Legends behind festivals are as varied as the manner of their celebration. Common to all is the theme of the triumph of good over evil. As days become short and nights long and inky black (as wintry nights are) - on a no moon night, fireworks light up the sky, from the farthest north to the deepest south - in celebration of Diwali. While the new year is celebrated by different communities at different times, Diwali is a truly national festival that puts a sparkle into every home, whether a palatial mansion or a hut. With the advent of the Aswin-Kartik, in the days preceding the Kartik amavasya (a new-moon night when Diwali is celebrated, the festibities begin for a period of five days.

On day one, Dhanteras the shopping is done. legend has it that Dhanvantri, the Vaidya (physician) of the Gods was born with a gold pot filled with jadi-booties (medicinal herbs) on this day. As far as the shopping goes, women have an excuse to buy utensils and object d'art for the house along with the traditional Ganesha, Laxmi, clay toys, khilbatashas (traditional mithai for Diwali), and laiyya (puffed rice). They also buy mitti ka diyas.

The following day is the Narakchaudas. The demon Narakasura with his awesome powers began to terrorise the three worlds. Krishna killed him and freed Laxmi along with 16,000 other women who in turn married him. it is also said that Hanuman brought the message of Rama, Laxman and Sita's arrival to Ayodhya. For this reason it is also celebrated as 'Choti Diwali'.

On this day every house undergoes its annual 'spring' - cleaning, and all the nooks and crannies are spruced up. The crannies are spreced up. The Daridra Maharaj (Lord of Poverty) is chased out as people believe filth attracts poverty. The house is readied for Laxmi to be virajman (seeted)

Then comes the Kartik amavasya, the darkest of the year. Legends abound about this dominant one is that Rama returned to Ayodhya after 14 years of vanvas and people welcomed him with open arms. The pathways were illuminated with oil lamps to show him the way.

This is a big day for the business community. Their financial year closes and the new one begins. All the ledgers are closed and not a single penny spent for the next two days. In the evening after invoking ganesha, Laxmi Pujan takes place. A large lamp with desi (pure) ghee is lit for the goddess and burns through the night. Some say a city is not well-lit when laxmi comes to visit the earth in her vahan - a blind owl - her owl gets injured; thus, injuring the Goddess, who gets angry and leaves the city dirt-poor.

Vivekananda was once asked by an American why Laxmi (goddess of wealth) rode the foolish owl, while Saraswati (goddess of knowledge) the sawan ? His reply was Laxmi makes fools out of people and deserves the foolish owl, whereas Saraswati opens the eyes giving the ability to appreciate beauty, and hence the swan. Whether Laxmi does so or not people do wish to be rich and to do so they tempt her by gambling - a must for Diwali. Tradition has it that chaupad was played with 16 kauri shells. If all the shells fall in a manner that the teeth show (chit), fortune was said to smile on the lucky fellow; but heaven help if the shells fall flat (pat). The celebration lasts through the night. The city glitters. People exchange pleasantries; children, young and old burst crackers. Laughter rings in the air and even the dourest have a smile on their faces.

Day Four or Govardhan Puja is to commemorate the fact that krishna and his clan was protected by the mountain Govardhan. This day symbolises the 'live and let live', 'live by the land' philosophy. On this day in Lucknow, by the banks of Gomati, people flock to participate in the kite festival which is akin to Sankranti.

The last day is known as Bhaidooj. On this day, yama was invited by his sister Yami or Yamuna for lunch. Yamuna then did the tikka and honoured him. Sisters pray for the long life of their brothers and will go to any length to protect them. Sisters make a paste with saffron and rice and mark their brother's foreheads to ward off evil. One tale has them protecting him from the wicked sister-in-law.

Another celebration is held by the kaystha community - the kalam-devat puja, where they remember its ancestor Chitragupta who is Yama's accountant and the one who decides how long a person lives and whether he should go to heaven. They write, invoking the gods, and sign the latter in any number of languages they know (probably to ensure He doesn't get confused about the sender), and address it to Him.

Diwali is an occasion for children too, from the toddler looking on as older siblings hold sparklers, to daredevil adolescents who get a thrill out of lighting ear-splitting crackers. Which child doesn't enjoy new clothes and a spread of choicest sweets ? Dressed in their best, they run to burst crackers and sit down to gorge goodies, while elders greet each other ritualistically. it is in the spirit of light-hearted merry-making.

Diwali means a row of lamps. Filling little lamps with oil and wick and lighting them is a tradition popular in most regions of the country. The sight of twinkling oil-and-wick lamps is more beautiful than a neon-lit display can ever be. As dusk sets in women light these lamps: even the dingiest hut acquires a glow.

These days, Diwali means bumper issues of magazines planned months in advnce with ideas for mouth-watering sweets, decoration and suggestion for gifts. Purchases are made depending on the size of one's wallet and employees get their annual bonus. Diwali sales are announced with attractive discounts luring buyers, making a big hole in household budgets - but who wants routine on an occasion like this? the postman, milkman, part-time domestic help, anyone who has dealings with a family turns up for baksheesh. Imdian tradition has revelled in making sharing an integral part of celebrations. What can be more exelting than this ?

The pyrotechnics, filling the sky with showers of colour; rockets streaking and breaking into balls of electric blues, greens and pinks; anar that burst into colour; hearts pounding with a mixture of fear and excitement. Estate, but afraid; thrilled, but apprehensive; tired but not wanting to stop either - what other festival can compare to this ? As children usually say ruefully - why can't it be Diwali more than just once a year ?