When we think of Diwali, we often picture rows of glowing diyas, colourful rangolis, boxes of mithai and homes filled with family and friends. But travel across India during the festive season, and you’ll discover that Diwali doesn’t look quite the same everywhere.
In some regions, the spotlight is on Goddess Kali. In others, families wake before sunrise to celebrate Lord Krishna’s victory over Narakasura, or gather for Govardhan Puja after Diwali night. Different stories, rituals and customs shape the celebrations, making the festival a wonderful reflection of India’s cultural diversity.
Let’s explore some of the Diwali traditions in different states and discover what makes each one special.
1. West Bengal: Worshipping Goddess Kali
In West Bengal, Diwali night is closely associated with Kali Puja, a celebration dedicated to Goddess Kali. While many families across India perform Lakshmi Puja on this night, devotees in Bengal offer prayers to Kali, seeking her protection and strength.
Temples and community pandals are decorated, and beautifully crafted idols of the goddess become the centre of celebrations. Families light lamps, make offerings and visit pandals to seek blessings.
Goddess Kali is often depicted as fierce and powerful, representing the force that destroys evil and protects her devotees. Her worship offers children an opportunity to discover another important form of the Divine and understand how different regions celebrate the same festive night in their own ways.
2. Tamil Nadu and Other Parts of South India: An Early-Morning Deepavali
In many Tamil households, Deepavali celebrations begin early in the morning on Naraka Chaturdashi, the day before Diwali night in the traditional five-day sequence.
The day is associated with Lord Krishna’s victory over Narakasura, a powerful ruler whose cruelty brought suffering to others. His defeat represents the triumph of good over evil.
Families may wake before sunrise, take a traditional oil bath, wear new clothes, enjoy a festive breakfast and share sweets and savoury snacks. In Tamil Nadu, preparations often include making deepavali marundhu, a traditional herbal preparation believed to help balance the rich festive food.
Deepavali is also celebrated in Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh and Telangana, with customs varying between communities and families. In many homes, the emphasis is on the early-morning rituals, family gatherings and festive meals rather than making the evening the main event.
It’s a lovely reminder that celebrations don’t have to follow the same schedule to share the same spirit.
3. Uttar Pradesh and Other Parts of North India: Govardhan Puja and Annakut
For many families in North India, the celebrations continue beyond Diwali night with Govardhan Puja, usually observed the following day.
The tradition recalls the story of Lord Krishna lifting Govardhan Hill on his little finger to shelter the people and animals of Vrindavan from torrential rain. Through this act, Krishna protected the village and reminded its people of the importance of humility, community and respect for nature.
Many temples and households mark the occasion with Annakut, which means “mountain of food”. A variety of dishes are prepared and offered to the deities as an expression of gratitude and devotion.
In places such as Mathura and Vrindavan, which are closely associated with Krishna, Govardhan Puja holds particular significance.
For children, the story offers a beautiful way to explore the idea of caring for one another and being thankful for the natural world that sustains us.
4. Maharashtra: Welcoming King Bali During Diwali Padwa
In Maharashtra, Diwali celebrations include Diwali Padwa, also known as Bali Pratipada, which falls on the day after Diwali in many traditional calendars.
The day is associated with King Bali, a generous and powerful ruler from Hindu mythology. According to one popular story, Lord Vishnu appeared before Bali in the form of Vamana, a dwarf Brahmin, and asked him for three paces of land. Vamana then grew to a cosmic size, covering the earth and heavens in two steps. Bali offered his own head for the third.
The story is interpreted in different ways across traditions, and Bali Pratipada is associated with the king’s generosity and his connection with the people.
In Maharashtra, the day is also a time for family visits, festive meals and celebrating relationships. It is one example of how the days surrounding Diwali carry their own stories and significance beyond the main festival night.
5. Gujarat: Diwali and the Beginning of a New Year
In Gujarat, Diwali is closely linked with the Gujarati New Year, which follows the main Diwali day.
Homes and shops are cleaned and decorated, entrances are brightened with rangoli, and families exchange greetings and sweets. Many businesses perform Chopda Pujan, a ritual in which account books are worshipped to mark an auspicious beginning to the new financial year.
For shopkeepers and business owners, it is a time to seek blessings for prosperity and success. For families, it is an opportunity to visit loved ones, welcome a fresh start and share festive wishes.
While the new year is celebrated at different times across India, the Gujarati calendar gives the Diwali season an added sense of renewal and new beginnings.
6. Goa: The Story of Narakasura Comes to Life
In Goa, one of the most distinctive sights of the Diwali season is the creation of large Narakasura effigies.
Local communities build colourful figures of the demon using materials such as bamboo, paper and cloth. These effigies are displayed during neighbourhood celebrations and traditionally burnt before dawn on Naraka Chaturdashi.
The custom brings the story of Narakasura’s defeat to life. According to Hindu mythology, the demon had become tyrannical, causing suffering until he was defeated by Lord Krishna, with some versions of the story also highlighting Satyabhama’s role.
The effigies symbolise the defeat of evil, while their creation brings communities together through art, teamwork and shared celebration.
For children, this tradition offers a memorable way to connect a familiar story with the sights and activities of a local festival.
7. Punjab and Sikh Communities: Celebrating Bandi Chhor Divas
Around the same time as Diwali, Sikhs celebrate Bandi Chhor Divas, which commemorates the release of Guru Hargobind Sahib Ji from imprisonment, along with 52 other kings.
According to Sikh tradition, Guru Hargobind Sahib Ji ensured that the other imprisoned rulers could leave with him. The occasion is remembered as a celebration of freedom, justice and standing up for others.
Gurdwaras are illuminated, prayers and kirtan fill the spaces, and families gather to mark the occasion. At the Golden Temple in Amritsar, the festival is especially significant, with the illuminated complex becoming a focal point for worshippers.
Although Bandi Chhor Divas has its own history and meaning, its timing alongside Diwali highlights how the same season can hold different but deeply meaningful observances for different communities.
What Connects These Diwali Traditions?
From Kali Puja in Bengal to Naraka Chaturdashi in South India, Diwali reflects India’s many cultures, beliefs and stories. The rituals may differ, but themes of hope, gratitude, renewal and togetherness run through the celebrations.
Helping Children Discover India’s Diwali Stories
Diwali is a wonderful opportunity to introduce children to the stories and traditions that make India so diverse.
Children can also explore devotional traditions through stories, mantras and aartis. WonderBuddy’s Bhakti StoryBox and Let’s Sing for Our Gods audio book offer ways for families to discover devotional content together and explore some of the stories behind the celebrations.
And that is part of the magic of Diwali: one festive season, many traditions, and countless stories waiting to be shared.
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