
complete spiritual knowledge on this
day.

Many Jains also worship Devi

Lakshmi and Lord Ganesha on this
day.

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Day 3: Rishi Nirvāña Utsava –
Arya Samaji Hindus

Swami Dayanand Saraswati, the founder of the

Hindu reformist movement Arya Samaj, attained
Moksha on 31 Oct 1883, the evening of Diwali, in
Jodhpur (India).

He was poisoned by his Brahman cook, who was

bribed by a Muslim dancer in the royal court of
Jodhpur; and was mis-treated by the Muslim
physician commissioned by the British
government.

Before his death, Swamiji summoned and

forgave the cook, and gave him money to flee to
Nepal.

Swamiji died with the recitation of the mantra

“Agne naya supathaa…” (Ishavasya Upanishad,
verse 18). The scene of his death converted some
atheists gathered around him to Vedic Dharma.

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BUDDHIST CELEBRATIONS IN NEPAL (days 3-5)
The Newari Buddhist community of
Nepal celebrates days 3-5 of Diwali as
Swanti (of Swanhu Tithi).

•Day 1 is Lakshmi Pujan

•Day 2 is worship of one’s own body
and is called Mhapuja. It is the Newari
New Year.
•Day 3 is Kija Puja, when sisters
worship their brothers 

Newari Hindus celebrate all the five

days which they call the festival of
‘Tihar’. On day 1, they worship crows
as divine messengers. On day 2, they
worship dogs as a respect for their
honesty. On day 3, Lakshmi Pujan and
worship of cows is performed.

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DAY 4: GOVARDHANA
PŪJĀ
• On this day, Lord Krishna saved the
village of Gokul from torrential rains
and deluge sent by Indra by lifting the
Govardhan mountain above their heads
as an umbrella. Indra was upset with
Krishna because the latter asked the
residents of Gokul to respect the
environment instead of worshipping
useless gods such as Indra.

•This celebration is very popular in the

Mathura-Vrindavan region, in
Nathadwara (Rajasthan) and in N India
in general. Main festival for Pushtimārgi
Vaishnava Hindus.

•Cow-dung is used to fabricate icons (in

a lying position on the ground) of Lord
Krishna lifting the mountain. Milk is
poured on the dung icons as an
offering.
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Day 4: ANNAKŪTA
Celebrated in N India along
with Govardhana Pūjā.

A mountain of dishes
representing the
Govardhana hillock (or 108
dishes, with the deserts
closest to the icon) are
offered to Lord Krishna and
then distributed as Prasad.

Deities in temples are

bathed in milk.

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DAY 4: BALI PRATIPADĀ
• A major cause of celebration on
this day in Maharashtra, Tamil
Nadu and especially in Karnataka.

•Commemorates the advent of

Trivikrama Vāmana Avatāra of Lord
Vishnu who took three long strides
to re-take the three worlds
conquered by the Asura King Bali.
Thereby, Lord Vishnu frees Devi
Lakshmi and other deities
imprisoned by King Bali.

•In some calendars, Bali Pratipada

is on the 2nd day.

• For the sake of King Bali, lamps

and clothes are donated.

The long stride of Lord Trivikrama

Vāmana Vishnu 

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 DAY 4: KĀRTTIKA PADWĀ
• Celebrated in peninsular India, especially in Maharashtra.

• Considered the last of the 3.5 holy ‘Padwa’ muhurts in the

Maharashtrian Hindu calendar. (The first celebration ‘Gudi Padwa’
in the month of Chaitra is the Maharashtrian New Year).

• Newly wed daughters and their husbands are invited for a special
meal by her parents, and gifts are given to them (In older times, the
brother would go to invite her sister and brother-in-law).

• Also considered a time for renewing the happiness of marital life.

- Wife applies a Tilak to her husband, performs arati, puts a garland
around him and prays for his long life.
- Husband gives gifts to his wife and pampers her.

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DAY 4: VIKRAMA SAMVAT VARSHA PRATIPADA
(HINDU NEW YEAR)
• Coronation day of the great
Hindu Emperor King
Vikramaditya according to
Hindu and Jain traditions.

•On this day, he drove out the

Shakas (Scythians) from India
and re-established Indian rule
in western India.

•The Vikram Samvat calendar is

followed in India and is the
official calendar of Nepal.

•Celebrated as New Year in the

Vikram Samvat calendar. Hindu
traders start new account
books and ledgers.

