JOIN USAs the skies light up
As the rows of earthen ‘diyas’ and lanterns hang outside shops, varied rice flour decorations decorate front yards and fireworks light up the grey sky, one knows that the ‘Festival of Lights’ has begun.
Despite having different ways of welcoming this ‘light’ into lives, the underlying message is clear - ‘Deepavali’ is a day to herald a year of prosperity, knowledge and wealth for the various communities in the City.
Padmaraj, a Kannadiga, says that he celebrates Deepavali by performing a Lakshmi ‘puja’ in the morning and then going to the temple. “We have a traditional lunch in the afternoon where we are joined by friends and relatives. In the evening, we burst crackers with them.”
The festival is celebrated as ‘Chaturdashi tithi’ by Tamilians. Sheeba, a Tamilian says, “We have a custom where in both sides of the family get together during ‘Deepavali’. This year, the special treats are ‘gulab jamun’, different ‘muruku’ and coconut ‘barfis’. We also light up the house in the evening as we believe that Lakshmi enters the house at dusk. As I’m environmentally conscious, we burst minimal amount of crackers for the sake of tradition as my grandparents used to say that bursting crackers drives away evil..”
For the Jain community, ‘Deepavali’ signifies the time when their 24th ‘thirthankara’, Mahaveer, attained enlightenment. Nagaraj, from the Jain Association, elaborates on the ‘Nirvana Mahotsav’. “People head to the Jain temple and a special ‘puja’ called ‘panchambrutha abhishekha’ is performed. After the prayer, the ‘laddoo’ or the ‘prasad’ is distributed. For Jains, this calender marks the beginning of the ‘mahavirshakha’.”
Ajit Kumar Jain adds that ‘Deepavali’ signifies the duel between the two brothers, Bharat and Bahubali and Bahubali’s path towards meditation and renouncement of worldly pleasures. He adds, “Lakshmi ‘puja’ is celebrated by keeping books and money in front of the goddess. A new year account is opened for members of the family.”
The Bengali community observes the festival as ‘Naraka Chaturdashi’ for Kali ‘maa’, to celebrate her victory over the demon Narakasura. A member of the Sarjapur Outer Ring Road Bengali Association says that after a ‘puja’ to goddess Kali, the ‘prasad’ or ‘bhog’ is distributed and in the evening, the community celebrates the festival by bursting crackers.
Sharmistha, a singer, says that for her, ‘Deepavali’ is a time of home-coming to celebrate with family, friends and loved ones through gifts, sweets and bursting crackers. ‘Dhanteras’ is an important celebration by the Punjabi community, which is important to the mercantile group of North India.
They perform the ‘Dhan Lakshmi puja’, that signifies wealth and prosperity. Sanjay Bhasin talks about the popularity of ‘dhanteras’ and says that the market place is usually abuzz with activities, as people bustle to buy any item of value, be it in the form of gold and silver ornaments or utensils.
“It is an auspicious day and it’s considered that one’s wealth grows when such items are bought. This day signifies prosperity. Prior to the festival, the goddess is also welcomed by applying designs with rice flour and vermillion, ‘bhajans’ are sung for goddess Lakshmi and an ‘aarti’ is performed,” he says.
The Gujaratis and Assamese see the day as one of light and less of noise. The y light ‘diyas’ and float them in a pond after making a wish.