"Each one prays to God according to his own light" ~ Mahatma Gandhi

Diwali or Deepaavali means an Array of Lamps (Deep = Lamp, Vali =Array) Lamp, Vali =Array). This is one of the major festivals in the Hindu calendar. It occurs in October/November, and is spread over several days. Dhanteras (Dhanatrayodashi) is the first day or rather the eve of the day on which the festival begins. Narakchaturdashi which is also known as Kalichoudas or Bali Pratipada is the second day. Laxmi Pujan and New year (Padava) normally occur (depending on the Hindu calendar) simultaneously on the third day followed by Gowardhan Puja, and Bhaiya-duj is on the last day. In 2016, Dhanteras is 28th October, Narakchaturdashi on 29th, Diwali and Lakshmi Puja on 30th, Gowardhan Puja on 31st and Bhaiya Duj on 1st November. In 2016, the corresponding dates are 17th October to 21st October with Diwali on 19th October 2017.

Deepavali - A Harvest Festival?
Worship of the Goddess of Wealth (Laxmi), observance of the New Year and performance of Aarti (a ritual that combines worship and adoration) are a part of the festival On the second day of Deepavaali (Kali Choudas) a ritual that is strongly suggestive of the origin of Deepavaali as an harvest festival is performed. On this day delicacies are prepared from pounded semi-cooked rice (called Poha or Pova). This rice is taken from the fresh harvest available at that time. This custom is prevalent both in rural and urban areas especially in Western India. In rural areas, Diwali signifies only this aspect. As it is Diwali which is celebrated sometime in October/November co-incides with the end of a harvesting season, known as the Kharif season when the fresh crop of rice is available.

Laxmi Pujan - A Veneration of the Prosperity at the end of an Harvest?
The harvest was an important occasion for rejoicing in all agrarian societies. Diwali which occurs at the end of a cropping season has along with the above custom, a few others that reinforce the hypothesis of its having originated as a harvest. Every harvest normally spelt prosperity. Veneration of this prosperity must have been at the origin of the worship of the Goddess of wealth (Laxmi).

For Farmers, a Festival marking the end of one Harvest and the beginning of another, was a festival heralding the beginning of a New Year. The association of the New Year (termed) Padava or Padavo, with Diwali also substantiates the harvest festival theory. The end of one harvest and beginning of another meant the end of one cycle of activity and the beginning of another, as all activities in an agrarian economy must have been linked-up largely with agriculture. Hence it was quite natural to look upon a festival that was observed at the end of one harvest season and the beginning of a new one, as a festival heralding the beginning of a new year. Gudi Padava which is also looked upon as a new year in some parts of India (Maharashtra, Karnataka, Andhra) also occurs at the end of another croppping season (the Rabi season) and co-incides with a harvest. This festival comes around March. And finally both the occasions on which the new year is observed are called Padava.

The word Padava is etymologically quite close to the Sanskrit word for crop which is Pradurbhu. Padava might be a corrupted form of the original word for "crop" which was used to term the new year festival. The inference that can be drawn from the above clues is that Diwali as a festival owes its origin to the reaping of a harvest. A Harvest presented a logical occasion for rejoicing and merriment.

The Mythology Associated with Deepavali
Mythology has its own reason to offer for the Diwali festival. According to mythology, the celebration of Diwali is closely bound up with one of India's two classic epics the Ramayana. (Mahabharata being the other epic). In brief the Ramayana story is as follows:

Dashratha, goes on a Hunt and Wounds a Human
Dasharatha the king of Ayodhya had once set off to hunt deer. In the midst of the forest he heard the sound of bubbles and saw some movement in the distance. Thinking it to be a deer drinking water, he shot an arrow in that direction. Much to his surprise, as his arrow found its mark, he heard a human being cry out. When he rushed to the spot his dis-believing eyes saw a handsome youth fatally wounded by his arrow. Sad as he was, Dashratha took the dying youth, whose name was Shravana to his (the youth's) blind parents, who were nearby. On hearing from Dashratha, the demise of their only son, they cursed him that he too would find himself in the same agonizing state when his son would be snatched away from him.

Dashratha Grants Three Boons to Kaikeyi
Long after this incident faded away, King Dashratha continued to reign over Ayodhya. One success followed another and with his three wives and four sons, he was a model of happiness. His first wife bore him Rama, the second one Sumitra bore him Laxman and the last one Kaikeyi bore him Bharat and Shatrughna. Each son was nobler than the other. Once during a battle, a wheel of Dashratha's chariot came off, Kaikeyi who had accompanied him to the battle inserted her hand into the axle and held the wheel in place. Her brave gesture enabled Dashratha to win the battle. In return Dashratha granted her three boons and told her to ask for anything she wanted. As she wanted nothing at that moment she reserved the right of asking for their fulfilment for some later date.

