Vedic Katha
Diwali is not one day but five, Dhanteras, Naraka Chaturdashi, Lakshmi Puja, Govardhan Puja and Bhai Dooj, each with its own story and ritual,…
Diwali is celebrated over five days in most of India, each with its own name, story and ritual. Together they move from the gathering of wealth, through the victory of light over darkness, to the worship of…
The festival opens with Dhanteras (Dhan-trayodashi), sacred to Dhanvantari, the physician of the gods who rose from the churning of the ocean bearing the pot of amrita.
The second day, Naraka Chaturdashi or Chhoti Diwali, recalls how Krishna and Satyabhama slew the demon Narakasura and freed the sixteen thousand captives he held.
The darkest night, the new moon of Kartik, is the heart of the festival: Lakshmi Puja. Homes are lit end to end with diyas; Lakshmi, goddess of fortune, is worshipped alongside Ganesha for an auspicious start.
Govardhan Puja remembers how Krishna lifted Mount Govardhan on one finger to shelter the people of Vraj from Indra's storm, teaching them to honour nature over empty ritual.
The festival closes with Bhai Dooj, honouring the bond of brother and sister, from the story of Yama and his sister Yamuna. Sisters apply a tilak to their brothers' foreheads and pray for their long life;
Diwali's five days together tell a complete story: gather well-being (Dhanteras), let light defeat darkness (Naraka Chaturdashi), welcome fortune with gratitude (Lakshmi Puja), honour nature over pride…
Vedic Katha
The complete story, its characters and sources, on Vedic Katha.