DIWALI
Indians celebrate festival of light amid COVID-19 fears

By KRUTIKA PATHIy

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People light lamps on the banks of the river Saryu in Ayodhya, India, Wednesday, Nov. 3, 2021. Millions of people across Asia are celebrating the Hindu festival of Diwali, which symbolizes new beginnings and the triumph of good over evil and light over darkness. The celebrations were especially spectacular in Ayodhya city in northern Uttar Pradesh state, where over 900,000 earthen lamps were lit at the banks of the Saryu River as desk fell Wednesday. Hindus believe the city is the birthplace of god Ram. (AP Photo/Rajesh Kumar Singh)

NEW DELHI (AP) — Indians across the country began celebrating Diwali, the Hindu festival of lights, on Thursday amid concerns over the coronavirus pandemic and rising air pollution.

Diwali is typically celebrated by socializing and exchanging gifts with family and friends. Many light oil lamps or candles to symbolize a victory of light over darkness, and fireworks are set off as part of the celebrations.

Last year, celebrations in India were upended by a renewed spike in COVID-19 infections, but festivities this year seem to be back. Even though the government has asked people to avoid large gatherings, markets have been buzzing ahead of Diwali, with eager crowds buying flowers, lanterns and candles.

As dusk fell on Wednesday, over 900,000 earthen lamps were lit and kept burning for 45 minutes in the northern city of Ayodhya in Uttar Pradesh state, retaining the Guinness World Record it set last year. As part of the Diwali celebrations, the city last year lit 606,569 oil lamps.

Firecrackers light up the sky over lamps lined on the banks of the river Saryu in Ayodhya, India, Wednesday, Nov. 3, 2021. Over 900,000 earthen lamps were lit and were kept burning for 45 minutes as the north Indian city of Ayodhya retained its Guinness World Record for lighting oil lamps as part of the Diwali celebration – the Hindu festival of lights. (AP Photo/Rajesh Kumar Singh)

The lamps were lit at Ram ki Pauri, at the banks of Saryu River, a stunning spectacle for thousands of visitors who thronged its shores while ignoring coronavirus social distancing norms. A laser and fireworks show followed, illuminating the city’s lanes and river banks. Thousands of city residents also lit lamps at their houses and temples.

The festival is being celebrated at a time when India’s pandemic crisis has largely subsided.

On Thursday, the country recorded over 12,000 new coronavirus cases and 461 deaths, a far cry from earlier this year when India buckled under a few hundred thousand new infections every day. Overall, it has recorded more than 35 million infections and over 459,000 deaths, according to the Health Ministry. These figures, as elsewhere, are likely undercounts.

Even states where infections were swelling a few weeks ago, such as Kerala along the tropical Malabar Coast, have seen a sustained decline. India also celebrated administering its billionth COVID-19 vaccine dose last month, further boosting confidence that life is returning to normal.

Still, experts have warned that the festival season could bring a renewed spike in infections if COVID-19 health measures aren’t enforced.

There are also worries over air pollution, which typically shrouds northern India under a toxic grey smog at this time as temperatures dip and winter settles in.

On Diwali night, people also lit up the sky with firecrackers — their smoke causing pollution that takes days to clear.

While there is no nationwide ban on bursting firecrackers, a number of states have imposed restrictions to stem the pollution, with some allowing their residents to light green crackers for a certain number of hours. Green crackers produce lesser emissions than normal firecrackers. In the past, similar bans have often been flouted.

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Associated Press writer Biswajeet Banerjee in Lucknow, India, contributed to this report.

 In photos: Diwali marked in Asia with celebrations, prayers

Nov 05 2021.

Millions of people across Asia are celebrating the Hindu festival of Diwali, which symbolises new beginnings and the triumph of good over evil and light over darkness.

The festival is celebrated mainly in India, but Hindus across the world, particularly in other parts of Asia, also gather with family members and friends to socialize, visit temples and decorate houses with small oil lamps made from clay. The festival is also marked by raucous parties and fireworks displays, often throughout the night.

