Dhanteras is the worship of lord Dhanvantari, Mahalakshmi & Kubera. Lord Dhanvantari, emerged during Samudra Manthan, holding a Kalasha full of Amrit in one hand and the sacred text about Ayurveda in the other hand.

The festival is celebrated as Lakshmi Puja which is performed in the evenings when lamps of clay (Diyas) are lit. A peculiar custom in Maharashtra exists where people lightly pound dried coriander seeds (Dhane in Marathi, for Dhanatrayodashi) with jaggery (cane sugar) and offer the mixture as Naivedhya. Lamps to Yama is also shown starting from this night, this custom continues till Kartika Purnima (This varies from custom to custom).

Kalichaudash is also known for worshipping of goddess Kali. Many sadhakas., Bhaktas worship goddess kali during midnight on this day. There is a custom in Bengal to worship goddess kali on the night of Diwali(Deepawali). This day also is celebrated to worship lord Hanuman and vadas are prepared offered to goddess kali and hanuman for naivedya and then bad omens are removed using vadas by circling them 7 times in clockwise and counterclockwise directions and then they are discarded without looking at them (This is done as per customs, please check your family customs).

Diwali is the day Lord Rama, Sita Devi and brother Lakshmana return to their homeland after 14 years in exile. The villagers lit a path for Rama, who had defeated the demon king Ravana. Reenactments of this story are part of celebrations in some regions.

Diwali also marks the day Lord Krishna defeated the demon Narakasura and freed the people of his kingdom. After he slayed the demon, Lord Krishna declared it a day of festivities. In some parts of India, people burn effigies of the demon kings in both stories as part of the celebration.

People also celebrate the Hindu Goddess Lakshmi during Diwali. As the goddess of prosperity, and wealth, Lakshmi jee chose Lord Vishnu, one of Hinduism’s most important deities, to be her husband on Diwali.

In other cultures, Diwali coincides with harvest and new year celebrations. No matter which Diwali story you celebrate, it’s always a day of new beginnings and light over darkness.