Folk Arts - Celbrating Diwali: Festival of Light calls for Prosperity

by Kay Norton

 

Diwali, the "Festival of Lights," occurs during the autumn harvest season in October and November, and it is celebrated across the Indian subcontinent.  It is alternately know as Dipavali, literally "a row of lamps." There are numerous legends and local customs associated with this festival, but common to all is the lighting of homes, pathways, temples, and even government buildings, with hundreds of small clay lamps of candles.  Firecrackers, thought to frighten away evil spirits are also used with abandon, which makes this a particular popular festival for children.  Ancestors are believed to visit on this night and the lights, torches, and lanterns help guide them to their homes.

 

Although Diwali cannot be said to celebrate any one particular god or goddess, it is on this night of the new moon that Laxmi, goddess of wealth, visits the homes lit by her devotees and bestows her boon of prosperity for the coming year.  Merchants are particularly interested in attracting the good graces of the goddess, and many begin their fiscal year at this time.  Likewise, gambling is a common pastime during this festival, for it is believed that the winner will have financial success during the year.  For some families a pecial box is kept inside the home, and on this day a silver or gold coin will be added in Laximi’s honor.  One should not look inside the box nor use the accumulated coins during the year.  It is hoped that Laximi will find her way to the box, and with her blessing the contents will multiply.  Diwali takes place at the darkest time of the month, and it is thought by many to symbolize the triumph of light over darkness, good over evil.  Most of the legends that festival embraces honor the victor of just such a battle. 

 

In the North, Diwali is commonly celebrated as the day that Rama returned to his throne after fourteen years of exile.  He defeated the evil Ravana in a legendary battle, and is welcomed back with lights to his ancient kingdom of Ayodhya.  Diwali is often preceded by enactments of this famous battle during the Dasahera festival, or by a ritual chanting of the tale.

 

In the South, Diwali often commemorates the conquering of the demon Asura Naraka, a powerful king of Assam, who imprisoned tens of thousands of inhabitants.  It was Krishna who finally subdued Naraka and freed the prisoners.

Another commonly celebrated myth in South India is that of Vishnu in his Vamana dwarf reincarnation, rescuing the worlds of gods and men from the powerful Bali.  Bali had been a faithful worshipper of the goddess Laximi, and had gained so much power as a result that he had begun to take control of the world of the gods.  Laximi and other gods became alarmed and requested Vishnu to intercede, which he did in the form of Vamana, a begging dwarf.  Vamana approached Bali and requested the space equal to three of Bali’s own footsteps, and Bali agreed.  Vishnu then grew to enormous size and in two strides covered the heaven and earth.  He asked where he should make his third step, and Bali said, “on my back.”  With that, Vishnu’s third step pushed Bali into the underworld, and the worlds of men and gods were saved.

 

There are many preparations that must be made for Diwali.  Homes are cleaned and whitewashed after the summer monsoon rains, and made ready for the approaching winter months.  This must be done by Diwali, as it is know that Laximi will pass over a house that is dirty.  Rice flour floor paintings are commonly found decorating the homes during Diwali.  Sometimes the paintings are drawn just outside the doorway and continue with a trail leading Laximi into the home.  Auspicious banana leaves may be placed at entrances.  A variety of house decorations are sold in impromptu markets set up in the streets and bazaars catering to the special demands of the season.  In addition to stands selling sweets, special breads, seasonal fruits and nuts, one can find tinsel decorations of all kinds, strings of small electric lights, statues and pictures of Laximi or other favored gods and goddesses of the season, and stencils for making floor paintings or mandalas.

 

Celebrations in the home vary from region to region, and from family to family.  For some the day is celebrated with religious fasts, oil baths and other rituals, while for others it is primarily a social occasion with visiting relatives and friends, exchange of sweets and food items, and a time of giving and receiving new clothes or utensils for the year.

 

Diwali sometimes refers to the specific day that is the focus of the festival, and sometimes to the longer period of three to five days that surround it.  A variety of occasions, some related to and some independent of Diwali are celebrated during this period.  Two days before the new moon Dhan Teras may be celebrated in honor of Dhanvantri, the mythical physician of the gods and compiler of the ancient Ayurvedic texts for treatment of disease.  The day directly preceding the new moon is sometimes called Chhoti Diwali, “small Diwali,” and a few small lamps may be set out in strategic places in the home.  The day after the new moon is celebrated by many as Govardhan Puja, in commemoration of Krishna’s raising the sacred Mount Govardhan on his finger to shield the inhabitants from India’s torrential rains.

 

The second day following the new moon is commonly called “brothers day.”  On this day sisters give their brothers a blessing with a special tilaka mark on the forehead, and wish them long life.  The brother offers a new sari and food items for the sister in return.  In many areas Yama, the god of death, is honored during Diwali and a variety of rituals are performed to ensure a long life.  Other customs observed within this period include the worship of Sarasvati, goddess of learning and the arts, when small children will be given their first lesson in reading and writing; and celebrations in honor of the recent harvest.

 

Whether Diwali is celebrated as a region’s largest festival or one of less prominence, the festival of Diwali with it’s display of lights an fireworks, is one of the most widely celebrated festivals on the Indian subcontinent.

 

^ - next article: Diwali in Seattle: The Joyous Traditions Continue by Joan Rabinowitz