Like every year, India has been lit up in a dazzling display of lights and colours. Brightly coloured rangoli designs are drawn at the entrances of homes and offices, which are decked in fairy lights.

The celebrations were especially spectacular in Ayodhya city in northern Uttar Pradesh state, where over 900,000 earthen lamps were lit on the banks of the Saryu River as desk fell Wednesday. Hindus believe the city is the birthplace of the god Ram.

NIRANJAN SHRESTHA/AP

A Nepalese woman puts marigold petals on a police dog during Tihar festival celebrations at a kennel division in Kathmandu, Nepal. The festival is marked as Tihar, also known as Deepawali, in Nepal. On Wednesday, devotees celebrated dogs that are regarded as the guardian of the Hindu death god Yama.

READ MORE:
* Diwali's 'Festival of Lights' offers a moment for reflection, faith and hope
* A taste of Diwali: Recipes to celebrate the festival of light

MAHESH KUMAR A/AP

A girl lights firecrackers as she celebrates Diwali, the festival of lights, in Hyderabad, India.

In eastern Ahmedabad city in Gujarat state, devotees worshipped their account books as the festival also marks the start of the new Hindu financial year.

The day was marked as Tihar, also known as Deepawali, in neighboring Nepal. There, the five-day celebrations began Tuesday and people thronged markets and shopped for marigold flowers, which hold huge cultural significance during the festival. On Wednesday, devotees celebrated dogs that are regarded as the guardian of the Hindu death god Yama.

VINCENT THIAN/AP

Hindu devotees climb the coloured stairs to pray at the Batu Caves temple during the 

Hindu festival of lights, Diwali, in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

In Malaysia, Hindu devotees prayed at temples and lit clay oil lamps. Some climbed the coloured stairs to pray at the Batu Caves temple just north of Kuala Lumpur to pay homage to their deity, Lord Muruga.

People also celebrated with friends and families in Indonesia, Japan and Taiwan.

Diwali marks Hindu god Ram’s return to his kingdom after 14 years in exile. Hindus believe that during Diwali the goddess of wealth, Lakshmi, will visit their homes if they are illuminated and decorated.

ALTAF QADRI/AP

A woman and her daughter make a rangoli, a traditional decoration, at the entrance

 to their home during Diwali celebrations in New Delhi, India.

The Diwali festival is also observed among Jains, Sikhs and Buddhists. While each religion marks the festival with different historical events and legends, they all represent the victory of good over evil.

ERANGA JAYAWARDENA/AP

An ethnic Tamil woman prays holding a tray of oil lamps during Diwali in Colombo, Sri Lanka.

BINSAR BAKKARA/AP

Devotees pray during Diwali, the Hindu festival of lights, at the Sri Mariamman Temple

 in Medan, North Sumatra, Indonesia.

BIKAS DAS/AP

A roadside vendor displays garlands of marigold flowers, popularly used as offering

 to Hindu deities, during Diwali, the Hindu festival of lights, in Kolkata, India.

RAJESH KUMAR SINGH/AP

People light lamps on the banks of the river Saryu in Ayodhya, India.

FAREED KHAN/AP

Hindu women attend a ceremony at a temple in Karachi, Pakistan.

MAHESH KUMAR A/AP

Children play with firecrackers during Diwali celebrations in Hyderabad, India.

CHIANG YING-YING/AP

An artist applies henna on the hand or a woman in Taipei, Taiwan.

VINCENT THIAN/AP

Hindu devotees light clay oil lamps in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

KIN CHEUNG/AP

Hindu devotees pray at a temple in Hong Kong.

VINCENT THIAN/AP

A Indian man prays with lit coconut as an offering outside a temple in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

SAKCHAI LALIT/AP

A devotee prepares fruits and flower offerings to Hindu Goddess Lakshmi in Bangkok, Thailand.

NIRANJAN SHRESTHA/AP

A Nepalese woman picks marigold flowers to make garlands to sell for the upcoming

 Tihar festival on the outskirts of Kathmandu, Nepal.

