The Magical Myths and Lost Legends of Diwali

DID YOU KNOW? • Dhanteras started with a clever princess defeating a snake with a mound of glittering gold and silver. • The evil King Narakasura kidnapped 16,000 princesses from all over the world and Krishna rescued every single one of them! • Once when Hanuman was young, he was so hungry he almost swallowed the sun! From the glorious return of Rama to Ayodhya, to the mighty battle of the Mahabharata, and a smattering of adventure stories from ancient myths and legends, Diwali is a key that unlocks significant chapters of Hindu mythology for the uninitiated. But it is so much more than that! In this book, Priyankee Saikia explores the unique regional twists to the festival and the history behind them and how it is significant not just for Hindus in India, but for followers of other religions and citizens of other countries. Discover the fascinating rituals and the not-so-pleasant aspects of the biggest festival of India, and learn about the curious legends behind all of them.