The festival of diwali is celebrated by the Indians through out the world in a joyous mood with great zeal and enthusiasm. Diwali is not limited to just one-day celebration like many other Indian festivals but it is a unique one for it brings a series of festivals and holidays with itself. Diwali is the festival of worship of Goddess Lakshmi, lights, crackers, cleanliness, sweets, lots of shopping, happiness, togetherness and almost one week's holiday.

Diwali is the festival, which means celebration one after another, each day with a new philosophy

First Day - Dhanateras The first day of the festival of diwali begins with Dhanvantari Trayodashi (Dhanwantari Trayodashi), which is the thirteenth lunar day of Krishna Paksha, of the Hindu month of Kartik. Dhanvantari Trayodashi is popularly known as Dhan-teras. Legends have it that Lord Dhanwantari (Lord Dhanwantari) came out of the ocean with Ayurvedic on this day for the welfare of the mankind. The people worship Lord Yamaraj, the God of death, on this day and light a 'Yama-Diya' in the night to offer prayers to Him. Purchasing a new utensil by the people on this day is also a tradition related with Dhanvantari Trayodashi. The people worship Lord Yamaraj, the God of death, on this day and light a 'Yama-Diya' in the night to offer prayers to Him to bless them with prosperity, well being and protection. The people purchase a new utensil, silver or gold coin or some other precious metal as a sign of good luck on the day of dhanteras. This is also a tradition related with celebrations of the festival of Dhanvantari Trayodashi

Second Day - Chhoti Diwali After the Dhanvantari Trayodashi the second day of diwali is Narak Chaturdashi. Legends have it that Lord Krishna killed the demon Narakasur on this day to make the mankind free from his fear. It is a tradition to massage the body with oil and to bathe on this day. According to an interesting saying it is believed that those who do not bathe on this day, go to the Narak (hell).

The people wake up early in the morning break any bitter fruit and apply the kumkum-oil paste, which is called 'Ubtan', on their foreheads and then take bath. The breaking of the fruit represents the head of the demon King, Narakasur and the kumkum-oil paste symbolizes the blood that Lord Krishna smeared His forehead with.

In the state of Maharashtra people take the traditional early baths after applying the paste of gram flour, fragrant powders and oil on their foreheads. As long as the ritual of bath takes place, deafening sound of crackers and fireworks could be heard so that the children enjoy bathing.

The Narak Chaturdashi or Chhoti diwali is the day when people light lamps and diyas in and out of their homes.

Third Day - Badi Diwali or Lakshmi Pujan The third day of diwali also called badi diwali is the main day of celebrations of the festival of diwali. People perform Lakshmi Pujan (worship of divine Goddess Lakshmi) on this day and offer prayers to Her to bless them with wealth and prosperity. On this day people clean their homes and decorate it with various colorful lights and fire crackers to express their joy.

The story of lakshmi pooja goes like this. It is believed that when the demons and deities were churning the ocean together to find out the 'drink of immortality', it was on this day that Goddess Lakshmi manifested herself and thus Diwali is celebrated to commemorate the birth of the Goddess of Wealth. Another legend says that on the night prior to the celebration of Diwali, Lord Krishna has killed the demon Narakasura freeing the earth from his terrors and liberating the 16000 princesses that were abducted by him. Thus, on the next day (Diwali), the people illuminated their houses and celebrated to express their joy and relief. Mahabharata mentions the return of Pandavas to their kingdom from their 13-year long exile on this very day. Vikramidtya, the great benevolent king and warrior was believed to be enthroned on Diwali. Whatever the reasons may be, however, Diwali, has always been associated with the worshipping of Lakshmi. One other legend connecting Lakshmi to Diwali is mentioned in Sanatkumar Samhita, which says that it was on this day that Lord Vishnu liberated his consort from the captivity of Bali, the mighty demon-king after a long period.

Fourth Day - Gowardhan Puja / Anna Koot As the name itself suggests the fourth day of diwali is devoted to Govardhan Pooja (worship of Lord Govardhan Parvat). Legends have it that Lord Shri Krishna once performed the Govardhan Pooja along with the people of Vraja for their protection from heavy rains. Since then it became a tradition for Hindus to worship Govardhan Parvat to honour that first Pooja on this day.

'Govardhan' is a small hillock situated at 'Braj', near Mathura. The legends in 'Vishnu Puraan' have it that the people of Gokul used to worship and offer prayers to Lord Indra for the rains because they believed that it was He who sent rains for their welfare. But Lord Krishna told them that it was Mount Govardhan (Govardhan Paevat) and not Lord Indra who caused rains therefore they should worship the former and not the latter. People did the same and it made Lord Indra so furious that the people of Gokul had to face very heavy rains as a result of his anger. Then Lord Krishna came forward to ensure their security and after performing worship and offering prayers to Mount Govardhan lifted it as an umbrella on the little finger of his right hand so that everyone could take shelter under it. After this event Lord Krishna was also known as Giridhari or Govardhandhari

The fourth day of diwali celebrations is also observed as Anna-Koot, which literally means 'mountain of food'. On this auspicious day the people prepare fifty-six or one hundred and eight different varieties of delicious dishes to offer Lord Krishna as 'Bhog'. In the temples, specifically in Mathura and Nathdwara, the deities are given milk bath, dressed in new shining attires and decorated with ornaments of dazzling diamonds, pearls, rubies and other precious stones and metals. Then they are worshipped, offered prayers and bhajans and also offered delicious sweets, fruits and eatables that are ceremoniously raised in the form of a mountain before the idols

Fifth Day - Bhai Dooj / Bhaiya Dooj The fifth day of the diwali is Bhai Dooj, the time to honour the brother-sister relationship. Legends have it that in the Vedic era, Lord Yamaraj (the God of death) visited his sister Yamuna on this day and blessed her with a boon that if brothers visit their sisters on this day then they will be liberated from all their sins. Since then it is a tradition that brothers visit their sisters on this day and the sisters sweeten their mouths with variety of sweets. In the Bengali culture this day is celebrated as 'Bhai Fota'.

The legends have that Lord Yamraj, the God of Death, visited his sister Yamuna on the 'Shukla Paksha Dwitiya' day in the Hindi month of 'Kartik'. When Yamraj reached Yamuna's home she welcomed Him by performing His aarti, applying 'Tilak' on His forehead and by putting a garland around His neck. Yamuna also cooked varieties of dishes and prepared lots of sweets for her brother and offered all those to Him. Lord Yamraj ate all those delicious dishes and when He was finished He showered blessings on Yamuna and gave her a boon as a gift that if a brother visits his sister on this day he would be blessed with health and wealth. This is why this day of Bhayya Duj is also known by the name of 'Yam-Dwitiya'. And thus it has become a tradition that on the day of Bhai-Dooj brothers visit their sisters' home and offer them gifts. Sisters also make various dishes for their brothers and also give gifts to them.

Thus the celebrations of Bhai Dooj marks the end of the five days long festivities of Diwali.