HIRO KOMAE/AP

Pathik Bhalodiya, 4, gets help from his mother Shital, members of an Indian family living in Japan.

ALTAF QADRI/AP

Children play with firecrackers during Diwali celebrations in New Delhi, India, 

Thursday, Nov. 4, 2021. Diwali, the festival of lights, is one of Hinduism's most

 important festivals dedicated to the worship of Lakshmi, the Hindu goddess

 of wealth. (AP Photo/Altaf Qadri)

ALTAF QADRI/AP

People watch a firecracker light up during Diwali celebrations in New Delhi, India.

AJIT SOLANKI/AP

Traders perform rituals during Chopada Pujan, or a mass prayer ceremony

 dedicated to the worship of account books, at the Swaminarayan Gurukul in Ahmedabad, India.

What is Diwali, the Festival of Lights, and how is it celebrated in India and the diaspora?

DEEPA BHARATH
Thu, November 9, 2023






India Festival
People look at lanterns displayed for sale at roadside stalls ahead of Diwali festival in Mumbai, India, Sunday, Nov. 5, 2023. 

(AP Ph

Diwali is the most important festival of the year in India — and for Hindus in particular.

It is celebrated across faiths by more than a billion people in the world’s most populous nation and the diaspora. Over five days, people take part in festive gatherings, fireworks displays, feasts and prayer.

Diwali is derived from the word “Deepavali,” which means “a row of lights.” Celebrants light rows of traditional clay oil lamps outside their homes to symbolize the victory of light over darkness and knowledge over ignorance.


WHEN IS DIWALI?

The dates of the festival are based on the Hindu lunar calendar, typically falling in late October or early November.

This year, Diwali begins Nov. 10 and the festival will be observed on Nov. 12.

WHAT ARE SOME HINDU STORIES OF DIWALI?

While Diwali is a major religious festival for Hindus, it is also observed by Sikhs, Jains and Buddhists. The origin story of Diwali varies depending on the region. All these stories have one underlying theme — the victory of good over evil.

In southern India, Diwali celebrates the victory of Lord Krishna’s destruction of the demon Naraka who is said to have imprisoned women and tormented his subjects. In northern India, Diwali honors the triumphant return of Lord Rama, his wife Sita, and brother Lakshmana, from a 14-year exile in the forest.

HOW IS DIWALI CELEBRATED?

The festival brings with it a number of unique traditions, which also vary by the region. What all celebrations have in common are the lights, fireworks, feasting, new clothes and praying.

—In southern India, many have an early morning warm oil bath to symbolize bathing in the holy River Ganges as a form of physical and spiritual purification.

—In the north, worshipping the Goddess Lakshmi, who symbolizes wealth and prosperity, is the norm.

Gambling is a popular tradition because of the belief whoever gambled on Diwali night would prosper throughout the year. Many people buy gold on the first day of Diwali, known as Dhanteras — an act they believe will bring them good luck.

Setting off firecrackers is a cherished tradition, as is exchanging sweets and gifts among friends and family. Diwali celebrations typically feature rangoli, which are geometric, floral patterns drawn on the floor using colorful powders.

WHAT ARE THE DIWALI STORIES FROM OTHER FAITHS?

Buddhists, Jains and Sikhs have their own Diwali stories:

—Jains observe Diwali as the day the Lord Mahavira, the last of the great teachers, attained nirvana, which is liberation from the cycle of birth, death and rebirth.

—Sikhs celebrate Bandi Chhor Divas — a day that overlaps with Diwali — to commemorate the release of Guru Hargobind, a revered figure in the faith, who had been imprisoned for 12 years by the Mughal emperor Jahangir.

—Buddhists observe the day as one when the Hindu Emperor Ashoka, who ruled in the third century B.C., converted to Buddhism.

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Associated Press religion coverage receives support through the AP’s collaboration with The Conversation US, with funding from Lilly Endowment Inc. The AP is solely responsible for this content.





