Fasting & Cleanse Before Diwali: The Spiritual Importance of Purity

The Sacred Tradition of Purification

As the festival of lights approaches, millions of devotees across the world engage in an ancient practice that transcends mere physical cleaning—the sacred ritual of purification before Diwali. This tradition of cleansing both home and body is deeply rooted in Hindu philosophy and carries profound spiritual significance that has been passed down through generations.

The Divine Story Behind Pre-Diwali Cleansing

The Legend of Lakshmi’s Visit

According to ancient Hindu scriptures, there exists a beautiful story that explains why cleanliness and purity are so essential before Diwali.

Once, Goddess Lakshmi, the deity of wealth, prosperity, and abundance, descended to Earth to bless her devotees. As she wandered through villages and towns, she noticed two houses standing side by side. One home was immaculately clean, with oil lamps glowing at the entrance, fresh rangoli adorning the doorstep, and an atmosphere of purity pervading every corner. The other house, though structurally sound, was neglected—dust had settled in corners, cobwebs hung from ceilings, and disorder reigned within.

When Lakshmi approached the clean home, she felt immediately welcomed. The residents had not only cleaned their dwelling but had also purified their hearts through fasting and prayer. They had removed negative thoughts just as they had removed physical dirt. The goddess entered this home with joy, bestowing her blessings of prosperity and happiness upon the family.

At the second house, however, Lakshmi paused at the threshold. Despite the family’s material wealth, the lack of cleanliness and spiritual preparation created a barrier. The goddess could not enter where impurity—both physical and spiritual—resided. That night, while the clean home celebrated with abundance, the neglected house remained in darkness, its residents wondering why prosperity eluded them.

This story has been told by elders for centuries, reminding devotees that Goddess Lakshmi visits every home on Diwali night, but she only stays where she finds purity, cleanliness, and devotion.

The Tale of King Bali’s Purification

Another significant story comes from the Vamana avatar of Lord Vishnu. When the benevolent demon king Bali was about to perform a great yajna (sacrifice), he undertook rigorous purification rituals. He fasted for days, cleansed his body through sacred baths, and purified his palace until it shone like the sun.

When Lord Vishnu arrived disguised as the dwarf Vamana, Bali’s purity of heart and cleanliness of surroundings reflected his spiritual readiness. Despite losing his kingdom, Bali’s purification had prepared him to receive the ultimate blessing—eternal devotion and a special place in the cosmic order.

This story teaches that physical cleansing is merely the outer expression of inner purification, preparing us to receive divine grace with humility and devotion.

The Spiritual Philosophy of Cleansing

Bahya Shuddhi and Antara Shuddhi

Hindu philosophy recognizes two types of purity essential for spiritual growth:

Bahya Shuddhi (External Purity): This involves cleansing the physical body and surroundings. The act of cleaning one’s home before Diwali is considered a form of seva (service) to the divine. When we clean our homes, we create a sacred space worthy of welcoming the gods.

Antara Shuddhi (Internal Purity): This refers to purifying the mind, heart, and soul. Fasting, meditation, and prayer before Diwali help remove mental impurities—negative thoughts, jealousy, anger, and ego—creating space for divine light to enter.

The ancient texts state: “Sharira madi mana madi” (A clean body houses a clean mind). The two forms of purity are interconnected; one supports and enhances the other.

The Sacred Practice of Fasting Before Diwali

Why Fast Before the Festival?

Fasting before Diwali is not merely abstaining from food—it is a spiritual discipline that serves multiple purposes:

Physical Detoxification: Fasting allows the body to cleanse itself of accumulated toxins, creating lightness and vitality. This physical renewal prepares devotees to receive the festival’s blessings with renewed energy.

Mental Clarity: When the body is not occupied with digestion, the mind becomes clearer and more focused on spiritual practices. This mental clarity enhances meditation and prayer.

