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The story of Diwali is surrounds around many Legends but Some are widely accepteted which as follows

The Destruction of Narakasur by Lord Krishana:

The Story goes in a way that, There is a Demon Narakasura, he was the leader of Pragjyothishpur, a region to the south of Nepal. Narakasura in the son of Boomi Devi but he is with the evil mind of Asura.

He is so powerful and he wanted to teerorise the inhabitants of the three worlds. He didn't leave the women he captured about 16000 women. Narakasura came to know that Indra had Thousands of Elephants in his army; he captured the Indra army by defeating Indra, he also assaulted Mother Aditi (Mother of Lords).

So Indra to decided to revenge and approached Lord Krishna who is with his wife Sathyabama said about all the evils of Narakasura. Lord Krishna with his wife Sathyabama went and defeated Narakasura in the battle and he resotred the hoops of Mother Aditi.

At the time of Demon death Lord Krishna asked for the Last wish of him. He asked that his death has to be celebrated by all in a grand festival. So His death was celebrated as Diwali, The defeat of the evil.

Story of Rama and Sita:

Another story is about the return of Ram, Sita and Lakshman to Ayodhya after the fourteen years of Vanavasam (Living in the forest). Rama is the son of King Dashradha who decided to give the crown to Rama and declared a day for that occasion. But on that day his second wife Kaikayie wants her son to become the king and Rama has to go to Vanavsam.

So Lord Rama and his consort Sita along with his Brother Lakshmana went to forest for 14 years the return day of all the three was celebrated by all the people by Lighting small diyas everywhere and it was celebrated as Diwali.

Incarnation of Goddess Lakshmi:

The Goddess Lakshmi is believed to be incarnated on the new moon day of the month Kartik. She up amid the beating of the sea, which is known as "Samudra Manthan", by onside of devas and the othe side is asura. This day is celebrated as Lakshmi Puja upon the arrival of Diwali. Goddess Lakshmi brings us all kind of wealth and prosperty. She is consort Lord Vishnu.

Story of King Vikramaditya:

An alternate Story of Diwali is for the best known Hindu King Vikramaditya. It was the day when he was crowned as the King all the individual celebrated it as a festival by Lighting small diyas.

The return of Pandavas:

There is an Epic Mahabaratha, in which the Pandavas Yudhishthhira, Bhima, Arjuna, Nakula and Sahdeva, They all sent to forest by Kauravar Dhuriyodhanan and his ninty nine siblings, because of the defeat of pandavas in the Sudhattam. The return day of the pandavas to their own kingdom is celebrated by all the people by lighting the small diyas everywhere with ecstacy.

Diwali puja vidhi:

On diwali we mainly make pujas for Lakshmi mata who provides us all kind of wealth and prosperity. Lakshmi Puja can be perfoemed on the diwali day in a simple or in a grand way. While chanting Lakshmi Mantra and do jabas for Lakshmi mata on Diwali day make our family cherish in happiness.

Things required to perform simple Lakshmi Puja are Flowers, Dhoop Stick, scent, Photo or idol of Lakshmi Mata with Ganesha, Turmeric, Kum Kum, Oil, Small Diyas, Sweets, Some Currency notes, Naivedyam.

Steps to Perform Puja:

The day before clean the house totally and on that day wake up early in the morning and take bath, Wear new dress.
Decorate the house or the puja area with flowers
Keep the idol or photo of Lakshmi, Ganesha, Saraswathi in the puja area.
Light Small diyas and start chanting Ganesha mantra to seek the blessings of Lord Ganesha. Offer naivedyam and Pray to remove all obstacles from life.
Then start Lakshmi Puja, Start chanting Lakshmi manta and jaba. Offer flowers Turmeric, KumKum, flowers, Naivedyam and pray to attain good wealth and prosperity in life. Place some coin and currency notes before Lakshmi mata and pray.
Pray Lord Vishnu, saraswathi, Hanuman to get blessings from all of them.

