Deepavali or Diwali as we call it, is one of the most celebrated festivals across India. This festival of light symbolizes the triumph of light over darkness and good over evil. People from all age groups eagerly wait for the arrival of Diwali each year. In northern India, Diwali is commonly associated with the return of Lord Rama, his wife Sita, and his brother Lakshman to Ayodhya after defeating Ravana and completing their 14-year exile. It’s known that the residents of Ayodhya welcomed their King and Queen by lighting lamps to celebrate their return, making the tradition of lighting diyas(oil lamps).
In Southern India, Deepavali is more closely linked to the legend of Lord Krishna and his wife Satyabhama, who defeated the demon Narakasura. This victory symbolizes the eradication of evil forces and the arrival of prosperity and happiness. This legend is lesser known as compared to the more widely celebrated northern tale.
In South India, Deepavali is celebrated in very simple ways. No Tamil Deepavali is complete without the traditional early morning oil bath where the eldest member of the family or the lady of the household puts a few drops of sesame oil with a gentle massage on the heads of all family members before sunrise. Then a mix of herbs powders or shikakai is used to wash off the oil. This bath is considered as sacred as bathing in the river Ganges. According to mythology, Goddess Mahalaxmi is said to have hidden behind a sesame tree, which is why sesame oil is used for the oil bath. Symbolically, an oil bath implies new beginnings by removing egos, fights, self-esteem, and jealousy.
As a South Indian, Deepavali starts at the crack of dawn for me. All of our family members, wake up early and get ready for our oil bath. In Southern Kerala, we don’t just apply oil to our heads; we cover our entire bodies in sesame oil, believed to cleanse our bodies of toxins for the entire year until the next Deepavali. This tradition of sacred baths is passed down by generations making it customary for us. After the ritualistic oil bath, we put on new clothes signifying a new fresh start and shedding of past burdens. Then we move on to visit the temple to offer prayers and seek blessings from the deities. The temples will be very crowded as Deepavali is a very spiritual festival around there. The temples will be filled with the scent of incense and the sound of devotional hymns.
After the temple visit, we have our traditional veg thali or ‘sadhya’ as we call it. Now this Sadhya might not be as elaborate as it is for Onam. But essential dishes such as ‘sambar’, ‘Avial’ etc might not be excluded. The feast concludes with a delicious ‘payasam,’ making for a perfect ending. As the evening approaches, we then proceed to light up diyas around the house. These oil lamps with their warm glow set up a traditional atmosphere around our homes. Recently,there have been changes in replacing the oil lamps with candles instead due to less availability of oil lamps in our region.
As a South Indian who moved to North India for studies, experiencing Deepavali here has been a drastic change. In North India, Deepavali is a lively festival where people gather together and celebrate with vigor, whereas in South India, it’s more of a calm and peaceful festival within our homes. We try to calm our souls in South India, but North Indian Deepavali is all about enjoying triumph in all strengths and enthusiasm. I believe all South Indians living in North India could relate to this contrasting experience.
Although the legends and traditions of Deepavali differ across various regions of India, we all come together to celebrate the triumph of good over evil. Each region may have its unique customs, but the essence of the festival remains the same: the celebration of light over darkness.
A third-year student at the Cluster Innovation Centre, pursuing a BA (Hons) in Humanities and Social Sciences. She has a keen interest in Gender Studies and Cinematography, and she loves to travel.
2 comments
Very well written
Really a good read thoroughly Enjoyed it and got to have a look more insights in the south indian culture