2. Also known as Diwāli
Literal meaning, a row of lamps
One of the biggest festival of
Hindus
Celebrated all over India
In Kenya, Thailand, Trinidad and in
many more countries
3. Celebrated for 5 days
Customs vary but lighting
lamps is common
Fireworks, Rangoli, Lamps
Lights, Sparkles, Glitters!
4. Dhanteras, Yama Deepdān
13th day of Kārtika month
Houses, business premises
decorated
Auspicious to buy gold, silver,
new utensils
Lamps lit and kept burning all
night
Cattles adorned and
worshipped in villages
5. Son of King Hima, as per
horoscope, was doomed to die on
this night
His wife did not allow him to
sleep
She kept all ornaments, gold,
silver at the entrance of the room
Yama, God of death, gets blinded
by the dazzle of brilliant lights
and leaves
Hence, the tradition of buying
gold and the name Yama Deepdān
6. Chhoti Diwāli, or little
Diwāli
Falls on 14th day of Kārtika
month
Tradition is to get very early
and have an oil bath before
the sunrise
Earthen lamps are lit
7. Narakāsur, the demon king of
Prāgjyotishpur, was killed by Lord
Krishna
After defeating the demon, Krishna
returned early in the morning and
had scented oil bath
• King Bali was pushed to
pātāl, or nether regions, by
Vāmanāvatār
8. Diwāli, Kaumudi Mahotsam
Amāvasyā, or no moon
night
Day of Lakshmi, the
Goddess of wealth
• Millions of lamps lit
• Amāvasyā becomes brighter than
Poornimā, or full moon night
9. Lot of stories associated with this
day
Lord Rāma return to Ayodhyā after
defeating Rāvana
Lord Krishna delivers knowledge of
Gitā to Arjuna
Lord Krishna also attains “nirvāna”
this day
Nachiketa attains knowledge from
Yama and returns back to earth
10. Pādwa, Varsha Pratipadā,
Govardhan Pujā,
Annakoot
In northern part of India,
the hill of Govardhan is
worshipped
Annakoot, meaning
“mountain of food”, is
observed for all deities
Variety of sweets are made
and shared among all
11. Vikramāditya the great, held his
coronation and started a hindu
calendar, vikram samvat
Lord Krishna, uprooted
Govardhan hill and held it up to
save residents of Gokul from
rains
• Bali came back from pātāl and
given boon to return from nether
regions once a year
12. Bhāv Beej, Bhāi Tika, Yama
Dwiteeyā
Sisters put tilak on forehead of
brothers and wish for their
success
Originates from the legend that
Yama went to see his sister Yami
on this day
Yama announced that anyone
who receives tilak from his sister
this day, will never suffer
13. Sikh also celebrate
Diwāli to commemorate
return of 6th Guru,
Guru Hargobind from
captivity
Lord Mahāvir, who
established Jainism,
obtained nirvāna on
this day
14. Celebration of rise of
knowledge
Celebration of victory of
dharma
Occasion for self-enlightment
Prosperity, peace, and
progress for all