India is a land where mythology and memory intertwine — where every festival tells a story, and every ritual reflects a truth. Among them all, Diwali, the festival of lights, glows brightest.
Derived from the Sanskrit Deepavali, meaning a row of lamps, this festival stretches across six days of joy, reflection, and reverence. Each day unfolds a different tale — some familiar, others lost in the folds of time — all illuminating the eternal human journey from darkness to awareness.
Vasu Baras: The Blessing of Kamdhenu
Diwali begins not with Dhanteras, as many think, but a day earlier with Vasu Baras, dedicated to Kamdhenu, the wish-fulfilling cow who emerged from the cosmic churning of the ocean (Samudra Manthan).
Gifted to the seven sages, Kamdhenu symbolizes abundance and compassion. On this day, devotees feed and worship cows, abstaining from dairy products, while mothers fast for the well-being of their children — honoring the divine nurturer of all creation.
Dhanteras: The Healer and the Goddess
The second day, Dhanteras, celebrates both Lord Dhanvantari, the celestial physician, and Goddess Lakshmi, bringer of wealth.
It’s said that Dhanvantari rose from the churning ocean holding the nectar of immortality and the sacred text of Ayurveda, embodying health and vitality.
Another tale tells of Lakshmi’s exile and return. Once punished for indulging in earthly pleasures, she spent twelve years blessing a humble farmer’s fields with prosperity. When Lord Vishnu came to reclaim her, she promised to return each year — giving rise to the custom of cleaning and decorating homes to welcome her presence.
On this day, lamps are also lit for Yamadeepdaan, recalling how a young bride once saved her husband from death by filling her home with lights and song, enchanting Yamaraj, the god of death, until dawn. Each flame burned that night symbolized a prayer for longevity — a tradition that endures even today.
Narak Chaturdashi: The Cleansing of Shadows
The day before Diwali, Narak Chaturdashi or Kali Chaudas, reminds us of purification and release.
It commemorates Satyabhama’s victory over the demon Narakasura, whose tyranny was ended by her final arrow. Krishna’s ritual oil bath after the battle became a tradition symbolizing inner cleansing — the washing away of all darkness before the light arrives.
In Bengal, this day is dedicated to Kali Puja, where the fierce Mother Goddess is invoked to destroy ignorance and ego. Fourteen lamps are lit to guide ancestral souls back to their realm — a luminous bridge between the living and the departed.
Badabadua Daka: Summoning the Forefathers
In parts of Central India and the East (notably Odisha), the lighting of the diya carries a solemn purpose beyond welcoming Lakshmi. On Deepavali night, families observe the Badabadua Daka ritual. They gather outside their homes to hold blazing sticks of jute or reeds, invoking their ancestors with chants like “Badabadua ho andhara re asa, aloka re jao” (“Oh forefathers, come in the darkness and return to your realm upon the lighted path”). The torch of light is raised to the sky, serving as a beacon to guide the departed souls back to the heavens, ensuring their continued blessing on the living family.
The Dawn Celebration and the Special Feast
The South Indian Deepavali, marked by the ritual Ganga Snanam (oil bath) before sunrise, highlights the victory over Narakasura at the break of day. The entire celebration is often a morning affair, culminating not in a nightly Lakshmi Puja, but in a grand, celebratory breakfast. In some parts of Tamil Nadu, this feast uniquely includes non-vegetarian dishes such as special chicken or mutton curries. This tradition reflects the festival’s deep roots as a regional victory celebration and harvest feast, contrasting with the stricter vegetarian traditions found elsewhere.
Deepavali: The Triumph of Light Over Darkness
At the heart of the celebration is Deepavali—the night Lord Rama returned to Ayodhya after fourteen years of exile and victory over Ravana. The city was illuminated with countless lamps to welcome home their beloved king.
But beyond legend, this moment reflects the soul’s own return to its divine home—the illumination that comes after years of inner exile.
For the Jains, Diwali marks Nirvana Divas, the day Bhagwan Mahavira attained liberation. According to sacred texts, the heavens themselves lit up in celebration, making this not just a festival of joy, but one of spiritual awakening.
Balipadyami: The Humility of a King
In Karnataka and parts of South India, Diwali coincides with Balipadyami — honoring the noble King Bali.
Lord Vishnu, incarnated as Vamana the dwarf, humbled Bali through three cosmic strides: heaven, earth, and finally, the king’s own head. In surrender, Bali found grace. Vishnu, moved by his devotion, granted him guardianship of the underworld and a yearly visit to his people.
This day also marks the Hindu New Year, a time of new beginnings and gratitude. The tale reminds us that humility is the highest offering, and surrender is the truest strength.
Bhai Dooj: The Sacred Bond
The final day, Bhai Dooj, celebrates the sacred bond between siblings. When Yamaraj visited his sister Yami, she welcomed him with warmth and prayer. Touched, he blessed her — declaring that brothers who visit their sisters on this day would be protected from harm.
The ritual continues across India: sisters perform aarti for their brothers, while the light of love outshines even mortality.
In Maharashtra, Bhau Beej is more than just aarti and prayer for protection; the celebration centers on the sister’s special hospitality. She lovingly prepares a feast, ensuring her brother’s favorite faral (a special Diwali assortment of snacks and sweets like shankarpale and chakli) is abundant. The ritual is an intimate acknowledgment of the eternal, nurturing bond, where the sister’s prosperity is symbolized by her ability to offer a lavish homecoming meal to her brother, and his blessing ensures her lifelong well-being.
Pathar Mela: A Forgotten Offering
In the Dhami region of Himachal Pradesh, Diwali ends with an ancient ritual called Pathar Mela, where two groups hurl stones at each other. When blood is drawn, it’s offered as tilak to Goddess Kali.
Once a substitute for human sacrifice, this 300-year-old tradition symbolizes the offering of one’s life-force to the goddess — a prayer for protection and communal harmony.
The Light Within
From the wish-fulfilling Kamdhenu to the compassionate Yami, from the valor of Satyabhama to the wisdom of Mahavira — Diwali gathers within it a constellation of stories.
Each myth mirrors a deeper truth: that the journey from ignorance to awareness, from shadow to soul, is what truly makes us luminous.When we light a diya, we do not merely illuminate our homes — we awaken the flame within.
And as these stories are passed from one generation to the next, the light of consciousness continues to shine — eternal, tender, and free.