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DAY 5:
Bhai Duj or Yama Dvitiya
It is Called:
• Bhai Phota in Bengal
•Bhai Tika in Nepal
•Tikka in Punjab (Sikhs also celebrate it).
•Bhaiyya Dooj in Hindi speaking areas
•Bhau Bij in Maharashtra.
• Yama Dvitiya in South India.

Causes for Celebrating Yama Dvitiya

On this day, which was the second day after new moon
(‘dooj’ or ‘dvitiya’), Yamaraja visited his sister River
Yamuna, who applied a Tilak on his forehead. The brother
and sister exchanged gifts, and enjoyed delicious dishes.
Yamaraja declared that the brother who receives a Tilak
from his sister in this day will never go to Hell.
On this day, Subhadra also welcomed Lord Krishna after he
returned from Assam where he defeated Narakasura. This
is the main cause for celebrating ‘Bhai Phota’.
Jains believe that when King Nandivarman was sad on the
departure of his brother Swami Mahavira, their sister
Sudarshana comforted him on this day.

Sisters worship and adore their brothers on this day and

apply a Tilak to their forehead. They pray for the brother’s
long lives, even fasting for his sake in Bengal.
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 BUDDHIST DIWALI CELEBRATIONS IN
THAILAND (called ‘Loi Krathong’)
• According to Thai records, it was
adapted from Hindu Diwali by
Buddhists to honor Buddha.
• Lamps are made from banana
leaves, a candle and a coin
placed on them. The lamps are
then set afloat on a river,
creating a beautiful scene.
• Families and friends greet each
other.
• Celebrated in Oct-Nov (around
the same time as Diwali).
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DIWALI AROUND THE WORLD

Diwali is a national holiday in India, Nepal,

Kenya, Malaysia, Singapore, Fiji,
Mauritius, Sri Lanka, Guyana, Suriname,
Thailand, Trinidad and Tobago.

• It is ‘officially’ celebrated in UK, Canada and in the

United States.

• The White House added it to the list of festivals for

celebration in 2008.

• Diwali has an official festival status in the New York City

and is celebrated across dozens of University Campuses
all over our country.

 Diwali fireworks at Univ of Texas (Austin) in 2007 33

THE FIRST DIWALI IN THE WHITE HOUSE

In 2009, President Obama celebrated Diwali

in the White House on 14 October in the
East Room. The priest from the Shiva
Vishnu Temple of Maryland officiated the
ceremony and he recited the mantra –
“Asato maa…”

This was the very first time that Diwali was

observed inside the White House itself.

The President made the Namaste gesture

before lighting the lamp and also to the
priest after lighting the lamp.

Indian sweets were served to all guests.

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Diwali Day (Nov 2004) 5 DAYS AFTER DIWALI (2004)
DIWALI AS A COSMIC FESTIVAL VISIBLE FROM SPACE
(Courtesy: National Geographic Booklet on Diwali)
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 DIWALI TRIVIA
1. Which major Indian state does not celebrate
Diwali?

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 DIWALI TRIVIA
2. In which major state
of India, the Amavasyā
day (Lakshmi Pujan) has
no celebrations, but the
day before it and after it
are celebrated?

Hint 1: The Mandyam Iyengar

Brahmanas of this state also do not
celebrate Naraka Chaturdashi to
this day because King Tipu Sultan
ordered a massacre of their
community on this day in 1790 AD
in the holy town of Melkote.
Hint 2 

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DIWALI TRIVIA
3. Which city
celebrates a
second Diwali
15 days after
the actual
Diwali?
Hint: The festival is called
Deva-Diwali.

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 The Message of Diwali
• The victory of good over evil, of Dharma over Adharma.
• The victory of light over darkness, spiritual wisdom
over ignorance.
• The victory of life over death, good health over
sickness.
• The victory of prosperity over poverty.
• The victory of hope over despair.
• Auspicious beginnings of all our ventures.
• Family ties are very important.

Asato maa sadgamaya,

tamaso maa jyotirgamaya,
mrityormaa’mritam gamaya ||
O Lord! Lead us from unreality and falsehood to Reality and Truth.
Lead us from darkness (of ignorance) to the Light (of knowledge).
Lead us from death to Immortality!
(Brihadaranyaka Upanishad)

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Acknowledgements
• This presentation was put together
by Vishal Agarwal for the Hindu
American Temple School
(Minneapolis, USA) for educational
purposes.
• Several pictures and descriptions
were taken from various websites
and books, notably:
– www.hindujagruti.org
– The Wall Street Journal (issue dt. 14
Oct 09’)
– Wikipedia
– ‘Celebrate Diwali’ by Deborah
Heiligman (2006) published by The
National Geographic.

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