What is the Importance of Diwali?

Diwali the Festival of Lights is not just about celebrations, sweets, or decorations. It is a festival that carries deep spiritual and health-related significance, rooted in Ayurveda, nature, and holistic living. Our ancestors designed every ritual of Diwali to synchronize our body, mind, and surroundings with seasonal and cosmic changes. Each day of the five-day celebration from Dhanteras to Bhai Dooj reflects a step towards physical purification, emotional balance, and spiritual rejuvenation.

1. Dhanteras: The Day of Health and Healing

Spiritual Meaning: Dhanteras, or Dhantrayodashi, marks the beginning of Diwali and is dedicated to Lord Dhanvantari, the divine healer who brought Ayurveda the science of life to humanity. He emerged from the ocean carrying a pot of Amrit, symbolizing eternal health and vitality.

Health Connection:

• The day reminds us that good health is the greatest wealth.
• Traditionally, people clean their homes and buy new utensils symbolizing purification and renewal.
• Lighting diyas with mustard oil or ghee purifies the air and kills harmful bacteria.
• Many drink coriander or herbal water on this day an Ayurvedic digestive detox before the festive feasts begin.

Wellness Message: Celebrate Dhanteras by adopting preventive health habits eat light, use natural oils, and honor the healing energy within you.

2. Naraka Chaturdashi (Choti Diwali): Cleansing and Inner Renewal

Spiritual Meaning: This day commemorates Lord Krishna’s victory over the demon Narakasura, symbolizing the destruction of darkness, ego, and impurity. Known as Choti Diwali or Kali Chaudas, it represents inner and outer cleansing.

Health Connection:

• Traditionally, people perform Abhyanga Snan an early morning oil massage and bath.
• Applying sesame or mustard oil helps remove toxins, strengthens the skin, improves blood flow, and reduces joint stiffness.
• Herbal pastes made with turmeric and gram flour are used to cleanse and nourish the skin naturally.
• Early rising and bathing before sunrise align the body with natural rhythms, refreshing the senses.

Wellness Message:
Naraka Chaturdashi teaches us to let go of inner negativity and start anew physically detoxified and mentally purified.

3. Lakshmi Puja (Main Diwali Day): Mental Peace and Emotional Wellness

Spiritual Meaning: The main day of Diwali is dedicated to Goddess Lakshmi, the goddess of prosperity, purity, and well-being. Lighting diyas across homes invites divine light and positivity into life.

Health Connection:

• The soft glow of diyas reduces stress and promotes relaxation much like modern aromatherapy.
• Rangoli made with natural colors (rice flour, turmeric, or flowers) has a calming effect on the mind and uplifts the spirit.
• Sharing homemade sweets made with ghee, dry fruits, and jaggery provides nourishment and warmth during seasonal change.
• Spending time with loved ones releases serotonin the “happiness hormone.”

Wellness Message: True wealth is not just money it is the peace of mind, health of the body, and joy of the soul.

4. Govardhan Puja (Annakut): Nourishment and Gratitude

Spiritual Meaning: The fourth day of Diwali, Govardhan Puja, honors Lord Krishna, who lifted Mount Govardhan to protect villagers from storms. It teaches us that nature sustains and protects us when respected.

Health Connection:

• On this day, people prepare an Annakut a mountain of vegetarian food offerings symbolizing nature’s abundance.
• The tradition encourages consumption of plant-based, seasonal, and balanced meals.
• Freshly cooked grains, pulses, and vegetables provide vital nutrients and promote gut health.
• Offering food to nature and others cultivates gratitude, which reduces stress and enhances emotional well-being.

Wellness Message: Govardhan Puja reminds us to eat mindfully, thank the Earth for nourishment, and practice balance in food and life.

5. Bhai Dooj: Emotional Health and Family Bonds

Spiritual Meaning: The last day of Diwali, Bhai Dooj, celebrates the sacred bond between brothers and sisters. The day is dedicated to love, protection, and emotional harmony.

Health Connection:

• Expressing love and spending time with family releases oxytocin the hormone that strengthens emotional connections.
• Sharing food and blessings nurtures the feeling of belonging and reduces loneliness.
• Mental health experts often emphasize the power of strong family ties in maintaining psychological balance a concept our ancestors embedded in this ritual.

Wellness Message: Bhai Dooj is a celebration of relationships reminding us that emotional well-being is equally important as physical health.

The Deeper Ayurvedic Connection of Diwali

Diwali occurs during the seasonal transition from monsoon to winter, a time when the body’s Vata dosha (air element) tends to increase, leading to dryness, fatigue, and anxiety.
Every ritual of Diwali naturally supports balance:

• Oil baths calm Vata and nourish the skin.
• Warm, spiced foods aid digestion and immunity.
• Cleaning and lighting diyas remove physical and mental stagnation.
• Meditation and gratitude promote inner stability and clarity.

Our ancestors designed Diwali as a natural wellness festival, aligning human life with the cycles of nature.  Diwali is not just a festival of lights it is a festival of health, healing, and harmony. Each day teaches us a simple truth: prosperity begins with purity, and happiness begins with health. By celebrating Dhanteras for healing, Naraka Chaturdashi for cleansing, Lakshmi Puja for peace, Govardhan Puja for nourishment, and Bhai Dooj for emotional wellness we experience Diwali as it was meant to be: a journey from darkness to light, imbalance to harmony, and illness to health.

FAQ’s

1. Why is Diwali celebrated?

Diwali is celebrated to honor the victory of light over darkness and good over evil. It signifies the triumph of truth, positivity, and knowledge. In different parts of India, people celebrate it for various reasons Lord Rama’s return to Ayodhya after defeating Ravana, Lord Krishna’s victory over Narakasura, or the worship of Goddess Lakshmi who brings prosperity and peace. The core message, however, is universal to replace negativity with light, hope, and inner purity.

2. How many days is Diwali celebrated and what does each day represent?

Diwali is a five-day festival, and each day holds a unique spiritual and health-related meaning:

• Dhanteras: The day of health and prosperity dedicated to Lord Dhanvantari, the father of Ayurveda.
• Naraka Chaturdashi (Choti Diwali): Symbolizes cleansing and the destruction of negativity.
• Lakshmi Puja: The main day of Diwali, celebrating wealth, peace, and inner well-being.
• Govardhan Puja: A day to thank nature and celebrate nourishment through food and gratitude.
• Bhai Dooj: Celebrates love and emotional wellness between brothers and sisters.

3. Why do we light diyas (lamps) on Diwali?

Lighting diyas is one of the most meaningful traditions of Diwali. The lamp represents the light of wisdom, positivity, and health that dispels darkness and fear. Traditionally, diyas made from clay and filled with ghee or oil also purify the air and add warmth to homes, creating a calm and healing atmosphere especially beneficial during the seasonal change from monsoon to winter.

4. What is the purpose of cleaning the house before Diwali?

Cleaning the house before Diwali goes beyond decoration it’s a ritual of detox and renewal. Removing dust, clutter, and old items symbolizes letting go of stagnant energy and emotional burden. It refreshes the mind and creates a positive, peaceful environment. This practice aligns with the Ayurvedic belief that a clean, organized space supports a healthy and calm body-mind balance.

5. What is the significance of Goddess Lakshmi during Diwali?

Goddess Lakshmi symbolizes prosperity in all forms physical, mental, spiritual, and material. Worshipping her on Diwali is not just about inviting financial growth but also about embracing harmony, wisdom, and good health. When homes are filled with light, laughter, and gratitude, they naturally attract the divine energy that Lakshmi represents abundance in every aspect of life.