More than a festival
As the autumn air grows crisp and the nights lengthen, a wave of warmth and light begins to sweep across the globe. Millions of tiny clay lamps, or diyas, flicker to life on windowsills, doorways, and riverbanks. The air fills with the scent of incense, the joyous sounds of family gatherings, and the sweet taste of traditional treats. This is Diwali, the festival of lights.
But while the outer celebration is a feast for the senses, the true essence of Diwali is an inner experience. For those who walk the spiritual path, it can turn into a profound, five-day journey into the heart of Vedantic philosophy, a universal call to awaken the light of consciousness within. Beyond the fireworks and festivities lies a powerful symbolism that speaks to the core of the human condition: the eternal struggle between light and darkness, knowledge and ignorance, and hope and despair.
Let’s journey through the five days of this magnificent festival and uncover the timeless wisdom it holds for all of us.
The Universal Heartbeat: Light Over Darkness
The central theme that unites all of Diwali's diverse traditions is captured perfectly in the famous Vedic prayer, the Pavamana Mantra from the Brihadaranyaka Upanishad:
Tamaso Ma Jyotirgamaya
"From darkness, lead me to light."
This isn't just a plea for physical light. In Vedantic thought, "darkness" (tamas) is a metaphor for avidyā, or spiritual ignorance. It is the fog of ego, fear, greed, and negativity that obscures our true nature. "Light" (jyoti) is jñāna, or true knowledge—not intellectual knowledge, but the illuminating wisdom of the Self (Atman).
Diwali is the annual, collective celebration of the victory of this inner light. While the stories commemorating this victory vary by region, they all point to the same fundamental truth. In North India, the festival celebrates the triumphant return of Lord Rama to his kingdom of Ayodhya after 14 years in exile and his victory over the demon-king Ravana. The people of Ayodhya lit rows of lamps to welcome their righteous king home. This story symbolises the return of Dharma (righteousness) and order to a world thrown into chaos by ego and greed (Ravana).
In South and East India, Diwali marks the day Lord Krishna defeated the demon Narakasura, liberating 16,000 captive princesses. Narakasura represents the bondage of our lower nature, and his defeat symbolises the power of divine grace to free us from our self-imposed prisons.
Whether Rama or Krishna, the message is the same: when we align ourselves with Dharma and invite the divine into our hearts, the darkness of ignorance is inevitably vanquished. The outer lamps we light are but a reflection of the one eternal light we seek to awaken within.
The Five Days of Diwali: A Step-by-Step Spiritual Unfolding
Diwali is not a single-day event but a gradual, five-day process of purification, liberation, and celebration. Each day has a specific function, guiding us from the mundane to the sacred.
Day 1: Dhanteras – Purifying the Vessel
The journey begins with Dhanteras, a day dedicated to health and prosperity. The "Dhan" refers to wealth, but its patron deity is Dhanvantari, the celestial physician and originator of Ayurveda. This is a crucial philosophical point. Before we can welcome true abundance, we must first have health—physical, mental, and spiritual.
Symbolism: This is the day of cleansing. We clean our homes and businesses from top to bottom, decluttering our physical space. This outer act mirrors the inner work of purifying our own minds and bodies. We are preparing the "vessel" of our life to receive the divine light. The tradition of buying a new utensil or a piece of precious metal symbolises an investment in new, pure energy for the year ahead. It’s about creating a sacred and healthy space, both inside and out.
Day 2: Naraka Chaturdashi (Choti Diwali) – Vanquishing the Inner Demons
The second day, often called "Small Diwali," directly commemorates the defeat of the demon Narakasura. After purifying our vessel on Dhanteras, we are now ready to confront the darkness within.
Symbolism: Narakasura represents our "naraka," our inner hell—the shadows of our ego, our unresolved traumas, our negative patterns. This is the day for introspection, for bravely looking at our own shortcomings without judgment and resolving to overcome them. The early morning rituals and the lighting of a few lamps signify the beginning of the end for these inner demons. It's the pre-dawn light before the full sunrise of Diwali.
Day 3: Lakshmi Puja (The Main Event) – Inviting the Light
This is the climax of the festival, the darkest night of the new moon (Amavasya). It is on this night that the light shines most brightly. The main worship is dedicated to Goddess Lakshmi, the embodiment of prosperity, beauty, and spiritual radiance.
Symbolism: On this darkest night, we light rows of diyas, leaving no corner of our home in shadow. This powerful ritual signifies our active invitation to the light of higher consciousness to enter every part of our being. Lakshmi represents far more than material wealth; she is śrī, the auspicious, life-affirming energy of the universe. By worshipping her, we are praying for spiritual wealth—qualities like compassion, courage, serenity, and love. We are affirming that even in our darkest moments, the divine light is accessible if we only make a space for it.
Day 4: Govardhan Puja – Gratitude and Humility
The day after the peak of illumination is dedicated to gratitude. This day commemorates Lord Krishna lifting the Govardhan Hill to shelter his villagers from the torrential rains sent by an enraged Lord Indra.
Symbolism: Indra represents the arrogance of power and the ego. Krishna's act teaches humility—that the divine protects those who are humble and devoted. The villagers build a small hill of grain and food, called Annakut ("a mountain of food"), as an offering of thanks. This day shifts the focus from the individual's inner light to our relationship with nature, community, and the divine. It's a day to express gratitude for all that sustains us, recognising that everything we have is a gift.
Day 5: Bhai Dooj – Celebrating Connections
The final day brings the lofty celebrations back down to earth, sanctifying the most cherished human bonds. On Bhai Dooj, sisters pray for the long life and well-being of their brothers, strengthening the ties of family.
Symbolism: Having journeyed through self-purification, confronted our demons, awakened our inner light, and expressed gratitude, the final step is to radiate that light into our relationships. This day reminds us that spiritual awakening is not an isolated event; it finds its ultimate expression in love, service, and connection with others. It grounds the entire festival in the warmth of human love.
The Takeaway: Light Your Lamp
Diwali is a beautiful reminder that no matter how dark the world may seem, the light of truth, righteousness, and consciousness is always within our reach. It is an invitation to clean the home of our minds, to courageously face our inner shadows, to invite grace into our hearts, and to share our light with the world.
So this year, as we light a diya, let's take a moment. Watch the flame. Let it remind us of our own inner, eternal flame—the one that no storm can ever extinguish.
Wishing you all a truly luminous and joyful Diwali!