Diwali: The Celebration of Light
Diwali, or Deepavali, is the festival of light that symbolizes the victory of light over darkness. Millions of Hindus, Jains, and Sikhs in the Indian Subcontinent (and across the globe) celebrate each year from the 13th day of the dark half of the lunar month Ashivna to the second day of the light half of the month Karrika. In the Gregorian calendar, the festival usually falls sometime in October or November. Diwali is derived from the Sanskrit word Deepavali, meaning ‘rows of lights.’
Diwali celebrations differ based on the region and the cultural and religious practices. The festival observes various epics from the Ramayana. For instance, many Indians commemorate Lord Rama’s defeat of the demon Lanka king Ravana, who had kidnapped Sita, Rama’s wife. In Sri Lanka, the festival is known as Deepavali, and it is a significant event in the Tamil communities in Jaffna and the northeastern part of the country. Naraka Chaturdashi is the main day of celebration for Tamils in Sri Lanka. They mark the victory of Lord Krishna, who defeated the demon Narakasura.
Handpainted diya trays in Mohini’s home.
Across regions and practices, Diwali usually involves deep cleaning homes and lighting diya, little oil lamps. Clean and well-lit homes bring Lakshmi, the goddess of wealth and prosperity, to visit the house. Another common practice to welcome Lakshmi is the creation of rangoli (or kolam in the Tamil-speaking regions), geometrical or floral patterns drawn on the doorway to a home.
Caption: Rangoli made by Mohini at her uncle’s place in Hong Kong, 2020
Derek and I never got to experience Deepavali in Sri Lanka due to the pandemic. Also, by the time Diwali rolled around in 2020, we were packing up to leave our tropical paradise home to spend time with Derek’s terminally ill father in the US (he has since received a double-lung transplant and is recovering well). Though I don’t have any personal experience of Diwali, our lovely friend Mohini Khadaria has kindly shared her family traditions along with some photos.
A designer and writer born and raised in Mumbai, Mohini spent almost eight years studying and working in Hong Kong. This year, Mohini is excited to celebrate Diwali in India with her family for the first time in four years. According to Mohini, cleaning is an essential part of Diwali—her dedicated mother starts cleaning a month before the celebrations. She even opens and cleans the nooks and crooks in each drawer, cupboard, and storage space in the house. Then puts everything back.
“My mum even makes me go through all my paperwork so she could recycle it,” she laughed.
Mohini in her mother’s saree carrying a tray of diya
In addition to cleaning the house from top to bottom, Mohini’s mother also calls the electrician before Diwali to ensure that all the lights in the house are in working order. All lights are switched on during Diwali night. Diya lamps are lit throughout the house and around the puja, the offerings for Lakshmi and Ganesha, the elephant-headed god of beginnings.
[Insert puja] Caption: Puja in Mohini’s home.
Puja in Mohini’s home.
Mohini and her mother also create rangoli to welcome Lakshmi. However, instead of using dyed rice flour to make the floral patterns, Mohini and her mother use flower petals in their environmentally-friendly household.
A simple, elegant, and environmentally friendly rangoli made by Mohini’s mother.
Like Christmas and Chinese New Year’s, Diwali celebrates family and friends. It’s a joyous time of the year where people wear new clothes, exchange gifts, and share scrumptious feasts. There are also friendly card games with minor stakes to see who Lakshmi has blessed with luck and prosperity for the coming year.
Happy Diwali! May your Diwali be free from darkness and abundant with light.