As the auspicious festival of Diwali is being celebrated, streets across India transform into a kaleidoscope of vibrant lights, sparkling diyas, and intricate rangolis. However, the customs and traditions associated with Diwali vary significantly across different regions of the country.
This year, Diwali, the Festival of Lights, falls on November 12, 2023, coinciding with Narak Chaturdashi. The celebration holds profound significance in Hindu culture, with various legends associated with its origin. While some believe Diwali marks the celestial union of Lakshmi and Vishnu, others consider it a celebration of Lakshmi's birth on the new moon day of Kartik.
In Northern India, particularly in states like Uttar Pradesh, Punjab, Himachal Pradesh, Haryana, and Bihar, Diwali symbolizes the return of Lord Ram, along with Sita and Laxman, to Ayodhya after 14 years of exile. The entire kingdom lights diyas and fireworks, symbolizing the triumph of good over evil. Additionally, the tradition of gambling on Diwali night is considered auspicious in these regions.
In Punjab, although Sikhs do not celebrate Diwali, gurdwaras are illuminated, and houses are adorned with candles and diyas. Delhi, Uttar Pradesh, and surrounding states witness the decoration of houses with candles, lights, diyas, and rangolis, accompanied by Laxmi puja performed at night.
Gujarat has a unique Diwali custom where a diya lit with ghee burns throughout the night. The flame is collected the next morning and used to make kajal, believed to bring prosperity for the entire year.
In Odisha, Diwali becomes a time to pay homage to ancestors, while in Western India, especially in Maharashtra, the festival is associated with business and trade. The markets bustle with shoppers, and the celebration spans four days, each marked by specific rituals, including an Aarti of cows on Vasubaras and the elaborate Lakshmi Puja on the main Diwali day.
Eastern India, including Bengal, worships the Goddess Kali during Diwali. In West Bengal, the celebration is known as Kali Puja, involving late-night worshipping, rangoli, and the symbolic lighting of diyas on tall poles to guide ancestral souls to heaven.
Southern India, particularly Tamil Nadu, celebrates Diwali in the Tamil month of aipasi. The preparations involve cleaning ovens, smearing them with lime, drawing religious symbols, and performing an oil bath on the main day of Naraka Chaturdashi.
As the nation gears up for Diwali, these diverse customs and celebrations showcase the rich tapestry of traditions that make India's Festival of Lights a truly unique and culturally rich experience.
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