Ask most people when Diwali is and they will name one night. Ask their grandmother and she will name five days, each with its own name, its own story and its own list of jobs. The one night is the third; the other four are how the festival builds up and winds down.
Continue reading The Five Days of Diwali Explained: What Happens on Each Day and Why
Dhanteras is the first of the five days of Diwali and the one most associated with buying. Markets stay open late, jewellers advertise for weeks beforehand, and even families who buy nothing else that month will bring home a steel spoon or a new broom. Walk through Chandni Chowk, Laad Bazaar or T. Nagar that evening and you will see why. Behind the shopping is a set of stories and a small evening ritual that most people know only in part.
Continue reading Dhanteras Guide: What to Buy, What It Means and How to Celebrate
