Each year with great flourish, enthusiasm and gaiety the ancient festival of Diwali has been celebrated in India. Traditionally it is believed to be a Hindu festival symbolizing wealth and prosperity and it is amazing to see the various ways in which this festival is celebrated in various parts of India.
North India: According to Ramayana Diwali was celebrated first on the day when Lord Rama returned to Ayodhaya after his fourteen year exile, having killed Ravana and rescued Sita. As he was to arrive in his kingdom on the moonless night of the Kartik amavasya, his people lit earthen lamps or diyas to light his way home.The tradition lives on eons since.
Eastern India: In east India, especially in Orissa, a primitive custom of this festival is burning of jute stems to light up the dark path which the spirits of the ancestors supposedly take to go to heaven. In west Bengal they celebrate Lakshmi Puja before Diwali and the diety that is worshipped on the occasion of Diwali is Kali. It is believed to be the night of Pitri Purush ( ancestors ) and lamps are lit atop long poles to venerate them.
Western India: In western India Diwali is a four day long festival and the preparations start atleast 15 days before. On the preceeding night Gujratis start the celebration by adorning their thresholds with rangoli – designs depicting dieties, the sun, flowers, and other natural motifs, made with coloured powder. Small footsteps are drawn from the door inwards to mark Goddess Lakshmi’s path into their homes.
Southern India: In the South, Diwali festival often commemorates the conquering of the Asura Naraka, a powerful king who imprisoned tens of thousands of innocents. It was Krishna who finally subdued Naraka and freed the prisoners. Diwali l in the south is celebrated in the Tamil month of aipasi (thula month) ‘naraka chaturdasi’ thithi, preceding amavasai. The preparations begin the day before, when the oven is cleaned, smeared with lime, and then filled with water for the next day’s oil bath.