An Ivory image of Lord Rama. According to mythology, the celebration of Diwali is closely bound up with one of India's two classic epics the Ramayana. Lord Rama is said to have reigned for a long time during which the people were happy and contented. Ramrajya (the reign of Rama) has come to connote an era of peace and prosperity. The festival of Diwali; we were told is celebrated to commemorate Rama's return from exile. Ramnavami;, another festival is celebrated as the birthday of Lord Rama, sometime in March.

Rama Goes in to Exile
This second episode also became a thing of the past. After a few more years when Dashratha's eldest son Rama attained manhood, Dashratha felt it was time up for him to renounce worldly pleasures and relinquish his throne in favour of Rama. On hearing this, the people of Ayodhya were jubilant. But all human minds are not identical. Kaikeyi's maid Manthara was jealous of Rama and to prevent his accession to the throne, she went to Kaikeyi and instigated her against Rama by telling her that if Rama became king, she (Kaikeyi)would lose her importance as queen. So she should ask Bharat (Kaikeyi's son) to be installed as king and Rama be exiled for fourteen years. And if Dashratha did not accept these demands, Kaikeyi should ask him to redeem the boons that he had granted her. In the beginning Kaikeyi resisted Manthara's malicious advice, but as temptation got the better of sagacity, she relented and Dashratha had to redeem the three boons by:

1. Not making Rama the King of Ayodhya
2. Agreeing to install Bharat on the throne of Ayodhya,
3. Asking Rama to go into exile for 14 years.

Sadly Dashratha agreed and Rama set off for exile with his wife the virtuous Sita and his noble brother Laxman. Soon afterwards, Dashratha died, a heartbroken man. Not only had Dashratha's boons been redeemed but also the curse of Shravana's broken hearted parents, the occurrence of which had escaped Dashratha's memory.

Rama Battles Ravana
The story of Ramayana does not end here. In exile Sita is abducted by Ravana (King of Rakshashas - Demons) and taken to his abode Lanka (modern day Sri Lanka or Ceylon). Rama and Laxman, collect an army with the help of the monkey king Hanuman (possibly a tribal chief) and rescue Sita.

At the end of fourteen years, Rama, Laxman and Sita return to Ayodhya and are given a hero's welcome by the people. Lord Rama is said to have reigned for a long time during which the people were happy and contented. Ramrajya (the reign of Rama) has come to connote an era of peace and prosperity. The festival of Diwali; we were told is celebrated to commemorate Rama's return from exile. Ramnavami;, another festival is celebrated as the birthday of Lord Rama, sometime in March.

The Legend of King Bali
Another legend is associated with Diwa1i and that is of King Bali. This king, we are told, also had a long and happy reign. To propitiate the gods he performed a Yagna (fire sacrifice). So successful was his Yagna that even the gods were terrified to appear before him and grant him a boon in the fear that what he might ask could be beyond their capacity to satisfy. To avoid embarassment the gods sent one of them to King Bali's court in the guise of a sage. When the Sage reached King bali's court, Bali asked him to ask for anything he wanted. Facing the righteous King, the sage asked for space for three paces. This request seemed strange to all the courtiers, but king Bali granted it. Once the request was granted to him, the wily Sage, who was none but god in disguise, submerged the entire world (Mrityu-loka) with one step, with the second he submerged heaven (Swarga-loka) and for the third step; there was no respectable place to put his foot down and so he asked the bewildered Bali for some respectable place to this foot so that the boon could be fulfilled. Left with no alternative, the noble but exasperated King Bali offered his head for the purpose. To his surprise, the wily sage not only lost no time in placing his foot over King Bali's head, but also thrust Bali into the nether worlds (Patala-loka) which as per Hindu cosmogony is hell and lies below the surface of the earth.

In memory of this, we are told, that the second day of Diwali (Bali Prati-pada) is celebrated. Prati-pada here translates as "below the opponent's foot" (Prati=opponent, Pada=foot).

The Legend of Demon Narakasura

But this mythology and ritual is associated with Deepavali only in the Western and Southern India, it is not known in the north and east. Bharatvarsha with its multifarious and colourful legends has many festivals with which different mythologies have become associated. These mythologies differ from region to region and have contributed in making the composite and colourful society of the Hindus.

Photo Credit: Sudheer Birodkar