"Diwali or Deepawali, is one of the biggest festivals in Hindu culture celebrated in the month of October or November. It is also known as the festival of lights. On this day, Lord Rama returned to Ayodhya after completing 14 years of exile..." Looks familiar right? Yes, almost every Indian has written a similar essay on Diwali at least once in their childhood.
While what we learnt as children about Diwali is true, India's diversity and rich culture means that no festival or ritual is ever that straightforward. The Diwali season comes with a variety of celebrations and holds different meanings across different cultures, religions and regions of the country. So, today join us on a journey across India to explore diverse traditions that light up the Dev Diwali season, each with their unique significance and way of celebration.
Let's start our journey from the eastern part of India, where the Diwali season in Bengal comes with the celebrations of Kali Puja or Shyama Puja. Celebrated on the new moon day of Kartik month, devotees immerse themselves in the divine energy of goddess Kali, adorning streets, houses and all their surroundings with beautiful decorations, lights and diyas. This celebration dedicated to Maa Kali- the fierce avatar of Maa Durga, holds great significance in Bengal along with some other eastern states like Assam, as it is believed that worshiping Goddess Kali helps overcome demons and negative thoughts, vanishing all evil energies and bringing positivity to one's life.
Moving forward, let's have a look at another Eastern state, the state of Lord Jagannath- Odisha! Here, Diwali takes a heartfelt twist as the celebration is marked by honoring the ancestors. This unique tradition known as ‘Kauriya Kathi’ is performed by burning jute sticks to call upon the ancestors and asking for their blessings. This ritual helps families to connect with their roots and show respect to their ancestors.
Having explored the rich traditions of eastern states, why don't we turn our attention towards the northern states. While in most parts of northern India, Dev Diwali marks the homecoming of Lord Ram after 14 long years of exile. However, in some places the festival holds different meanings.
One such example is Punjab, the land of five rivers. Here, Dev Diwali coincides with the observance of “Bandi Chhor Diwas” or “Prisoners release day. On this day, Sikhs from not only Punjab but all over the world commemorate the brave act of Guru Hargobind Singh who successfully secured the release of 52 princes along with him from Jahangir's captivity in Gwalior. He walked back to Amritsar after gaining freedom on the day of Diwali. Since then, Diwali among Sikhs has been a celebration of Guru Hargobind Singh’s bravery, during which, gurdwaras are decorated and illuminated with lights and diyas accompanied by “langars” and holy chants.
While discussing unique Diwali traditions in North India, how can we move ahead without mentioning Dev Deepawali? The holy city of Varanasi is world famous for the festivities of Dev Deepawali, which falls on the full moon day of Kartik month, 15 days after Diwali. This celebration commemorates the triumph of Lord Shiva over the demon Tripurasura. On this day the Ganga Ghats of Varanasi are all decked up with diyas and pilgrims from all over the country gather to take a holy dip in the Ganga River. The evening features a grand ganga aarti were offerings of diyas are made to the holy river. This time is marked as the beautiful amalgamation of divine energies in the Dev Bhoomi Varanasi.
Moving westwards, we arrive at everyone's favourite vacation destination - Goa. Here, Narakasura Chaturdashi is celebrated with the burning of huge effigies of Narkasura, marking the triumph of Lord Krishna over the Demon. According to Hindu mythology, Narakasura, the son of Bhudevi (goddess earth), was granted a boon that he could only be killed by his mother. However, he misused his powers, terrorizing people, disturbing the gods and abducting girls. Troubled by his reign of terror, gods sought Lord Krishna’s help. Lord Krishna accompanied by his wife Satyabhama - an incarnation of Bhudevi, went to battle Narakasura and Satyabhama ultimately defeated him. This victory is now celebrated annually as Narakasura Chaturdashi which falls on Chhoti Diwali, one day before Diwali.
Lastly, let's have a look at one unique tradition from one of our southern states- Karnataka. Karnataka along with some other states is famous for celebrating the fourth day of Dev Diwali as Bali Padyami or Bali Pratipada. According to the legends, King Bali, known for his generosity, granted the request from Vaman (one of the avatars of Lord Vishnu) for three paces of land. Vaman then expanded in size, covering earth and heaven with his first two steps. For the third step, King Bali humbly offered his own head, and Vaman pushed him to the underworld (paatal lok). Honouring Bali's devotion, Lord Vishnu granted him a boon to return to earth on this day each year. This day is now celebrated each year to commemorate Bali's visit.
Wow, what a ride it was! Isn't it interesting how a single festival can reflect such a beautiful array of beliefs and customs across India? From honoring ancestors and gods to celebrating the triumph of good over evil, Diwali celebrations brings together stories and traditions that illuminate the rich diversity of our India. This Dev Diwali, may we celebrate not only the light that fills our homes but also the diverse traditions that make our country so vibrant and unique.
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