Significance of diwali:

Diwali is an important and most famous festival in India. All Hindu people celebrate diwali in a grand manner. Diwali is also called as festival of Lights, because on the day of diwali all will light lamps in their houses to get rid of all the dark in their home. Diwali is celebrated on 10^thOctober 2015 which on Tuesday. Usually it is celebrated on the new moon day.

Diwali is derived from the Sanskrit word Deepavali means an array of lights, the word Diwali is especially used in Northern part of India. Diwali signifies that the victory of brightness over darkness.

Depavali is celebrated with Lighting small clay lamps all over the houses, temples. Small children to all age people will celebrate Diwali by bursting crackers, preparing and eating sweet, wearing new clothes. To Hindus, Darkness represents ignorance, and light is a symbol of knowledge, therefore lighting lamps symbolizes the destruction of all negative forces.

Bursting of crackers is to fulfil the wish of demon Naraka, who is killed by Lord Krishna for his evil behavior. Lord Krishna asked the Demon about his final wish, he wishes that his death day must be celebrated by all the people with joy and happiness. Diwali brings us lot of joys and it is the day where we can get all blessings of Lord Vishnu and Lakshmi Devi.

Diwali celebration in south India:

Diwali is celebrated in south India only one day, the day before they clean the house and decorate with rangoli. On that (diwali) day early in the morning eldest family member applies sesame oil on the heads of all family members. Then they take bath starting from the younger one and they wear new clothes.

They decorate their puja area with kinds of fruits flowers etc and especially the most important crackers and the prasadam and neivedyam. Then they have sweets and start to burst crackers and share some sweets and prasadam to the neighbors and celebrate. In the evening they light the small clay lamps all over the house, burst crackers, and get blessings from elders. Some people expand it to next day which is Lakshmi Puja, Lakshmi puja is with Nonbu.

Diwali celebration in North India:

In North India, Diwali is celebrated for five days. They also follow as south Indians but with some modification. They five days are as follows

First day of Diwali isDhanteras, This is the thirteenth day from the lunar day of Krishna Paksh, the dark forthnight of the month of Kartik. This is day is beilieved to be that Lord Dhanwantari came out of the ocean with Ayurvedic for mankind. This is the starting day of diwali. This day people light the lamps with Prasad to the Yama Raj and pray to protect from untimely death.this offering should be made under the Thulsi tree or any other sacred tree that one might have in their home or yard.

Second day is Choti Diwali, this is also called as Narak Chaturdasi. On this day Lord Krishna killed demon Narakasur and made the world free from fear.

Third day of diwali is to worship Maa Lakshmi. Lakshmi Puja is done in the houses, some in grand manner with priests and chant Lakshmi jabas. Else it can be done simple pujas

Fourth day of diwali is Padwa and Govardhan Puja. People make some rituals and puja to Govardan on this auspicious day.

Fifth day of the Diwali is Bhai Duj. It is celebrated for the sisters. Yama (Lord of death) visited his sister Yamuna and gave a boon that whoever visits her on this day shall be unshackle from all sins and attain moksha. So on this day all the brothers visit his sister?s house to know the welfare about her.

Festival of lights:

Lights are mainly known to eradicate darkness, the Spritual lights which is lighten during puja is to eradicate the evil things and sin and all evil activities from individuals. There is much significance in different kinds of Lights.

There are many different oils can be used to light the lamps. The lamp must not be loaded with Peanut oil, artificial colored oil, lighting Lamp with the heated oil, oil which is poured in the ground, or the oil which is stored in an unclean vessel, these kind oils which bring bad effects and it doesn't have any spiritual meaning. The pain inturn wil be unavoidable for this kind of activity.

If we light the lamp with Ghee, it will bring home all kind of wealth, and increase the wealth, it also reduces debts.

If we light the lamp with Mahua oil, it will improve our health and product our health and family members.

If we light the lamp with Castor oil, it will bring us peace of mind, strengthen the relationship, popularity will occur.

If we light the lamp with mixed oil like Neam oil, Cocunut oil, and Castor oil magical pass can be obtained.

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