The festival of diwali is celebrated by the Indians throughout the world in a joyous mood with great zeal and enthusiasm. Diwali is not limited to just one-day celebration like many other Indian festivals but it is a unique one for it brings a series of festivals and holidays with itself. Diwali is the festival of worship of Goddess Lakshmi, lights, crackers, cleanliness, sweets, lots of shopping, happiness, togetherness and almost one week's holiday.

Diwali is the festival, which means celebration one after another, each day with a new philosophy.

First Day - Dhanateras
The first day of the festival of diwali begins with Dhanvantari Trayodashi (Dhanwantari Trayodashi), which is the thirteenth lunar day of Krishna Paksha, of the Hindu month of Kartik. Dhanvantari Trayodashi is popularly known as Dhan-teras. Legends have it that Lord Dhanwantari (Lord Dhanwantari) came out of the ocean with Ayurvedic on this day for the welfare of the mankind. The people worship Lord Yamaraj, the God of death, on this day and light a 'Yama-Diya' in the night to offer prayers to Him. Purchasing a new utensil by the people on this day is also a tradition related with Dhanvantari Trayodashi.

Second Day - Chhoti Diwali
After the Dhanvantari Trayodashi the second day of diwali is Narak Chaturdashi. Legends have it that Lord Krishna killed the demon Narakasur on this day to make the mankind free from his fear. It is a tradition to massage the body with oil and to bathe on this day. According to an interesting saying it is believed that those who do not bathe on this day, go to the Narak (hell).

Third Day - Badi Diwali or  Lakshmi Pujan
The third day of diwali also called badi diwali is the main day of celebrations of the festival of diwali. People perform Lakshmi Pujan (worship of divine Goddess Lakshmi) on this day and offer prayers to Her to bless them with wealth and prosperity. On this day people clean their homes and decorate it with various colorful lights and fire crackers to express their joy.

Fourth Day - Govardhan Puja  (Gowardhan Puja) or Padwa
As the name itself suggests the fourth day of diwali is devoted to Govardhan Pooja (worship of Lord Govardhan Parvat). Legends have it that Lord Shri Krishna once performed the Govardhan Pooja along with the people of Vraja for their protection from heavy rains. Since then it became a tradition for Hindus to worship Govardhan Parvat to honour that first Pooja on this day.

Fifth Day - Bhai Dooj  (Bhaiya Dooj) or Bhratri Dooj
The fifth day of the diwali is Bhai Dooj, the time to honour the brother-sister relationship. Legends have it that in the Vedic era, Lord Yamaraj (the God of death) visited his sister Yamuna on this day and blessed her with a boon that if brothers visit their sisters on this day then they will be liberated from all their sins. Since then it is a tradition that brothers visit their sisters on this day and the sisters sweeten their mouths with variety of sweets. In the Bengali culture this day is celebrated as 'Bhai Fota'.

Thus the celebrations of Bhai Dooj marks the end of the five days long festivities of Diwali.