Spiritual Elevation: Fasting demonstrates self-control and devotion. It is an offering to the divine, showing that we can transcend physical needs in pursuit of spiritual goals.

Karmic Purification: According to Hindu belief, fasting helps burn past karmas and purifies the subtle body, removing obstacles to spiritual progress.

Traditional Fasting Methods

Different communities observe various fasting traditions before Diwali:

Navratri Fasts: Many devotees observe fasts during the nine days of Navratri leading up to Dussehra, continuing their purification through to Diwali.

Ekadashi Vrat: Fasting on the Ekadashi (eleventh lunar day) before Diwali is considered highly auspicious.

Dhanteras Fast: Some devotees fast on Dhanteras, the first day of the Diwali festival, breaking their fast only after evening prayers.

Satvik Diet: For those who don’t observe complete fasts, consuming only satvik (pure) foods—fruits, milk, nuts, and specific grains—helps maintain purity.

The Sacred Ritual of Home Cleansing

The Symbolism of Cleaning

Every aspect of pre-Diwali cleaning carries spiritual meaning:

Sweeping and Dusting: Removing physical dirt symbolizes sweeping away ignorance and negativity from our lives. Each stroke of the broom is a prayer for clarity and wisdom.

Washing and Scrubbing: Water is considered sacred in Hinduism. Cleaning with water represents washing away sins and past mistakes, offering a fresh start.

Decluttering: Removing unnecessary items from the home teaches the spiritual lesson of detachment. We learn to let go of what no longer serves us, both materially and emotionally.

Whitewashing and Painting: Refreshing walls represents renewal and transformation. Just as fresh paint covers old stains, spiritual practice covers our past imperfections.

Decorating with Rangoli: Creating beautiful patterns at the entrance invites positive energy and divine blessings. The rangoli acts as a sacred welcome mat for Lakshmi.

The Story of the Spider’s Web

There is a folk tale about a devotee who meticulously cleaned her entire house before Diwali, but overlooked a small spider’s web in a corner. On Diwali night, Goddess Lakshmi entered the home but kept glancing at that corner.

When the devotee asked why, the goddess replied, “True cleanliness is in the details. The spider’s web you ignored shows incomplete devotion. When you clean, clean with full awareness, for I see not just what is visible, but the intention behind every action.”

From that day, the devotee understood that cleanliness before Diwali must be thorough and mindful, reflecting complete dedication.

The Connection Between Darkness and Impurity

Diwali celebrates the victory of light over darkness, good over evil. But what is this darkness we speak of?

In spiritual terms, darkness represents:

Ignorance (Avidya)
Negative tendencies (Vikara)
Ego (Ahamkara)
Mental impurities (Mala)

The darkness in our homes—dust, dirt, clutter—mirrors the darkness in our minds. By lighting lamps and cleaning our spaces, we perform an outer ritual that reflects an inner transformation. The light of the diya (lamp) cannot shine brightly in a dusty, dirty environment, just as spiritual wisdom cannot flourish in an impure mind.

Sacred Bathing Rituals

Abhyanga Snan (Oil Bath)

Before Diwali, many families observe the tradition of Abhyanga Snan, a ceremonial oil bath that is more than mere hygiene:

Spiritual Significance: Oil is massaged into the body to remove dead skin and accumulated negativity. This ritual bath is believed to cleanse the subtle energy channels (nadis) in the body.

The Story of Narakasura’s Defeat: This tradition commemorates Lord Krishna’s victory over the demon Narakasura. After the battle, Krishna took a sacred oil bath to purify himself. Devotees replicate this ritual, symbolically washing away their own inner demons—anger, greed, and fear.

Timing: The oil bath is traditionally taken before sunrise on Naraka Chaturdashi, the day before Diwali. It is said that bathing at this auspicious time is equivalent to bathing in the holy Ganges.

