Importance of various days in Diwali

Diwali is a series of festivals lasting 5 days which fall towards the end of the Hindu month of Ashwin and the beginning of the month of Kartik. The five days of Diwali are Dhan Teras, Narak Chaturdashi, Laxmi Pujan, Balipratipada and Bhaubij (Yama Dwitiya). We can celebrate Diwali in the true sense only when we know the significance of each of these days.

Dhanteras

Lord Dhanvantari

On this day Sri Vishnu's unmanifest energy flows through Sri Lakshmi Devi's Surya nadi (the right channel of the Kundalini) and the channel is activated. The rays generated from here are full of the 'Tej tattva' or the fire element. These rays of 'Tej' spread all over the Universe and the whole Universe is illuminated by shiny golden particles.

Goddess Lakshmi's Chaitanya present in these golden particles provides opulence, prosperity and creates an environment conducive for spiritual practice. Hence on this day Goddess Laxmi is worshipped with utmost devotion. When we do the ritualistic worship with spiritual emotion, the Deity and controller of wealth - Kuber enter the Earth's atmosphere. - A scholar (17/05/05, 7.58 p.m.)

Narak Chaturdashi

Lighting lamps on this day can destroy demonic energies. The day before the Chaudash, the fourteenth day of the fortnight, after 12 a.m. the atmosphere starts getting polluted with Raja-Tama frequencies, because on this day the Universe moves from the Chandra-nadi (or the moon channel), into the Surya-nadi (or the Sun channel). This helps the demonic energies in Patal (Hell). The sound waves generated from Patal are created by heat which is generated from the movement of the particles loaded with Raja-Tama components. To neutralise the effect of these waves, one has to bathe early in the morning, light ghee lamps in earthen pots and ritualistically worship them. The lamps radiate waves of particles charged with the fire element, which helps to destroy the Raja-Tama laden particles in the environment. Due to this, Raja-Tama particles present in the cells of demonic energies also melt away, which helps to destroy the protective sheath around the demonic energies. Hence, a soul begins afresh to perform any auspicious activity. On this day demonic energies get annihilated, in a way amounting to destruction of distressing frequencies emanating from hell. - A scholar (17/05/05, 8.59 p.m.)*

Laxmi Puja

Sree Laxmipujan

This day 'Laxmi-panchayatan' enters the Universe. Sri Vishnu, Sri Indra, Sri Kuber, Sri Gajendra and Sri Laxmi are the elements of this 'panchayatan' (a group of five). The tasks of these elements are:

Vishnu: Happiness (happiness and satisfaction)
Indra: Opulence (satisfaction due to wealth)
Kuber: Wealth (one who gives away wealth)
Gajendra: Carries the wealth
Laxmi: Divine Energy (Shakti) which provides energy to all the above activities.

Importance of Laxmi Puja

A. Destruction of distressing energies: On this particular day, since it is a new moon day, Goddess Laxmi's destroyer (marak) form is active. The spiritual emotion of the person doing ritualistic worship activates Goddess Laxmi's marak form and destroys the distressing frequencies in the environment.
B. Arrival of other Deities (Devatas): Sri Indra and other male Deities also get drawn to the place of ritualistic worship and follow Goddess Laxmi. Thus happiness, opulence, prosperity, stability and wealth is maintained in the premise (vastu) by worshiping the 5 elements or Deities - A scholar through the medium of Ms. Anjali Gadgil (18/5/05, 10.40 am)*

Balipratipada

Ritualistic worship of King Bali is performed to avoid troubles from distressing energies.
Creation of distressing energy : It is said that distressing energy was created on the day of Bali-pratipada. On this day, the proportion of 'Yama' and 'Tiryak' frequencies is more in the Universe. When these frequencies come together, the distressing energies under the control of King Bali create even more distressing energies. On this day, ritualistic worship of King Bali is done where an offering (Naivedya) is made to him to satisfy his thirst and hunger. This keeps King Bali and the distressing energies under his control, happy for the whole year in Patal, and not cause any trouble to lives on Earth. With this, the jiva (soul) on earth is able to practice spirituality without obstacles. Hindu Dharma gives as much importance to this day of appeasing the distressing energies as any other important festival. Hence, it will be clear how impartial and tolerant the Hindu Dharma is, as it thinks of unrighteous along with righteous - A scholar (18/05/05, 10.55 am)*

Bhaubij (a.k.a Bhaiya Dooj, Yama Dwitiya) 

Bhaubij (Yamadvitiya)

A day to control frequencies generated by the distressing energies from hell.
Significance: On this day, Yamadev (deity of Death) has full control over hell and is in charge of the region of Death (Mrityulok). He also prevents negative energies from moving in various planes (lokas) and keeps a check on them. On this day, waves emanating from Yamadev travel through the various layers of hell and keep matters in place. This keeps the effect of negative energies that come from hell to a minimum on this day. Hence, on this day, ritualistic worship of Yamadev is done to express gratitude. He is welcomed in the evening by lighting earthen lamps. Prayers are made for a long life.