This is a request for stories from you guys… how do you celebrate Divali, what do you call it, and what is the story of it’s meaning for you?

We all know that Hinduism is sort of messed up to explain because everyone believes 1000 different things for the same festivals. I’ve been tasked to write up the story of Divali for my nieces so we can read it during Divali. An appropriate task since my first step was to look it up on Wikipedia.  Well, of course, Wikipedia lists a lot of different things including that it is actually 5 or 6 days (I had no idea!)

In my South Indian family, Divali consists of wearing new clothes, and possibly eating dinner with family on the weekend closest to Divali.  Not any special dinner…but just getting together. Also lighting sparklers and waving them around in the backyard. Also, about 10 years ago my parents put up lights one year for Christmas around the outside of the house and never took it down, so we started turning them on for Divali too.  Not sure the status of said lights at the moment.

Reading below, this might mean that we celebrate Divali the day before my North Indian friends do?  That explains why “Happy Divali” seems to be the greeting over several days.

Out of the Wikipedia items below, my mom says we believe the “Narakasura” story… but even that seems subdivided into options.

• The return of Rama after 14 years of banishment. To welcome his return, diyas (ghee lamps) were lit in rows of 20.
• The killing of Narakasura: Celebrated as Naraka Chaturdashi, one day before Diwali, it commemorates the killing of the evil demon Narakasura, who wreaked havoc. Krishna’s wife Satyabhama killed Narakasura. In another version of the belief, the demon was killed by Krishna, or Krishna provoked his wife Satyabhama to kill Narshna, defeating Indra.
• Krishna debated with the villagers about what their ‘dharma’ truly was. They were farmers, they should do their duty and concentrate on farming and protection of their cattle. He said that all human beings should do their ‘karma’ to the best of their ability and not pray for natural phenomenon. The villagers were convinced by Krishna, and did not proceed with the special prayer. Indra was then angered, and flooded the village. Krishna lifted Mount Govardhan and held it up to protect the people and cattle from the rain. Indra finally accepted defeat and recognized Krishna as supreme.
• Return of Pandavas after 12 years of banishment

Also it said Divali is 5 or 6 days long and here is the significance of each day:

1. Govatsa Dwadashi or Vasu Baras: Go means cow and vatsa means calf. Dwadashi or Baras means the 12th day. On this day the cow and calf are worshiped. The story associated with this day is that of King Prithu, son of the tyrant King Vena. Due to the ill rule of Vena, there was a terrible famine and earth stopped being fruitful. Prithu chased the earth, who is usually represented as cow, and ‘milked’ her, meaning that he brought prosperity to the land.
2. Dhanatrayodashi or Dhan teras or Dhanwantari Triodasi: Dhana means wealth and Trayodashi means 13th day. This day falls on the 13th day of the second half of the lunar month. It is considered an auspicious day for buying utensils and gold, hence the name ‘Dhana’. This day is regarded as the birthday of the Physician of Gods, who came out during the churning of the great ocean by the gods and the demons.
3. Naraka Chaturdashi: Chaturdashi is the 14th day This was the day on which the demon Narakasura was killed by Krishna. It signifies the victory of good over evil and light over darkness. In southern India, this is the actual day of festivities. Hindus wake up before dawn, have a fragrant oil bath and dress in new clothes. They light small lamps all around the house and draw elaborate kolams /rangolis outside their homes. They perform a special prayer with offerings to Krishna or Vishnu, as he liberated the world from the demon Narakasura on this day. It is believed that taking a bath before sunrise, when the stars are still visible in the sky is equivalent to taking a bath in the holy Ganges. After prayer, children burst firecrackers heralding the defeat of the demon.
4. Lakshmi Puja: Lakshmi Puja marks the most important day of Diwali celebrations in North India. Hindu homes worship Lakshmi, the goddess of wealth, and Ganesh, the God of auspicious beginnings, and then light lamps in the streets and homes to welcome prosperity and well-being.
5. Bali Pratipada and Govardhan Puja: In North India, this day is celebrated  as the day Krishna defeated Indra and by the lifting of Govardhana hill to save his kinsmen and cattle from rain and floods. For Annakoot, large quantities of food are decorated symbolizing the Govardhan hill lifted by Krishna. In Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu and Karnataka, it is celebrated as Bali-Pratipada or Bali Padyami. The day commemorates the victory of Vishnu in his dwarf form Vamana over the demon-king Bali, who was pushed into the patala. In Maharashtra, it is called “new day.” Men present gifts to their wives on this day. It is celebrated as the first day of the Vikram Samvat calendar, in Gujarat.
6. Yama Dwitiya or Bhaiduj: on this day, brothers and sisters meet to express love and affection for each other. It is based on a story when Yama, lord of Death, visited his sister Yami (the river Yamuna). Yami welcomed Yama with an Aarti and they had a feast together. Yama gave a gift to Yami while leaving as a token of his appreciation. So, the day is also called ‘YAMA DWITIYA’. Brothers visit their sisters’ place on this day and usually have a meal there, and also give gifts to their sisters