“Deepavali” as it is called in South India is a little sober compared to the North India. The stories behind the Deepavali in the south and Diwali in the north are different but the celebration is similar. In the south it is not about Rama returning to Ayodhya, but it is about “Narakasura Vadha”. Narakasura was killed by Krishna or according the legend of Telugu’s was killed “Satyabhama”.
In South, Deepavali is more a festival of lights than Crackers but since last few years the percentage of people bursting crackers has increased drastically. Bursting crackers has in a way become synonymous with Deepavali in recent times. None of the legends from south India are associated with bursting crackers but lighting diya’s.
The word “Deepavali” is a Sanskrit word meaning “the array of lights”. The festival is celebrated are slightly different from the customs followed in North India. Diwali falls on the fifteenth day of the dark fortnight of Ashwin, the seventh month according to the Hindu calendar. Day before the festival women indulges in cleaning and decorating the house, Sweets are prepared for the sharing.
In south India, Diwali is a four-day festival celebrated in commemoration of the victory of lord Krishna over the demon Naraka. There are many rituals associated with Deepavali across various states.
Legends of Deepavali
In the era of Lord Krishna, there was a cruel and powerful king named ‘Narakasura’, who captivated thousands on inhabitants. Lord Krishna defeated and killed him and smudged his blood on his forehead on returning home the next morning, before sunrise. Narakasura’s mother declared that the death of her son is a conquest of good over evil and that it should not be day of regret, rather a day to rejoice. Therefore, when Lord Krishna returned he applied scented oil all over his body before taking bath. Since then, on the occasion of Diwali, the people of south India wake up before sunrise and take an early bath.
Another legend is of King Bali, who was extremely powerful and ambitious while at the same time, equally benevolent. Even the Gods started fearing him and requested lord Vishnu to stop him from possible attack on heaven.
Lord Vishnu incarnated as a dwarf Brahmin called Vamana, paid a visit to King Bali and asked for three feet of land, which he could cover with three steps. Bali agreed to it, thinking it was a minor request, but little did he know about the consequences. Once Bali granted him the wish, Vamana grew up and became a gigantic figure that he covered the earth in his first step, heaven and netherworld in second step and there was nothing left for his third step.
On asking for his third step of land, Bali bowed down to offer his head as the third place to keep his promise. Lord Vishnu stepped on his head and pushed him to “Patal Lok”. But Lord Vishnu was impressed by his generosity and his adherence to his words, so he granted him the blessing of reappearing on earth to spread knowledge and also that he will be remembered for his kindness.
Rituals
The eldest of the family members applies sesame oil on the heads of all the other members of the family. The bath begins with the youngest one in the family, with the breaking of bitter fruits before bath and the application of kumkum paste. The fruit signifies the head of Narakasura and the kumkum paste the blood. People decorate their houses with rangoli, beetle leaves, flowers, essence sticks. And also indulge in the preparation of traditional sweets typical to the regions of south India.
The evenings are characterized by the lighting of candles to welcome Goddess Lakshmi, which is followed in north India as well. Before bursting fireworks, they offer a special puja to their ancestors as they believe that their souls depart on Diwali. The rest of the evening is drowned in the noise of crackers and merry making.
Must Read : Pledge for Safer and Healthier world for All Children : Bharat Yatra reaches Parmarth Niketan, Rishikesh
Must Read : Air Pollution due to fireworks During Diwali : Swami Dipankar
