CUSTOMS & TRADITIONS OF DEEPAVALI (Diwali)......

Observance of the Deepavali (Diwali) festival varies from region to region. Deepavali also
popularly called Diwali is celebrated for three to five days based on regional customs with
each day of the festival referred to by unique name. Deepavali generally occurs during
October-November every year starting from Aaswayuja Bahula Trayodasi and ending with
Kartheeka Sukla Dwiteeya. Celebrations take place in the following order...
Jala Poorna Trayodasi - Dhantera
Naraka Chaturdasi
Deepaavali (Amaavaasya)
Bali Paadyami (Prathipada)
Yama Dwiteeya (Bhagini Hastha Bhojana or Bhai Dhooj)
Some of the customs and traditions followed during the Deepavali festival are
Jala Poorna Trayodasi (Neeru Thumbuva Habba) Dhantera Dhanvantari Jayanthi
Yama Deepa (First day)....
First day of the festival called Jala Poorna Trayodasi is celebrated on Aaswayuja Bahula
Trayodasi (13th day of the dark fortnight). It is believed and said that on this day Lord
Dhanvanthari the God of health and healing emerged out of the Ocean of Milk during
Ksheera Sagara Madhanam. This day is also known as Dhantheras or Dhana Trayodasi as
it is auspicious to buy Gold and Silver on this day.
In South India especially in Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh we find people performing on
this day Ganga Pooja after Sunset in the night by symbolically filling water (Neeru
Thumbuva Habba) in a copper or brass vessel decorated with flowers and adding medicinal
plant leaves to the water. The water with medicinal plant leaves soaked overnight is used
on the next day while taking bath as it is said to have medicinal significance.
It is also believed that forefathers (Pitru Devathas) visit their houses on this day and as a
mark of respect and invitation to them we find people lighting an oil lamp in front of their
houses in the South direction that would please Yama Dharma Raja the Lord of Death. This
is called Yama Deepa.
Naraka Chaturdasi (second day)
Second day of the festival a day prior to Deepavali, called Naraka Chaturdasi is celebrated
on Aaswayuja Bahula Chaturdasi (14thday of the dark fortnight). This day is celebrated
commemorating the death of Demon King Narakasura at the hands of Lord Sri Krishna and
his consort Sathyabhama Devi.
People undertake performing Aarathi (Naarikrutha Neerajana) to the members of the family
on Naraka Chaturdasi day early in the morning before taking bath.

It is a custom and mandatory to take oil bath on this day during Arunodaya Kaala. Lot of
spiritual significance is given for oil bath on this day and it is said that even the sick and
bedridden also should take this bath without fail. It is said that Lord Sri Krishna had taken oil
bath on this day after killing Narakasura. Thil Oil (Sesame oil) should be used for the bath
as it is said that Goddess Lakshmi resides in Thil oil on this day.
It is customary to take this bath early in the morning before sunrise when the stars are still
visible. It is said that taking bath on this day as above is equivalent to taking bath in river
Ganges. Worshiping Lord Sri Krishna and giving charity on this day is highly auspicious and
meritorious.
Wear new clothes on this day and take blessings from elders, distribute sweets and
compliments to the friends and relatives. People from all walks of life fire crackers
irrespective of the age. Parents invite their newly married daughter and son-in law for the
festival and facilitate them with gifts and compliments.
Yama Tharpanam (Naraka Chaturdasi)
Sacred scripts prescribe that after taking bath on Naraka Chaturdasi day all those who are
eligible to offer Pithru tharpana should give Thila Tharpanam in the name of Yama Dharma
Raja (God of Death) called Yama Tharpanam by reciting the following sloka containing 14
names of Lord Yama Dharma Raja.
Yamaaya; Dharmarajaya; Mruthyave; Chaantakayacha;
Vaivaswathaya; Kaalaaya; Sarva Bhootha Kshayayacha;
Audhumbaraya; Dhadnaya; Neelaya; Paramestine;
Vrukodaraya; Chitraya; Chitraguptayathe Namah
Facing South, Tharpana should be given with water and black sesame seeds (thila) with
Yagnopaveetham in Savya position like Deva Tharpanam (Yama Dharma Raaja being a
Demi God) by reciting each name in the above sloka by adding Namah.
For eg.. Yamaaya NamahYamam Tharpayami; Dharmarajaya Namah Dharmarajam
Tharpayami; etc
It is said and believed that giving Yama tharpana on this day is highly meritorious and one
will get relief from suffering in Naraka Loka.
Scripts like Dharma Sindhu says that this Tharpana should be given by one and all
irrespective of the fact whether father is alive or not. In case father is not alive it can be
given in Savya/Apasavya position as said above. In case father is alive it should be given
with water and rice with Yagnopaveetham in Savya position.
Deepaavali Amaavaasya (Third day)....
Third day of the festival called Deepavali is celebrated on Aaswayuja Bahula Amavasya day
(New Moon day). On this day we find people worshipping Goddess Lakshmi by offering

