5 Day-Long Celebrations for Diwali

Diwali represents the beginning of joy and the victory of good over evil. People from all over the world celebrate this Diwali five-day festival with great joy and happiness. The festivities start with the welcoming of the New Year for the merchant community. The preparations actually begin many days before the festival day with people planning for the celebrations with full fervor.

Here is an outline of each one of the festival days to help you prepare better for Diwali 2011.

1. 
   Dhanterus: The festivities begin with the worship of goddess Laxmi. She is the goddess of wealth and prosperity. Dhanterus is the combination of two words Dhan + Terus. Dhan represents wealth and the word Terus represents the 13^th lunar day of the Kartik month in the Hindu calendar, which usually falls in the month of October or November. It is a tradition to buy new utensils for their home to attract wealth to the home. It is also believed in some cultures that spending money on this day attracts more money therefore spending is good.
2. 
   Choti Diwali: This day falls on the 14^th lunar day of the Kartik month of the Hindu calendar i.e. a day before Diwali. This day celebrates the death of demon Naraksura by Lord Krishna. It is a tradition to take a bath early in the morning and light up wheat flour diyas in an around the house to indicate happiness.
3. 
   Diwali: The third and the most celebrated day of the festivities falls on this day. People clean their house, decorate, dress up in new clothes and light up their houses/ business places with attractive lights, candles, bulbs and diyas. An evening puja of the goddess of wealth is performed after sunset. People pray for the goddess to come and stay at their place and grant them the wish of lifelong wealth and prosperity. It is also customary to exchange sweets with each other, which indicates sharing joy.
4. 
   Govardhan Puja: It was this day when Lord Krishna lifted a mountain named Govardhan on his little finger to protect his villagers and cattle from the wrath of the rain god. People worship their cattle and fields and pray for a good crop and that cattle produce all through the year, which in turn brings wealth to their community and households. They also worship their tools of trade such as the plough, seeds, fodder etc.  Cattle are dressed and decorated with beautiful colors, tattoos, paper etc.
5. 
   Bhai Dooj: The 5^th and the final day of Diwali celebrations marks the end of the festivities. Bhai means brother in English and Dooj is the second day of the new season. This day is dedicated to brothers and sisters. Sisters pray for the long life of their brothers and brothers promise to look after their sisters. Those who eat a meal prepared by their sisters never go to hell.