6 minute read
Diwali & its Many Legends
Diwali is the most celebrated festival of India. However, the multi-culture of the country has affixed many legends to the origin of the festival, which are as varied as the manner of its celebrations, but common to all of them is the theme of the triumph of good over evil.
Diwali and Its Many Legends!
By Shweta Kulkarni
The luminous yellow-orange flame exuding from the array of oil-lamps adds a warm glow to everything around and sets the quintessential mood for Diwali, symbolizing the spirit of good over evil and victory of light over darkness.
However, while every Hindu proudly lights the lamps that signify the festival, owing to the cultural diversity of India, the legend behind them and its significance differ from state to state and so does the festive celebrations. Thus, from Kashmir to Kanyakumari, Diwali is celebrated in more than one way, with every community adding its own distinctive local touch to it but retaining the essence of the festival of lights.
Like in North India, Diwali commemorates the homecoming of Lord Rama to Ayodhya after 14 years of exile and his victory over the demon king Ravana. The festivities that run over for five days begin with Dhanteras. The divine energies of Goddess Lakshmi – the creator of wealth, Lord Kuber – the distributor of wealth, and Lord Ganesha – the remover of obstacles, are worshiped on this day. The day is also considered auspicious to buy utensils, gold and silver.
Choti Diwali, the second day, takes the celebrations forward, where a small Rama puja is performed followed by singing bhajans and songs in his honour.
However, the face of Choti Diwali changes as you move down South, where it is celebrated as Naraka Chaturdashi. It is a day of great significance, which again highlights the conquest of good over evil but with a different fable.
A demon named Narakasura was beheaded by Krishna on this day and before dying the asura requested a boon that his death anniversary should be celebrated by all people on earth, and so Naraka Chaturdashi was born. South Indians usually celebrate the day by waking up early, lighting diyas and bathing with scented oils. The cleansing ritual signifies getting rid of laziness and the evil from our system.
rashtra, where people use uthane (an ayurvedic paste) to bathe. In Goa, papermade effigies of Narakasura, are burnt at four o’clock in the morning and people return home to take a scented oil-bath.
A slightly different version of the aforementioned legend, where instead of Lord Krishna, his wife Satyabhama killed the demon, is known as Kali Choudas in Gujarat, Rajasthan and few parts of Maharashtra.
There is also a social significance in the festival of Choudas as it marks the time of the harvest. South Indians and Maharashtrians often cook mouth-watering delicacies prepared from pounded semi-cooked rice, which is taken from the fresh harvest of the season.
Talking of Maharashtra, the Diwali celebration in this state actually begins with Vasubaras – a ritual of performing aarti to a cow and its calf. The tradition symbolizes a woman’s gratitude towards cows for serving them and their children.
The third day of Diwali – Lakshmi puja, is celebrated with grandeur across various regions of India. Generally, the traders do not make any payments on this day to preserve Lakshmi at home. In every household, cash, jewellery, and an idol of Lakshmi are worshiped.
But, Bengalis, Oriyas, and Assamese celebrate this day as Kali puja. People light lamps in Kali Maa’s honour and in return, she promises a renewal of life and justice on earth.
The festivities of Diwali continue with Padva or Bali Pratipada in Maharashtra and as Bali Padyami in the South. Bali Padyami commemorates the victory of God Vishnu in his dwarf incarnation Vamana, defeating Bali and pushing him
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to the nether world. But Bali was bestowed a boon by Vishnu to return to earth for one day to be honoured. Thus, Hindus celebrate this day in Bali’s honour.
The farming community in Tamil Nadu celebrates this day by performing Kedar gauri vratam (worship of goddess Kedar-Gauri – a form of Parvati), and Go puja (worship of cow).
The day is celebrated as Govardhan puja in the North, it is believed that Lord Krishna lifted the Govardhana hill to save people and cattle from rain and floods on this day.
Bhai Dooj marks the end of the five-day long festival, where sisters pray for their brothers’ happy life. Supposedly, after slaying Narakasura, Krishna visited his sister Subhadra who gave him a warm welcome with sweets and flowers. She also affectionately applied tilak on Krishna’s forehead. South Indians celebrate the day as Yamadvitiya, after a legendary meeting between Yama the god of death and his sister Yamuna.
Interestingly, while the above festivities sum up Diwali for Hindus, the Jain community celebrates the festival of lights to mark the attainment of moksha by Mahavira. Whereas, Sikhs celebrate Bandi Chhor Divas during Diwali – a day when Guru Har Gobind freed himself and Hindu Kings from Fort Gwalior, from the prison of the Mughal emperor, Jahangir, and arrived at the Golden Temple in Amritsar.
Well, whether it’s the South Indians, North Indians, Maharashtrians, Bengalis or Sikhs, what matters is that each one celebrates the festival of light in it’s true essence i.e. victory of good over evil and spreading the light of hope.
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