In part 1 of this post I spoke of the eclectic mix of celebrations during the festival of Eid and Dussehra in India. And just as you start thinking that fun time is over, immediately 20 days after Dussehra comes another grand celebration time called Diwali.
Diwali for Indians is not just a festival. It is the singular event of the year that the whole country waits to celebrate. It is time to clean homes, get busy preparing for the array of sweets and savories that are made only this time of the year. It is time to renew old ties and burst a thousand crackers. For companies big and small, it is time to thank the lord for all his blessing and especially worship the Goddess of wealth Lakshmi. It is also the time when in spite of a moonless dark night, India shines like a glowing star because of the innumerable lights of earthen lamps lit in every home.
Diwali Diyas. Courtesy SundeepGoel from Flickr
The actual festival of Diwali is spread into five days with each day reserved for a special purpose.
Dhanteras (15th October this year) – The literal meaning of the word dhanteras is dhan – wealth and teras- thirteenth. Falling on the thirteenth day of the receding lunar cycle, this is when Goddess Lakshmi is shown gratitude for all the prosperity and well being. People consider it auspicious to buy Gold/Silver jewelery or atleast some utensils on the occasion. It is the beginning of the five day celebration and thus homes and offices are decked up with colored lights and earthen lamps called diyas. There are also special motifs created outside homes that are called rangolis and add a dash of color to the bright homes. In villages cattle are adorned and worshiped by farmers as they form the main source of their income.
Rangoli. Courtesy PreethiRajaganesh from Flickr
Roopchaudas (16th October this year) – Roop means beauty and chaudas means fourteenth in Hindi language. This day is also known as chhoti (small) Diwali as it is celebrated as a precinct to the big day. Legend has it that on this day, Lord Krishna and his wife Satyabhama defeated the evil demon Narakasura. When Krishna came back after the battle he was still immersed in the demon king’s blood and therefore was massaged with oil before taking a shower.
Keeping with the traditions, this is the day when women take time out of their busy festival preparations and go for oil baths before sunrise. The tip to toe beautification regime follows with bejeweled tresses, henna decked hands, bangles, earrings, necklace, tinkling anklets all in place. In between the thousand chores that have to be handled during this taxing time, it is indeed one of the festival traditions that no woman fails to comply with!
Diwali (17th October this year) – While children are already busy bursting crackers, adults prepare for the Lakshmi Puja ceremony at home and offices on the morning of Diwali which is also known as Deepawali. It is believed that on this day Goddess Lakshmi walks through the green fields and through the bye-lanes and showers her blessings of prosperity on everyone. Be it shops, small offices, or giant corporates, you will find tinkling bells, sounds of hymns, burning incense sticks and people with closed eyes and hands folded in a namskar, praying to the Goddess with much devotion almost anywhere and everywhere.
But it is the night of Diwali that is really a must watch. The festival euphoria reaches its pinnacle, when just after the Puja; people come out of their homes to join in the community fun of bursting crackers. Some have the loudest noise, some glow like a star, others just dazzle the sky with their multicolored sparks spreading everywhere.
Fireworks. Courtesy HelenJr from Flickr
The burning candles, diyas and colored bulbs do their job of brightening homes. It is time to meet friends, forget foes, and invite everyone at home to enjoy the most delectable array of festival food. The festival spirit prevails the next day too when people make sure to visit homes of friends and relatives and wish them a prosperous year ahead. Indeed, Hindus believe, it is the beginning of the year just after Diwali.
Kali Puja (17th October this year) – Just like North India celebrates Diwali, on the same day, people of Bengal celebrate Kali Puja. You may have seen the face of Goddess Kali quite often used to depict the Hindu religion and Indians. But what many do not know is that there is a reason behind her astonishing look and posture.
Goddess Kali. Courtesy Ash_Patel from Flickr
Legend has it that once the demons named Shumbh and Nishumbh posed as threat to the Gods and so they sought protection from Durga, the Goddess of Shakti or Power. She reincarnated herself as Goddess Kali the ferocious form of Durga to save heaven and earth from the growing cruelty of the demons. After slaughtering the demons, Kali made a garland of their heads and wore it around her neck. In the bloodbath, she lost control and started killing anyone who came her way. To stop the chaos, Lord Shiva threw himself under her feet. Shocked at this sight, Kali stuck out her tongue in astonishment, and put an end to her killing spree. The well-known picture of Goddess Kali shown with her tongue hanging out actually depicts the moment when she steps on Lord Shiva and repents. That momentous day is celebrated ever since as Kali Puja an all night long ceremony.
Bhai Duj (19th October this year) – This is a day reserved especially for the bond between a brother and a sister. In the Hindu religion, the forehead dot called the tika is of special significance and it is this tika that sisters apply on brothers’ forehead on the auspicious occasion of Bhai duj. It is believed that on this day, Yamraj the God of death visited his sister Yamuna and she marked his forehead with the dot of wellbeing and protection. The tradition thus continues, re-strengthening the bond between siblings.
Lights and colors, crackers and sweets, good wishes and cheer, it all happens during Diwali, the biggest community festival of India. Be a part of the celebration this year and you too will be mesmerised with the festival of lights.
