Diwali is now a global festival celebrating happiness and harmony. As the dark night is illuminated with the glowing lamps, the hearts overflow with warmth and the world appears a bit brighter. Definitely, it's time for celebration.
By Dr Kirti Shekhawat
Celebrations are quotidian and integral occurrences, wherein people of various stratas collect to commemorate and promote religious, artistic, cultural, and social activities. ‘Festival’ originated from the Church Latin word ‘festivalis’ meaning ‘of a feast’ and a Latin via old French word ‘fesṭivus’ meaning ‘festive’. The word ‘festival’ was first recorded as “Festifall” in the year 1589.
The celebratory structure of all festivals is surprisingly analogous; bridging gaps and man-made boundaries between communities to foster closeness, unity, and brotherhood; creating bonds, following traditions, and enjoying their cultural heritage, ushering in a period of joy, celebration, and togetherness by bequeathing love, creating positive vibes, strengthening familial bonds as all humans are social beings, a repetitive reminder of what is mandatory in life.
Diwali, the festival of light, love, and laughter transcends borders. The night sky illuminated by the multi-colored lights of the firecrackers, the glowing lanterns moving to mingle with the stars, authenticate fairy tales. Scents from the freshly cooked sweets tease the nasal senses, and every nook and corner of the lighted streets rebound with the music of traditional hymns and songs, encircling everyone in a girdle of joy, binding them in traditions. The thread of connection is ‘lighting of lamps.’
In Singapore’s ‘Little India’ Deepavali is celebrated with colorful lights twinkling all over the city along with traditions and rituals similar to those in India. The Silver Chariot Procession is organized to pay homage to the Hindu deities. The solemn and cheerful parade starts at a local temple escorted by poikkal kuthirai troupe, Tamil horse dance performers.
British Sikh MP Preet Kaur Gill celebrating Bandi Chhor Diwas in Smethwick, England. The Sikhs celebrate Diwali as Prisoner Release Day. (Photo courtesy: X@PreetKGillMP)
‘Loy Karthong’ and ‘Yi Peng’ are celebrated in Thailand, on a full moon night around Diwali.‘Loy’ means ‘to float’ and ‘Karthong’ means ‘a small eco-friendly basket made from banana leaves, filled with flowers, incense, sticks and candles, which are lit, instead of firecrackers. ‘Loy Karthong’ means ‘to float a basket.’ Prayers to River Goddess Pra Mae Khongkha are offered for providing abundant water resources and seeking forgiveness for polluting it. The release of the basket in the river symbolizes tossing out misfortunes, starting afresh without negativity; a cleansed mind, and a purified soul without past hatred or anger. The ‘Yi Peng’ Lantern Festival is celebrated with lantern processions, live music, street food, traditional dance performances, and fireworks.
In Kathmandu Valley, Nepal, Sikkim, and Gorkhaland, the Hindus celebrate Diwali as Tihar and the Buddhists as Swanti. Colorful decorations, oil-lit lamps, and rangoli are part of the celebrations. Dogs, cows, and crows are revered and worshiped on different days, teaching everyone to be kind. The Newar Buddhists commemorate this day as Ashok Vijayadashmi - the day Emperor Ashoka became a Buddhist, brought back the relics to Patliputra, and constructed 84000 sites to revive Buddhism.
The work of these chaityas, viharas, and stupas was completed on Kartik Amavasya, marked by Deep Dan and grain distribution to Bhikkhus. The followers fast, sing hymns, chant mantras, and participate in charity and philanthropy. Buddha’s last words, “Atta Deepo Bhav” meaning “Be your own light” is the keynote on Deep Dan Utsav celebrated by the Neo Dalit Buddhists.
In India, Diwali is celebrated for five days. Kartik Amavasya (new moon), twenty days after Dussehra, is the night of Diwali. The word originated from Sanskrit ‘Dipa’ meaning ‘light’ and ‘avali’ meaning ‘a row,’ together combining as ‘row of lights.’ The Ramayana celebrates the homecoming of Ram, Sita, and Lakshman after fourteen years of exile, after killing Ravana.
The Mahabharat celebrates the return of the Pandava Princes to their realm following twelve years of exile and a year of agyatvas. The birth of Goddess Lakshmi at the end of the churning of the sea is celebrated as the beginning of a new Hindu year and financial new year by businessmen. The five-day celebration begins with Dhanteras (worshiping Lord Kuber, the God of Wealth and Lord Dhanvantri, the God of Medicine) by purchasing new gold or silver ornaments or utensils, followed on the second day by Narak Chaturdashi (oiling body before bathing which symbolizes the removal of sins and impurities), Lakshmi, Saraswati and Ganesh Pooja (worshiping the Goddess of Wealth, Wisdom and the God of Prosperity) on the third day.
Govardhan Pooja or Annakoot (prayers and offerings to Lord Krishna as a mark of gratitude for protecting devotees from torrential rains) on the fourth day and Bhai Dooj or Yam Dwitiya (celebrating the bond between brother and sister, as Yama, the God of Death was reunited with his sister, Yamuna, the sacred river. Lord Chitragupt, the registrar of the details of birth, death, and souls is worshiped too on this date.) on the fifth day.
Jains celebrate Diwali to commemorate Tirthankar Mahavira’s attainment of moksha. Followers visit Jain temples, fast, sing hymns, chant mantras, participate in charity and philanthropy, and meditate. The day after Diwali is the Jain New Year.
The Sikhs celebrate the day as Bandi Chhor Diwas (Prisoner Release Day). The sixth Guru of Sikhism, Guru Hargobind was released from imprisonment by the Mughal Emperor Jahangir in 1619 on this day. It symbolizes the victory of the Sikh freedom struggle and honors the principle of justice and freedom. Sikhs visit Gurudwaras, pray and meditate, light diyas, burst firecrackers, travel to the Golden Temple, participate in nagar kirtans (celebratory processions), and provide sewa (service) in langars (community kitchen). The Agrarian society celebrates Diwali to mark the completion of the Kharif season.
The lanterns that light up the dark sky, the smoke from the firecrackers, lit lamps and lanterns destroy the mosquitoes and insects that are in abundance after the rainy season. The glowing lamps make the surroundings luminous, generating a cordial aura. The stars in the sky and the lit lamps on the earth seem to merge, diminishing boundaries, setting forward a beautiful example of living in harmony with nature, with patience.
Physical cleansing of the self, surroundings, and environment, internal cleansing by eliminating evil thoughts and intentions lead to the rebirth of the soul with inward illumination, dispelling darkness, moving from ignorance to triumph: good over evil, knowledge over ignorance, ushering in prosperity, wealth, health and wisdom, shedding light on who we truly are.
Children and family members participate collectively in the cleaning process, understanding the value of cleanliness, health, wellness, teamwork, and work delegation. The old, useless items are either given away or thrown out to declutter the house by which negative vibes are eliminated and space for positivity is created. The exchange of gifts, eating of sweets symbolize love, respect, and strong bonds leading to understanding the joy of giving and sharing to achieve triumph, unity, hope, and radiance.
Diwali is now a global festival celebrating happiness and harmony. As the dark night is illuminated with the glowing lamps, the hearts overflow with warmth and the world appears a bit brighter. Definitely, it's time for celebration, it’s Diwali !!
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(The writer has been a lifelong academician, educationist, trainer, administrator, and research guide before she became a short-story writer post-superannuation as principal of a college.)