special prayers and pooja. Performing Lakshmi pooja on this day is considered to be very
auspicious and highly meritorious. Deepavali Amavasya is celebrated as the birth day of
Goddess Sri Maha Lakshmi and she is worshipped on this day by lighting lamps.
Reciting Sree Sooktham on this day at the time of Lakshmi Pooja is very sacred and
meritorious. Worshipping Goddess Lakshmi on Deepavali day has attained lot of
significance in Hindu religion especially in the states of Gujarat, Maharastra, Madhya
Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Rajasthan and Andhra Pradesh. Businessmen among
Marwari and Gujarati communities even open their new annual accounts on this day.
It is believed that Deepavali was the day when Lord Sri Rama returned to Ayodhya from his
14 years of exile along with his consort Goddess Seetha Devi and his brother Lakshmana
and Ramas coronation took place.
It is also further said that it was on this day Lord Sri Krishna had lifted the Govardhana
Parvatha (hill) and protected the cowherds and cattle from the thunder and rain created by
Lord Indra. Thus Lord Sri Krishna suppressed the pride and vanity of Lord Indra. This was
the day when Lord Sri Krishna taught the people the need to respect and worship the
Nature.
Bali Paadyami (Fourth day)....
It is a festival celebrated in memory of King Bali (Bali Chakravarthi) of Vamana Avathara. It
occurs on the first day of Kartheeka Masam (Sukla Paksham), the day on which King Bali is
said to have given charity to Lord Sri Vamana, was pushed to Nether worlds by Lord
Trivikrama (Vamana) and was also amply rewarded by the Lord for his virtues. For more
details about King Bali and Vamana Avathara please refer to the earlier posts. Worshiping
Lord Sri Vamana on this day is very sacred and celestial. King Bali should be worshiped on
this day with the following sloka and charity should be made on this day.
Baliraja Namasthubhyam Virochana Sutha Prabho
Bhavishyendra Suraarathe Poojeyam Prathigruhyathaam
Such charity would please Lord Vishnu very much. This day is considered to be very sacred
and auspicious for giving charity and one will get multiple merits even if little charity is given
in memory of King Bali.
Worshiping Goddess Lakshmi, Kubera (Divine Cashier), and Cow (Gomatha) on this day
are also given lot of significance. A ritual called Goverdhana Pooja is celebrated on this day
by worshiping the sacred Cow (Go-Pooja)
Yama Dwiteeya (Fifth day)
Fifth and final day of the festival called Yama Dwiteeya is celebrated on Kartheeka Sukla
Dwiteeya. It is so called because on this day it is said that, Lord Yama had taken his meals
in the house of his sister Yamuna (Yamuna River) prepared and served by her. This is
known as Bhagini Hastha Bhojana.

Since then it has become a custom and tradition on this day, for brothers to take food in the
house of their sisters and sisters in turn worship their brothers and pray for their longevity. If
one doesnt have sisters, it is said that fathers sister should be worshipped on this day. It is
believed and said that it will enhance the health, wealth and longevity of the brothers and in
turn sisters will live as Sumangali forever. Generally gifts and compliments are exchanged
on this occasion among brothers and sisters.
OTHER CUSTOMS & TRADITIONS OF DEEPAVALI
It is customary to keep a lighted lamp called Aaakasa Deepa during Deepavali festival at an
elevated spot like roof top of every house as a symbol of beacon of Heaven. This is
generally continued for a period of one month.
During Diwali festival we find houses, shops & establishments, streets, heritage buildings
and monuments decorated with lights and lamps. People light lamps called Diyas or Deepa
or Deepam in earthen or clay pots filled with oil. Thil oil (Sesame seed oil) is generally used
for lighting such lamps.
Some of the business communities especially Marwari, Gujarati and North Indian business
communities start a new financial year and commence their new annual accounts on the
Deepavali day.
It is believed and said that Vikrama Era had commenced from the day of Deepavali. New
currency notes and coins are used for worshipping Goddess Lakshmi on the Diwali day.
People play dice on this day.
It is also a custom that we find, employers giving gifts in the form bonuses to their
employees and Corporates giving gifts and compliments to their customers on the eve of
Diwali.
We find on the day of Deepavali, Stock Exchanges performing a token bidding called
Muhurat trading and do not make any payments on this day.
In West Bengal people worship Goddess Durga (Kali) during Deepavali festival. Jains
celebrate Diwali marked as the Nirvana day of Mahaveer the founder of Jainism. Sikhs
celebrate Diwali as the day of release of their 6th Guru Hargobind Sahib from the clutches
of Mughal.
We find celebration of Diwali even abroad in countries like Nepal, Trinidad, Malaysia,
Singapore and Sri Lanka etc In Nepal and Sri Lanka it is considered as a National
festival.
Rarity of this festival is that it is celebrated in the night unlike other festivals which are
generally celebrated in the day time. We find this festival being celebrated even among
Sikhs, Jains, and Buddhists apart from Hindus. Diwali is a time of the year when families,
friends and communities come together in a spirit of celebration and joy.

Happy Deepavali (Diwali)