Diwali is Sunday: Here's what to know about the Hindu holiday (and some tasty recipes)

James Powel, USA TODAY

Updated Fri, November 10, 2023 

Members of the South Asian community will be celebrating one of the important days on their religious calendar on Sunday.

Diwali, the five-day festival of lights, kicks off Friday and will include sweet treats and artistic combinations of flowers, powder, rice or sand called rangolis to bring good luck and fireworks.

The holiday, also called Deepavali which translates to "a row of lamps and lights," centers around clay pots that are placed around homes and places of worship that symbolize the light within man that can overcome the darkness of ignorance, according to the Hindu American Foundation.

The celebration is a public holiday in many parts of India and is recognized on the New York City school holiday calendar.

Here's what to know about Diwali.

Thousands turned out at the Diwali celebration at Papaianni Park in Edison on Nov. 4, 2023.

What does Diwali celebrate?

Many Hindus observe Diwali as a day of celebrating the return of Prince Rama of Ayodhya, his wife Sita, and brother Lakshman after 14 years of exile, according to the Hindu American Foundation. Some Hindus celebrate the holiday as the day Lord Krishna defeated the demon king Narakasura.

Diwali is also celebrated by Jains, Sikhs, and some Buddhists with each honoring different portions of their cultural histories.

The common thread between the cultural interpretations of the holiday is the victory of light over darkness.
When is Diwali?

This year Diwali begins November 10 and runs until November 15.

Report: As turkey prices drop, cost of some Thanksgiving side dishes go up
How is Diwali celebrated?

The festival is celebrated across five days with each day having particular rituals associated with them.

Day 1 Dhanteras: Celebrants clean their homes, make rangolis and kolam, a decorative art drawn with rice flour, and shop for and prepare food


Day 2 Chhoti Diwali, Kalichauda: Referred to as "small Diwali" celebrants decorate their homes and place clay pots


Day 3 Diwali: The height of the holiday, celebrants wear their best clothes, light lamps and have as much light as possible in their homes and watch fireworks


Day 4 Annakut, Padwa, Govardhan Puja: Considered by many celebrants as the first day of the new year, the day is one of thanksgiving and reflection

Day 5 Bhai Duj, Bhai Bheej: A day to celebrate brother-sister relationsips, siblings gather to honor their bond

What is eaten during Diwali?

The festival is known for its sweet snacks that are eaten throughout the five days. Commonly consumed treats include: motichur laddu a sugary concoction that melts in your mouth, jalebiis a spiral-shaped sweet made of all-purpose flour, gram flour and sugar syrup and gulab jamun is a dessert made of small balls (like the size of donut holes) dipped in a pool of rose-flavored sugar syrup.

Here are some recipes to consider if you are partaking in the festival this year:
Date and nut bar (khajoor tukda)

These bars are made from dates, cashews, almonds and pistachios without added sugar. They make great power bars. This recipe is from "Beyond the Curry with Bharti," by Bharti Sanghavi.

Makes: 15 pieces

Ingredients:

¼ cup raw almonds, cut in half widthwise


¼ cup raw cashew pieces


¼ cup raw pistachios


½ pound Medjool dates, fresh, pitted (about 13 dates)


½ teaspoon ghee, plus more for brushing (see note)

Instructions:

Mix all nuts, and dry roast in a medium pan over medium heat on the stovetop for four or five minutes, stirring occasionally so they toast evenly. Set aside.


In a small pan, saute dates for 2 minutes over medium heat. They will melt into a thick pulp.


Remove dates from heat, and add nuts. Mix well.


Brush a cutting board and rolling pan with ½ teaspoon ghee. Make a smooth ball from date and nut mixture and roll into a ½ inch thick square sheet on the cutting board.


Brush ghee on top of mixture. Let it cool for 15 to 20 minutes.


Cut into 1½ by 1½ inch squares.

Store in refrigerator. Serve at room temperature.

