The Five Sacred Days of Diwali: Mantras and Rituals from Dhanteras to Bhai Dooj

The Five Sacred Days of Diwali: A Journey from Wealth to Wisdom

Introduction

Across India and beyond, the festival of Diwali (Deepavali) glows as the brightest celebration of light conquering darkness. Yet, this five-day festival is far more than lights, sweets, and fireworks—it is a deep spiritual journey through devotion, purification, gratitude, and divine harmony.

Each day of Diwali carries its own esoteric vibration and ritual significance. In the Vedic tradition, every day is sanctified by specific mantras and hymns that connect the devotee to the subtle energies of prosperity, purity, and divine consciousness.

Let us explore the inner meaning of these sacred observances, accompanied by the scriptural chants prescribed for each day:

1. Dhanteras – Invocation of Divine Prosperity with Gopala Sahasranama

Day of Worship: Dhantrayodashi (13th lunar day of Krishna Paksha)
Scriptural Chant: Gopala Sahasranama Stotram (The Thousand Names of Lord Krishna)

On Dhanteras, we invoke Lord Dhanvantari, the celestial physician who emerged during the churning of the cosmic ocean carrying the pot of nectar (Amrita). The day marks the beginning of the Diwali festivities and symbolises healing, rejuvenation, and the flow of divine abundance.

While many associate Dhanteras with the purchase of gold and silver, the spiritual essence lies in inviting the grace of Sri Krishna in his Gopala form—the protector of cows, wealth, and dharma.

The recitation of Gopala Sahasranama on this day purifies one’s intentions regarding wealth and ensures that prosperity aligns with compassion and righteousness. It is said that chanting these names removes misfortune, enhances fertility in ideas and enterprises, and brings joy into one’s home.

“Yasya smaraṇamātreṇa sarva duḥkha vināśanam,
Gopālo me gatiḥ śrīmān sarva sampat pradāyakaḥ.”
— Gopala Sahasranama

2. Roop Chaturdashi – The Beauty of the Soul and the Radiance of Lakshmi

Day of Worship: Naraka Chaturdashi (14th lunar day)
Scriptural Chant: Kanakadhara Stotram by Adi Shankaracharya

Known as Roop Chaturdashi or Naraka Chaturdashi, this day commemorates the victory of Lord Krishna over the demon Narakasura, signifying the cleansing of inner impurities. It is also associated with beauty, vitality, and inner radiance—the “Roop” that glows when the mind is free of darkness.

In the morning, devotees traditionally bathe before sunrise, symbolising the washing away of karmic dirt. To invoke the grace of Goddess Lakshmi, the Kanakadhara Stotram—a hymn composed by Adi Shankaracharya—is chanted.

The legend narrates how the compassionate saint invoked Goddess Lakshmi to shower golden prosperity (kanakadhara means “stream of gold”) upon a poor but pious woman. The hymn teaches that true beauty (Roop) and true wealth (Kanaka) arise when the heart reflects selfless virtue and divine grace.

“Akhanda lakshmi pataye namaste
Astu prārthanaṁ mā kuru mādhavī me.”
— Kanakadhara Stotram

3. Deepavali – The Illumination of Consciousness with Shri Suktam

Day of Worship: Amavasya (New Moon)
Scriptural Chant: Shri Suktam from the Rig Veda
Additional Ritual: Annakoot Mahotsava (Offering of Food)

The central night of Deepavali is the night of awakening (Jāgaraṇa). As millions of lamps dispel external darkness, the chanting of the Shri Suktam—a Vedic hymn dedicated to Mahalakshmi—disperses the inner darkness of ignorance.

This sacred chant invokes the goddess of beauty, prosperity, and wisdom, describing her as the embodiment of auspiciousness seated upon a lotus, radiant like the rising sun. The mantra vibration of Shri Suktam invites not just material affluence but spiritual luminosity, aligning one’s mind with abundance that uplifts all beings.

On the following morning, temples celebrate Annakoot—the mountain of food offered to Lord Krishna as gratitude for sustaining life. Symbolically, it reminds us that service and sharing are the highest forms of wealth.

“Padmānane padmakare mahiyam pāhi padmāni
Mano-naye sarva-bhūtānāṁ vardhaya prītim īśvari.”
— Shri Suktam

4. Govardhan Puja / Annakoot – Gratitude to Nature

While the focus of Diwali often remains on light and Lakshmi, Govardhan Puja—celebrated the day after Diwali—emphasises humility before nature’s bounty. Lord Krishna lifting the Govardhan Mountain symbolises human dependence on natural forces and the need to protect them rather than exploit them.

In temples, mounds of food are arranged as Annakoot and offered to Krishna. This act transforms consumption into consecration—reminding us that food is divine (Annam Brahma).

5. Bhai Dooj – The Bond of Protection and the Chant of Vishnu Sahasranama

Day of Worship: Dwitiya (2nd lunar day of Shukla Paksha)
Scriptural Chant: Vishnu Sahasranama Stotram (The Thousand Names of Vishnu)

The concluding day of the Diwali festival, Bhai Dooj, celebrates the sacred bond between siblings. In the spiritual sense, it signifies the reunion of souls under divine protection.

The chanting of Vishnu Sahasranama on this day connects the devotee to the eternal, all-pervading consciousness that safeguards all beings. Every name of Vishnu represents a cosmic vibration—an armour of dharma.

The affectionate ritual of sisters applying tilak on their brothers’ foreheads becomes a symbolic act of invoking divine protection and mutual goodwill.

“Śāntākāraṁ bhujaga-śayanaṁ padmanābhaṁ sureśaṁ
Viśvādhāraṁ gagana-sadṛśaṁ megha-varṇaṁ śubhāṅgam.”
— Vishnu Sahasranama

Conclusion: From Outer Lamps to Inner Light

Diwali, in its truest sense, is a spiritual symphony—from Dhanteras’ healing light to Bhai Dooj’s harmony of relationships. When observed through the recitation of these ancient hymns, it becomes more than a festival—it becomes a pilgrimage from desire to devotion and from gold to grace.

Whether one lights a lamp in Mumbai or Manhattan, the essence remains universal:
The triumph of light over darkness, knowledge over ignorance, and love over fear.