Diwali or Deepavali means “row of lamps” in Sanskrit. The festival marks the triumph of light over darkness. Clay lamps, or diyas, traditionally filled with mustard oil, are lit and placed around the entrances to Hindu homes on the night before the new moon in the Hindu month of Kartika, which this year falls on Thursday, Oct. 23.

The lamps celebrate the return of the Hindu deity Rama to his capital city Ayodhya in Uttar Pradesh after defeating the demon king Ravana in Sri Lanka. In the Hindu Sanskrit epic “The Ramayana,” Rama rescues his wife Sita and they are welcomed by lamps when they return to Ayodhya. Diyas are also believed to guide Lakshmi, the Hindu goddess of good fortune and prosperity, as she is said to visit homes during Diwali. The first day of the festival, which this year was Tuesday, is known as Dhanteras and is regarded as an auspicious time to buy gold.

2. Little Diwali

The day before Diwali is known as Choti (little) Diwali and involves a legend about a stolen pair of earrings and thousands of kidnapped women.

Narakasura, a demon king who ruled Pragjyotishpur (modern day Guwahati in Assam) stole the earrings that belonged to Aditi, Lord Indra’s mother, and took 16,000 daughters of the Hindu deities captive. According to some versions, the hostages were cow-herd girls.

Lord Krishna then killed Narakasura, freed the women and reclaimed the earrings according to some accounts. Other versions of the story say Lord Krishna’s wife, Satyabhama, was responsible for overcoming the demon king.

In any case, when he returned home the following day, it’s believed that Lord Krishna was bathed to wash off Narakasura’s blood. To remember this, devotees take a pre-dawn bath in oil on Choti Diwali. This custom is especially popular in Maharashtra, where a paste of gram flour and fragrant powders are used along with the oil.

Choti Diwali is known as Kali Choudas in some areas and is believed to be an auspicious day for thieves to worship to the Hindu deity Kali in the hope she will protect them from the police.

3.Clean Start

The third day of the festival, which is Oct. 23 this year, is the most significant and centers around the worship of Lakshmi. According to the Purana, ancient Hindu texts, Lakshmi wanders the earth on this day looking for the perfect household. She visits the cleanest house first to offer her blessings of prosperity. Devotees keep the rooms of their home pristine on this day.

Lamps are lit to light Lakshmi’s path into each house.

 A new broom is often purchased and at midnight it is used to sweep up, signifying that poverty is being driven out.  This is also the day on which many Hindus begin their new fiscal year.

4.Treasurer Deity 

The deity Kuber is also worshiped during the main day of Diwali. He is the treasurer among Hindu deities and his presence is to help those who are good at earning money but not so good at saving it.

 During the Lakshmi Puja, or worship, the deities Lakshmi, Kuber and Vishnu are offered a mixture of coagulated cow’s milk, sugar, cardamom and cloves. Lakshmi is also offered coriander, jaggery, sugar and candy, which are then are given out to friends.

5.Brothers And Sisters

The final day of the festival is known as Bhai Dooj, Bhaubij or Yamadwitīyā, and is dedicated to the relationship between a brother and sister.

On this day of the festival, sisters pray for their brothers and place a mark on their sibling’s forehead for protection.