Note: Ghee is clarified butter that is sold at Indian markets and at many other grocers. It can be made at home by melting butter until the milk solids separate and come to rest on the bottom of the pan; pour off the clarified liquid butter, leaving the solids behind. Allow to cool and solidify.
Lentil crispies (chorafali)

Chorafali is a traditional Diwali festival snack. Originating from the Indian state of Gujarat, chorafali is highly anticipated on the Diwali table, since it’s usually made once a year. Chorafali are light and fluffy snacks that melt in your mouth. This recipe is a personal recipe from Bharti Sanghavi, who runs Indian Groceries & Spices in Wauwatosa, Wisconsin.

Makes: 10 cups

Ingredients:

½ cup water, plus 2 tablespoons


½ teaspoon salt


½ teaspoon baking soda or papad khar (alkaline salt)


3 teaspoons of any neutral oil, plus more for deep frying and oiling surface


2 cups gram flour (besan or chickpea flour)


1 cup urad (lentil) flour (see note)


1 teaspoon red chile powder


1 teaspoon black salt

Instructions:

In a small pot, bring ½ cup water, salt, baking soda and oil to a boil. Turn off heat.


In a large mixing bowl, combine flours. Little by little, add hot water mixture, mixing with a spoon. Add another 2 tablespoons of room-temperature water to make a firm dough.


Knead dough with a little oil on a flat surface. Let rest for 15 minutes.


Meanwhile, in a small bowl, combine the chile powder and black salt to garnish the finished chips later.


Halve the rested dough so kneading is easier. Knead one portion for a few minutes until the dough's color lightens.


Roll dough into a rope about 7 inches long and cut into even 7 equal pieces. Roll each piece with a rolling pin until it's 5 inches wide. Cut into ½-inch-wide strips.


Heat 1 to 2 inches of oil in a wok or heavy medium pot to 375 degrees. Place 2 or 3 strips into the oil and fry until golden brown on both sides. It will take a few seconds for them to puff up after adding them to the oil. Remove, using a slotted spoon, and drain on paper towel. Sprinkle a bit of red chile powder and black salt on top.

Repeat with remaining dough.

Serve at room temperature. Store in airtight jars for 3 to 4 weeks.


This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: When is Diwali 2023, what is the holiday and why is it celebrated?

Diwali 2023: The symbolic foods eaten during the Festival of Lights
Olivia Petter
Fri, November 10, 2023 

Diwali 2023: The symbolic foods eaten during the Festival of Lights


Diwali, the festival lights, sees millions of people attend events across the world every autumn to celebrate the triumph of good over evil.

Celebrated by Hindus, Sikhs and Jains, Diwali is one of the most significant festivals in Indian culture and calls for a number of traditional dishes.

From the popular sweet treats to the savoury main meals, here are some of the key foods eaten over the course of the five-day celebration, which this year begins on Sunday 12 November.
Mithai

(Getty Images/iStockphoto)

South Asian sweets and desserts are called mithai and are a staple part of Diwali celebrations.

Many of the treats are fried foods made from sugar, chickpea flour and condensed milk.

They vary between regions but common ones include balushahi, which are a bit like doughnuts, laddoos and barfis.

They can be eaten alongside savoury items or eaten alone as a snack.

It is custom to exchange decorated boxes of mithai among family and friends during Diwali.
Chivda

(Getty Images/iStockphoto)

Snacks are a fundamental part of the Diwali menu and many of them come in the form of chivda, a spiced Bombay mix that consists of a variety of dried ingredients, such as peanuts, chickpeas, fried onion and fried lentils.

Sometimes, it’s eaten as part of a meal but most of the time it’s enjoyed on its own as a snack.

Lapsi Halwa

(Getty Images/iStockphoto)

This sweet dish is often eaten on the very first day of Diwali and is made from large-grain cracked wheat, which is then cooked with ghee and sweetened with sugar and cardamom powder.

It’s incredibly popular and is often served with a yardlong bean curry, as the beans are thought to represent longevity.
Aloo Tikki

(Getty Images/iStockphoto)

These small, fried patties are made from shredded potatoes and are usually served alongside regional sauces, such as mint sauce or tamarind sauce.

