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
Maybe this is your first Diwali in a new flat in another city. Maybe the person who always led the puja, a grandmother or a father, is not there this year. Either way, if you are the one sitting in front of the altar for the first time, this guide is for you. It walks through the household Lakshmi-Ganesh puja in the order most north Indian families follow, explains what each step is for, and tells you what to do when you do not know the Sanskrit.
Continue reading Lakshmi Puja Step by Step: A Guide for First Timers
Lakshmi puja comes once a year, on one evening, inside a window of an hour or two. That is exactly the sort of occasion where something is always missing, and you only notice at 6.45 pm, when the kirana store has pulled its shutter down and the flower seller has gone home.
Continue reading Lakshmi Puja Preparation Checklist: Everything You Need Before the Evening
