Our Halloween but India’s Diwali
While Logan residents are carving pumpkins, hanging spooky decorations and handing out candy to children in costumes, on the other side of the world a religious celebration occurs.
Imagine Christmas, Thanksgiving and Black Friday all rolled into a single, five-day holiday known in Indian culture as Diwali.
According to Dr. Ravi Gupta, the USU history department head, Diwali holds both religious and seasonal importance and is celebrated across India.
The celebration occurs at the end of the Monsoon season after the fields have been harvested. Similar to U.S. harvest festivals (i.e. Thanksgiving) a huge Annakut, or mountain of food, is eaten.
Although tradition depends on region, the most common holds that years ago the Indian Goddess, Sita, was taken from her home in India to the island of Lanka by the evil demon Ravana.
Sita’s husband Ram went on a journey to rescue his beloved wife. When Ram entered Lanka, Ravanna was defeated in an epic battle celebrated separately as Dussehra.
Upon their return, the people in India were overjoyed to find the wicked demon Ravana had been killed. The Diwali celebration stems from this important date on which good overcame evil.
The religious celebration includes many themes such as the importance of family, humility before the Gods and giving to those in need.
The holiday spans five days, each day focusing on a traditional value. The night of the new moon in the fourth month of the rainy season occurs at this time.
The night is extremely dark. The culmination of the event takes place on the third day, Diwali. An Indian USU graduate student, Siddharth Bhawsar, grew up attending and preparing for these celebrations in the city Indore.
Bhawsar explained the first day is known as Dhanteras, celebrated by cleaning and preparing the home for the holiday as well as purchasing a variety of merchandise.
The celebration honors the Goddess of prosperity, Lakshmi.
“There are a lot of sales that go on (during Dhanteras). We also have a Black Friday sale in India but no one pays as much attention to it,” Bhawsar said.
An important tradition in Bhawsar’s family is the purchase of gold coins, one for each celebration of Dhanteras.
Due to the darkness of the night, traditional clay lamps are filled with oil and lit at the beginning of the celebration. Along with the small clay lamps, lights, similar to Christmas Lights, adorn many houses and are taken down at the end of the holiday.
To show gratitude to the goddess of prosperity, Bhawsar’s family places the gold coins from years past in front of a depiction of the Goddess Lakshmi.
Each coin is dated and he recalls feeling grateful for the good fortune that has blessed his family over the years at the sight of so many coins.
The following day is primarily celebrated by females in India and is known as Roop Chaudas. This day is specifically for women to focus on their beauty in preparation for the main celebration the following day.
After everything is made ready, the main event occurs. Holy songs are sung to celebrate and begin the Puja or religious festival.
A Sindoor, or red mark, is placed on the foreheads of all present as a religious symbol. This symbol is holy and a sign of respect.
Similar to Thanksgiving, a feast is held with food.
“It’s like trick or treat, you get candies,” Bhawsar said. “We have lots of sweet food as well as spicy food. There’s a huge variety.”
The food is then shared between neighbors and friends similar to a potluck of neighborhood proportions. Often firecrackers are set off as part of the joyous celebration.
Before the food is distributed and eaten, the plates are placed in front of a depiction of God along with all that was earned the year before. This signifies that what the family has comes from God.
The food is an offering showing appreciation for life. Sometimes holy prayers known as Mantras are sung. After the food is placed in front of the depiction it is considered blessed.
On Diwali itself, little time is available for the family. Once the prayers are said people begin celebrating and going house to house.
The day for family and close friends comes next known as Choti Diwali. Time is spent at home and respect is paid to the Elders. To signify this respect, the foot of an elder is touched, showing love and admiration.
The fifth day, Bhaidooj, involves increasing the bond between brother and sister. This tradition is unprecedented in the west and signifies the strong familial bond between brother and sister in Indian culture. The brother renews a vow to always take care of his sister throughout his life.
Bhawsar then spoke with reverence of a special gift given every year between the two siblings. His family refers to this gift as Teeka.
The gift shows that the brother will always be there for his sister no matter what happens.
“Then I have to give her some gifts, so usually she takes a lot of money from me,” Bhawsar joked.
Although practices may be different throughout India, two aspects of the holiday are unchanged.
“One is the aspect of plenty and harvest. The second is the lighting of lamps,” Gupta said.
Although regional differences exist, the general theme of rebirth and gratitude to God are present.
Throughout the celebration a theme of Prasad or “God’s Grace” is common. The grace comes back to those participating in the holiday by eating the blessed food. By cooking and offering the food, participants are showing thanks to God and are blessed in return.
Gratitude, family and new beginnings are ancient ideas of paramount importance. This annual celebration is a meaningful reminder that more can always be done to help others and show kindness. Such values span political and social boundaries.
-Tanner.Thomsen@usu.edu
Featured photo submitted by Siddharth Bhawsar