They look and taste a bit like potato pancakes and are usually crispy on the outside and soft on the inside, making them an irresistible traditional Indian delicacy.
Samosas

(Getty Images/iStockphoto)

Though they’re eaten all year round, samosas peak in popularity around Diwali.

The fried pockets of pastry usually come in the shape of a triangle and are stuffed with either mince meat, lentils or vegetables.

Because Diwali is all about celebrating the sweetness of life, special sweet versions are often made to mark the festival, containing ingredients such as coconut, cardamom and of course, sugar.


Why Diwali Remains My Most Treasured Holiday of the Year

Manali Jobanputra
Thu, November 9, 2023

From delicious foods to decorations and gift-giving, the annual Hindu festival of lights celebrated in late fall is a full-on family affair.

The Spruce Eats / Bahareh Niati

As the air turns crisp, and the city comes alive with shimmering lights, my heart fills with bubbling excitement and anticipation because Diwali is just around the corner.

It’s the time when Maa turns us into Monica Geller and we embark on a mission to clean every nook and cranny of the house, which is the prime step in preparing for Diwali. We spend at least three weeks meticulously scrubbing, swabbing, and washing everything until it’s Monica clean.

Besides cleaning, another prerequisite and my favorite pre-Diwali tradition is preparing faral, the snacks and sweets for the holiday. There are umpteen varieties and these treats vary based on region, tradition, and family preferences. Our family favorites are mathri (a flaky biscuit), chakli (a spiky spiral of fried dough), chiwda (a fried snack mix), and coconut ladoo (round sweet treats). Among these, coconut laddoos hold an extremely special place in my heart. They are the essence of my Diwali.
My Love of Coconut Ladoos

As a child, I couldn’t yet partake in preparing faral so I spent my time sitting around the kitchen adoring Maa. I yearned for the day I would be able to join in. To include me, Maa came up with a little ritual.



The Spruce Eats / Bahareh Niati

When making coconut ladoos; she would prepare the ladoo mix, and include us to help roll and shape them. We sat on the patio, rolling ladoos and sharing laughs. My brother and I couldn't resist gobbling up a couple, which led to Maa's playful scolding since we ate them before offering bhog (food offered to god). What started as a little ritual to make me feel included has now become a cherished tradition in our family. To this day, we make ladoos together.

By the way, my brother and I are still sneaking ladoos, and Maa has finally given up on scolding us! The aroma of coconuts, our family gathered around, sharing laughter and stories while shaping ladoos is a priceless memory that always warms my heart.
Preparing for Diwali as a Family

Now that I am grown up, both Maa and I prepare the faral. Mathri is an essential companion to our evening chai, without which no chai-time is truly complete. Chiwda, a cherished childhood tiffin snack, is yet another perfect chai-time companion. Mohanthal is the melt-in-the-mouth sweet that we savor between meals (or any opportunity we get). And there are so many more dishes.

In addition to our homemade delights, we also buy ready-made sweet boxes–gifting these during Diwali is a customary practice. These sweet boxes feature an array of other tantalizing treats such as kaju katli and badam katli (fudge-like sweets made with cashews and almonds, respectively), soan papdi (a flaky sweet), motichoor laddoo (another kind of sweet ball), and more delights that we don’t usually prepare at home.

Apart from food, decoration such as lanterns, lights, rangolis (temporary floor designs using a mix of materials), diyas (candles), and torans (decorative door hangings), are all an integral part of Diwali. My brother and I take great joy in adorning the house every year, and the glimmer of colorful lights and decor at dusk creates a truly breathtaking sight.



The Spruce Eats / Bahareh Niati
Diwali Gifts and More Beautiful Traditions

Another enjoyable tradition is shopping, encompassing everything from clothing and crackers to jewelry and even real estate. As Diwali marks the most auspicious time of the year, people often make substantial investments, including purchasing homes, cars, and gold. Our family has a cherished tradition of buying gold, and my dad delights both Maa and me with beautiful gold jewelry. This custom has now extended to my husband, who also surprises me with some exquisite jewelry.

