Spiritual Insight • Hindu Tradition
"Complete guide to the 5 days of Diwali — Dhanteras, Naraka Chaturdashi, Lakshmi Puja, Govardhan Puja, and Bhai Dooj."
Diwali is not a single-day festival but a 5-day celebration, each day with its own unique rituals and significance. The festival begins with Dhanteras (buying gold/silver) and concludes with Bhai Dooj (celebrating the brother-sister bond). Each day honors different deities — Dhanvantari, Krishna, Lakshmi-Ganesha, Govardhan, and Yama. The dates shift annually based on the lunar calendar, always falling between mid-October and mid-November.
The 5 days of Diwali are: Day 1 — Dhanteras (Trayodashi): Buy gold, silver, and new utensils. Worship Lakshmi and Dhanvantari. Light Yama Deepam. Day 2 — Naraka Chaturdashi (Choti Diwali): Oil bath before sunrise. Light 14 diyas. Celebrate Krishna's victory over Narakasura. Day 3 — Lakshmi Puja (Main Diwali — Amavasya): Most important day. Clean and decorate home. Light diyas everywhere. Perform Lakshmi-Ganesha puja. Fireworks. Day 4 — Govardhan Puja (Pratipada): Prepare 56 food offerings (Annakut). Worship Lord Krishna. Circumambulate Govardhan hillock. Day 5 — Bhai Dooj (Dwitiya): Sisters apply tilak on brothers' foreheads. Pray for brothers' long life. Exchange gifts.
Diwali 2026 falls on November 8th (Sunday). The 5-day celebration runs from Dhanteras on November 6th to Bhai Dooj on November 10th.
Day 3 — Lakshmi Puja day (Amavasya) — is the main Diwali celebration. This is when families perform the main puja, light the most diyas, and burst fireworks.
No, Choti Diwali (Naraka Chaturdashi) is Day 2 of the 5-day Diwali festival. It's called 'Choti' (small) because the main celebration is on Day 3.
Day 1: Dhanteras — Buy gold, silver, new items • Day 2: Naraka Chaturdashi — Oil bath, 14 diyas
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