List of Unique Diwali Traditions of Different Indian States — Bandi Chhor Divas, Bestu Baras, Narkasur Vadh and More | Today’s news

Diwali, a holiday that revolves around the triumph of light over darkness, is celebrated in India with a diverse tapestry of rituals and stories.

From worshiping various deities to lighting jute stalks for ancestors, each region observes the festival through its own unique cultural and historical lens.

Here’s a look at the distinct traditions that define Diwali in different Indian states:

Punjab: Bandi Chhor Divas

Quick answers to key questions

•5 QUESTIONS

Bandi Chhor Divas commemorates the release of Guru Hargobind from Gwalior Fort along with 52 detained Rajput princes. The Golden Temple is illuminated and devotees partake of langar and special karah prasad.

Chopda Pujan represents spiritual and business renewal at the beginning of the Gujarati Vikram Samvat New Year. Businessmen worship their new ledgers for an auspicious and prosperous start to the financial year.

Communities create colorful papier-mâché effigies of Narakasura, display them in neighborhood competitions, and light them on fire to symbolize the destruction of evil. Families then have an oil bath and a festive breakfast of poha with jaggery and coconut.

In West Bengal, devotees worship the goddess Kali and seek her protection and strength. The celebration focuses on the divine power that destroys evil, rather than just wealth.

Kaunria Kathi is a ceremony where families burn jute stalks to create a glowing signal to the heavens. The ritual honors deceased ancestors and seeks their guidance and blessings.

For the Sikh community, the season of Diwali coincides with Bandi Chhor Divas or “Liberation Day”.

This day commemorates the historic release of Guru Hargobind from Gwalior Fort, where he secured not only his freedom but also the release of 52 Rajput princes unjustly detained by Mughal Emperor Jahangir.

To mark the occasion, the Golden Temple in Amritsar is brilliantly illuminated with thousands of lamps and fireworks reflecting off the sarovar. Devotees partake in langar and special karah prasad.

Gujarat: Bestu Baras and Chopda Pujan

In Gujarat, Diwali is closely associated with Bestu Varas, the beginning of the Gujarati Vikram Samvat new year. The festival represents both spiritual and commercial renewal.

Businessmen and business owners close their old ledgers and perform Chopda Pujan, worshiping their new ledgers to ensure an auspicious and prosperous start to the financial year.

Families also prepare elaborate rangolis and share an elaborate feast of savory farsan and sweet mohanthal.

Read also | Diwali Muhurat Trading: 10 selected Geojit stocks including ICICI Bank, PVR Inox

Goa: Narkasur Vadh

Goa begins its Diwali celebrations in the early hours before dawn with a dramatic focus on the mythology of Narakasura. Local communities spend weeks building massive, colorful effigies of the arrogant demon king.

These towering figures march through the streets in fierce neighborhood contests before being set on fire to symbolize the destruction of evil.

After the burning, families return home for a traditional oil bath and a festive breakfast of flat rice (poha) mixed with jaggery and coconut.

West Bengal: Kali Puja

While northern and western parts of India perform Lakshmi Puja on Diwali night, households and temples in West Bengal and Assam observe Kali Puja.

Devotees worship the fierce goddess Kali and seek her protection and strength. Rather than focusing solely on wealth, the night is dedicated to celebrating the ultimate divine power that destroys evil, accompanied by brightly lit pandals and regional delicacies.

Read also | ‘Jeevan mein vividhta hi jeevan ka rahasya hai..’: Amitabh Bachchan sends Diwali greetings, shares thoughts on forgiveness and happiness

Odisha: Kaunria Kathi

Odisha observes a deeply moving Diwali ritual focused on memory and family roots rather than purely festive celebrations.

Families perform Kaunria Kathi, a silent ceremony in which they burn the stems of the jute plant to create a fire as a glowing signal to the heavens.

This ritual is performed to honor, guide and seek blessings from the spirits of their departed ancestors.

Tamil Nadu: Pre-dawn Deepavali and oil baths

In Tamil Nadu and other parts of South India, the primary celebration is often celebrated a day earlier, on Naraka Chaturdashi, which commemorates Lord Krishna’s victory over Narakasura.

Families wake up long before sunrise to have the traditional abhyanga snan – a customary oil massage and bath believed to wash away sins. This is followed by the donning of new clothes, a morning festive breakfast and the consumption of Deepavali marundhu, a herbal preparation designed to aid digestion during heavy festive feasting.

Maharashtra: Vasu Baras

In Maharashtra, Diwali festivities begin with Govatsa Dwadashi, locally known as Vasu Baras.

On this day, women perform puja to honor cows and their calves, viewing them as symbols of divine nourishment and prosperity. To respect the calf’s right to mother’s milk, households traditionally avoid eating milk and wheat dishes, instead feeding cattle millet rotis and jaggery.

After prayers, families indulge in a grand feast known as Faral, which includes snacks like chakli, karanji and laddoo.

Karnataka: Bali Padyami and Cow Dung Forts

For communities in Karnataka, the third day of the festival, known as Bali Padyami, holds special significance. This day honors the bountiful demon king Bali, who was sent to the underworld by the Vamana avatar of Lord Vishnu.

Women draw intricate rangolis at the entrances of their homes and build miniature forts made of cow dung to commemorate the legendary reign of King Bali.

Families also gather to tell mythological stories associated with the king and celebrate his annual return to Earth.

Read also | The UP government is building Ayodhya Deepotsav as a platform for social cohesion

Uttar Pradesh: Dev Deepawali

While the rest of the country ends its celebrations, the holy city of Varanasi in Uttar Pradesh experiences its grandest event 15 days after Diwali, on Kartik Purnima.

Known as Dev Deepawali or “Diwali of the Gods”, this festival is rooted in the belief that millions of deities descend from heaven to bathe in the Ganges River.

To welcome them, devotees and priests light up all the 84 ghats of the city with millions of clay oil lamps, creating a breathtaking glowing spectacle along with the grand Ganga Aarti.

Bihar and North India: Yam Ke Diya

In Bihar and several other northern regions, the festival features a unique and mildly festive ritual known as Yama Deepam or Yam Ka Diya.

Rather than focusing solely on wealth or light, this tradition is meant to please Yama, the Hindu god of death. Families light a lone clay lamp filled with sesame oil and place it at the back of their homes facing south.

This offering is widely believed to help ward off premature death and protect the household from misfortune.