A vital aspect of our celebration involves acts of kindness, especially towards the unsung heroes–our community helpers. Through sweets and gifts, we express our heartfelt gratitude to them. Celebrating with them not only heightens our own joy but also enriches the festive spirit with a profound sense of purpose and significance.



The Spruce Eats / Bahareh Niati

Diwali is that special time of the year when we willingly wake up at 4 AM, without an alarm or Mom's reverberating wake-up call. Mornings begin with bursting crackers and are followed by pooja (a Hindi word that means prayer and worship). Each of the five days of Diwali marks a different occasion hence a different pooja. We pray and offer gratitude for our family, home, and other precious belongings. Following the pooja, as we seek blessings from our elders, we are graciously gifted with naik, a monetary blessing. My brother loves this tradition as he is the youngest, so we all shower him with cash and he feels like he is the next Bezos.

The evening festivities are adorned with the warm glow of diyas, family reunions, faral, and of course crackers. The day after Diwali marks the beginning of the new year as per the Hindu calendar, and we welcome it surrounded by our loved ones with immense joy, fun, and blessings.

If this has sparked your excitement too and you're eager to partake in Diwali celebrations, I've included recipes for some of these mouthwatering dishes below. Give them a whirl and fully embrace the delightful spirit of our Desi festivities.

Get the Recipes

Mathri

Coconut Laddoo


Chivda

Wishing you a very happy Diwali and prosperous new year!

Read the original article on The Spruce Eats.

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The many stories of Diwali share a common theme of triumph of justice
The Indian festival of lights is arguably the most important holiday of the year for South Asian families

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People shop for lanterns at a roadside stall ahead of Diwali, the Hindu festival of lights, in Mumbai, India, Saturday, Nov. 7, 2020. Diwali will be celebrated on Nov. 14. (AP Photo/Rafiq Maqbool)

November 13, 2020
By Natasha Mikles

(The Conversation) — As many Indian Americans celebrate the election of the first Black and South Asian woman, Kamala Harris, to the White House, many will also be celebrating the festival of Diwali on Saturday, Nov. 14.

Sometimes called the Indian festival of lights, Diwali is arguably the most important holiday of the year for South Asian families.

The festival, which is observed by Hindus, Sikhs and Jains, lasts five days in its entirety. Traditionally the third day is considered the most important. During this day, families gather to light candles, eat sweets and place lit lamps in their public-facing windows.

As a scholar of Asian religion and popular narratives, I’m interested in Diwali because it demonstrates how ancient tales in epics become part of religious practice.
Popular stories from Hinduism

There are many stories around what exactly Diwali commemorates and why it is celebrated.

Among Hindu families, many claim the festival celebrates the defeat of the evil demon king Ravana by Rama – an incarnation of the Hindu god Vishnu and the hero of India’s Ramayana epic. In the most famous part of this epic tale, Rama’s wife is abducted by the demon Ravana, and Rama must journey to the land of Lanka to save her with the assistance of his brother.

A different tradition states that the festival commemorates the defeat of the demon Narakasura by Lord Krishna. Like Rama, Krishna is an incarnation of the god Vishnu, who has come to assist humanity in its time of need.

Stories tell of Krishna’s efforts to rid the world of demons. In this particular story, the King Naraka gains extraordinary abilities through a deal with a demon and becomes intoxicated with power.

Narakasura, as he is now called, destroys the kingdoms around him and eventually plans to assault even the heavens. Krishna appears and uses his divine powers to neutralize Narakasura’s weapons, eventually beheading him with a multi-pronged discus.

Other traditions associate the festival with the birth of the goddess Lakshmi and her marriage to Vishnu. In the Hindu tradition, Lakshmi is worshipped as the goddess of wealth, while Vishnu is seen as the preserver of humanity.

