“The human species thinks in metaphors and learns through stories.”
Mary Catherine Bateson
Deepawali: The Story of Good over Evil
Diwali or Deepawali is a festival that is famous around the world now, with the Indian diaspora spread far and wide. In layperson language, Deepawali/Diwali deconstructs into two words – Deepa, Diva or Diya (meaning lamp) and aali (meaning row). Simply put, it means a row of lights lit for celebration.
The five days of Deepawali
As much as it is an Indian tradition, the reasons for celebrating this festival differ within the country. Most of the Northern communities celebrate it as the return of the Ayodhya king, Lord Rama, to his kingdom with Goddess Sita after fourteen long years. For the trading communities, it is the beginning of a new financial year, while for the East of India, it is a simple Kali Pooja.
The first day falls on the 13th day (Trayodashi) of the full moon in the Hindu month of Kartik and culminates on the second day of the new moon. Diwali comes on the new moon day when the sky is devoid of the moon and at its darkest. DhanTrayodashi, Naraka or Yama Chaturdashi, Diwali, Govardhan puja, Bali Pratipada or Annakut, and Bhai Dooj are the five days of the festival.
The Story of Good over Evil
The Southern states have a completely different storyboard to share as far as this festival goes. The narrative stems from the second day of Deepawali i.e. day of Naraka or Yama. Mythology tells the story of how Lord Krishna’s third chief consort, Satyabhama, killed Narakasura, a demon who misused his powers. Blessed with the boon of being killed only by the hands of his mother, Narakasura went on to torture the mother of the Gods, Aditi, for her precious earrings. Only Satyabhama, the demon’s mother and an incarnation of Bhoomadevi (Mother Earth) could slay him, and so she did.
To celebrate the victory of good over evil and not attain the same fate as the demon, people in the South do Abhyangasnan (oil bath augmented with herbs) before the break of dawn, burst crackers and visit temples. Apart from the variety of sweets and savouries, Tamil households make Marundhu, a herbal preparation.
