***Happy Diwali***

On this day people purchase valuables, light lamps using oil filled clay cups and worship the Goddess of Wealth. They also worship Yama, the Lord of Death, seeking protection against untimely death.

On the 2nd day, people usually take a ritual bath before sunrise, using traditional herbs and materials, just as Lord Krishna, whose consort Satyabhama killed Narakasur, was believed to have done after he returned from the battle field victoriously. They spend the remaining day restfully in the company of friends and family. Some play cards and test their luck. It is also believed that on this day, Lord Vishnu incarnated upon earth as Vamana and set his third step on the head of the demon king Bali to send him down into the nether worlds to free the worlds from his rule and release the goddess Lakshmi from his control.

The 3rd day is Diwali. On this day people worship Lakshmi, the goddess of wealth and express their gratitude for previous favors. During the worship, devotes make offerings to Lord Vinayaka and Mother Goddess also, in addition to the principal deity, with traditional chants, rituals, purified water, new clothes, fruit and flowers, sweets, light, sandal paste, incense, rice, turmeric and vermillion. Money and valuables are placed before the principal deity during the invocation.

The fourth day is variously known as Padwa, Varshapratipada and Kartika Shudda Padyami. According to a legend, at the behest of Lord Krishna the people of Braj worshipped the hillock Govardhan on this day to save themselves from an impending storm unleashed by the fury of Indra, the Lord of Heaven.

Even now, in northern India, in the region of Braj, people continue the tradition of worshipping Govardhan on this auspicious day.In a sense, this is an act of invocation to appease the forces of Nature to prevent the occurrence of floods and cyclonic storms, a tradition that is probably rooted in the vedic times.

On the fifth and final day of the festival, which is known as Bhayiduj, Bhayyaduj, Bhavbij or Bhayitika, brothers and sisters meet to express their love and affection for each other. Sisters put a ceremonial mark, usually with vermillion, on their brothers' foreheads and wish them long lives. According to a legend, the tradition began when Yamuna, the sister of Lord Yama honored her brother with a tilak on his forehead and wished him long life.

@MnxG, nice you have given some differetn info in this thread, rather than copying the info of DKDM thread!👍🏼

It's a Happy Diwali thread dear.😊

Thanks for noticing the difference Surya.😊

may the lights of the holiday take away the darkness of your life!