Hoysala Architectures. Image courtesy of Bikash R Das via Wikimedia/Creative Commons

While there are many stories of her birth, the most prevalent is that Lakshmi appeared during the churning of the divine ocean of milk from which the nectar of immortality comes during a fight between the gods and demons. After appearing, she chooses to marry Vishnu and to assist him in working for the benefit of humanity.

In southern India, Hindu families commemorate the defeat of the demon Hiranyakshipu by Narasimha, the lion-headed incarnation of Vishnu. Like many Indian stories, Hiranyakshipu is a demi-god who believes he is immortal after receiving a divine blessing from the Hindu creator-god Brahma that lists the conditions for his death.

According to the boon, he cannot be killed at day or at night, inside or outside, by human or by animal, by projectile weapons or by hand weapons, and neither on the ground nor in the sky.

In response to Hiranyakshipu’s terrorizing of the heavens and Earth, Vishnu then incarnates as the lion-headed god Narasimha to kill the demon. He kills him at dusk, on the step of his house, as a chimeric lion with his claws as he lies on Narasimha’s lap – all conditions that satisfy the elements of the boon.
Stories from other religions

The Diwali tradition is celebrated by Jains and Sikhs as well, who have their own interpretations of the festival. For Jains, Diwali celebrates the nirvana, or enlightenment, of Mahavira, the 24th spiritual teacher of the Jain path and the contemporary tradition’s founder.

A jain sculpture showing Mahavira Keezhakuyilkudi, Madurai, Tamilnadu, India. Photo by Francis Harry Roy S via Wikimedia/Creative Commons

Sikhs consider Diwali a commemoration of the release of Guru Hargobind, the sixth of 10 spiritual leaders, and 52 other men who were imprisoned by the Mughal Empire that ruled the Indian subcontinent from 1526 to 1857.

After the public execution of his father by Mughal leaders, Guru Hargobind became increasingly passionate about forming an independent Sikh homeland through military action if necessary. He was eventually jailed by the Mughal Emperor Jahangir, but was released two years later on the day of Diwali.

Popular legends state that when he was freed, Guru Hargobind tricked the Mughal emperor into allowing him to bring out as many men as could hold onto the hem of his cloak and, in this way, helped release 52 other prisoners who held onto 52 threads coming off of his garment.

Origins of Diwali

The multiplicity of interpretations for why Diwali is celebrated and questions regarding the festival’s exact origins may have one potential answer: that the narrative of origins is an afterthought to rituals.

This problem is illustrated in a well-known episode of the sitcom “The Office,” where the Dunder Mifflin team attends a Diwali celebration at a local Hindu temple. Before they go, they ask Kelly – the Hindu office worker who is playing hostess – to explain the origins of the festival.

She demurs, stating “I don’t know; it’s really old, I think,” before excitedly discussing the beautiful clothes everyone wears, the dancing and the food. Mindy Kaling, who plays Kelly and wrote the episode, explained that she based Kelly’s cluelessness on her own, noting that – despite identifying as Hindu – she had to do significant research into her own religious tradition to write the episode.

In other words, while she was aware of and excited about the rituals, the narrative explanation was secondary to joining with her community in celebration.

But this does not mean that narrative may be inconsequential. It is important to think what these multiple narratives about Diwali’s origins may be able to tell us about the Indian culture.

Asian religions scholar Robert Ford Campany suggests that narratives entail a subtle form of argument that “reveal, argue, or assume something significant about the world, about spirits, about relations between humans and other beings, or about the afterlife and the dead.”

Perhaps these diverse origin stories of Diwali point to a shared argument that Indian culture is making about the world: that good – whether as one of the many avatars of Lord Vishnu, an enlightened Jain prince, or an imprisoned guru – will necessarily triumph over the evils of demons, injustice and ignorance.

Certainly that’s an argument worth celebrating, especially in the chaotic times we live in today.

(Natasha Mikles is a lecturer in philosophy at Texas State University.This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. The views expressed in this commentary do not necessarily represent those of Religion News Service.)