The Five Elements Purification

The sacred bath incorporates all five elements (Pancha Mahabhutas):

Earth (Prithvi): Gram flour or natural scrubs
Water (Jal): The bath itself
Fire (Agni): Warm water representing purifying fire
Air (Vayu): Drying in fresh air
Ether (Akash): Open space and mindfulness

This holistic purification aligns the individual with cosmic forces, preparing them for divine blessings.

The Science Behind the Tradition

Modern understanding validates these ancient practices:

Immune System Boost: Intermittent fasting has been shown to enhance immune function, helping the body fight diseases.

Mental Health: Cleaning and organizing spaces reduces stress and anxiety, promoting mental wellbeing.

Circadian Rhythm: The Diwali period marks seasonal transition. Cleansing and fasting help the body adjust to changing weather patterns.

Energy Flow: Feng shui and Vastu Shastra both recognize that clean, organized spaces allow positive energy to flow freely.

Yet the spiritual dimension transcends scientific explanation. These practices work on subtle levels that science is only beginning to understand.

Practical Guidelines for Pre-Diwali Purification

Creating a Purification Schedule

Two Weeks Before:

Begin decluttering room by room
Donate unused items to those in need (an act of charity itself)
Start reducing heavy, tamasik foods from diet

One Week Before:

Deep clean all rooms
Repair broken items (symbolizing healing what is damaged)
Begin satvik diet or partial fasting

Three Days Before:

Complete all major cleaning
Prepare for complete fast if observing
Focus on meditation and prayer

Day Before Diwali:

Sacred oil bath before sunrise
Light fasting or complete fast
Final touches: rangoli, diyas, flowers
Evening prayers and meditation

The Inner Purification: Preparing the Mind

While cleaning homes and bodies, we must not forget the most important temple—our consciousness.

Mantra for Purification

Chanting specific mantras enhances the purification process:

Pavamana Mantra: “Om Asato Ma Sad Gamaya, Tamaso Ma Jyotir Gamaya, Mrityor Ma Amritam Gamaya”

(Lead me from untruth to truth, from darkness to light, from death to immortality)

Mental Cleaning Practice

Forgiveness: Before Diwali, seek forgiveness from those you’ve wronged and forgive those who’ve hurt you.
Gratitude: Make a list of blessings, cultivating thankfulness.
Letting Go: Release grudges, resentments, and negative memories.
Positive Affirmations: Replace negative self-talk with empowering thoughts.

The Universal Message

The tradition of cleansing before Diwali teaches us that:

Preparation Creates Receptivity: Just as a clean vessel can hold pure water, a pure heart can receive divine grace.

External Reflects Internal: Our outer environment mirrors our inner state. Transforming one helps transform the other.

Renewal is Possible: No matter how dirty or cluttered our lives become, we can always choose to clean, purify, and begin again.

Sacredness in the Mundane: Even simple acts like sweeping floors become sacred when performed with awareness and devotion.

Conclusion: The Light Within

As we clean our homes and fast before Diwali, we participate in an ancient spiritual practice that connects us with countless generations before us. Each action—sweeping, scrubbing, fasting, praying—becomes a meditation, a prayer, and an offering.

When Goddess Lakshmi visits on Diwali night, she doesn’t just see clean floors and lit lamps. She sees the devotion behind every act of cleaning, the discipline behind every hour of fasting, and the purity of intention that transforms ordinary actions into sacred rituals.

The true festival of lights begins not with the diyas we light outside, but with the flame of purity we kindle within. As the ancient saying goes: “Bahir jo dikhe, andar woh hona chahiye” (What appears outside should exist within).

This Diwali, as you clean your home and purify your body, remember that you are preparing not just a physical space, but a sacred temple for the divine to dwell. May your preparations be thorough, your intentions pure, and your hearts open to receive the infinite blessings of light, prosperity, and wisdom.

Shubh Deepavali!

May the light of Diwali illuminate your life with peace, prosperity, and purity. May Goddess Lakshmi bless your home with abundance, and may Lord Ganesha remove all obstacles from your path.