Deepavali, harbinger of prosperity

In fact, since Deepavali is the best among festivals and the Gita the best among scriptures, the two are often viewed as siblings of sorts. The story of how Deepavali came to be celebrated with festive fervour is fairly well known. Having gained a boon that only his mother could kill him, Naragasura, a son of Bhoomadevi, committed a number of atrocities. 

Finally, when Krishna took him on, such was the power of his boon that Krishna fainted in the chariot. However, Krishna’s Consort, Satyabhama took charge of the situation, shot an arrow into Naragasura, mortally wounding him, Satyabhama was none other than Bhoomadevi in another avatar. A remorseful Naragasura prayed that his death be celebrated with happiness by everyone.

Traditionally, the festivities begin early morning, with an oil bath and Ganga snanam. Both are mandatory, since Goddess Lakshmi resides in both these on this particular day. Along with other Gods, She ushers in prosperity. The Gods are said to reside in water on Deepavali, and thus the water also becomes Ganga the holy river, which is said to have originated in Brahma’s kamandalam, run over the feet of Vishnu, travelling through the locks of Siva before descending on earth, flowing through the plains of the nation. 

The best time to light the diya is early morning, after the oil bath. During that hour Vishnu is said to reside in all the lamps along with Lakshmi, who also glows as the wick. 

While new clothes, oil bath and the lighting of diyas is commonly followed across the nation, in Bihar, the celebrations are akin to Pongal. In Kasi, Swarna Annapoorni is displayed only in this occasion. 

In Gujarat, celebrations last for five days, starting with Dhanteras on day one. In Tamil Nadu, the celebrations begin the previous night but the festival is observed early morning. Stone inscriptions denote that in recent history, Deepavali was ushered in during the Thirumalai Naicker’s time in Tamil Nadu. 

Emperor Shah Jehan is said to have celebrated Deepavali with fireworks and a massive feast. Scholars also say that the Chalukyas celebrated Deepavali in their palaces in 1117 AD. 

Emperor Harsha’s play, Nagananda (7th century) also mentions the celebration of Deepvali.  The celebrations also figure in the Marathi play, Leelavathi (1250 AD). Chankaya’s ancient treatise  Arthashastra too gives prominence to Deepavali celebrations. 

The festival figures in the puranas as well. The ancient Sarangapani temple in Kumbakonam, likewise has inscriptions detailing celebration of the festival. 

In Tirupati, Deepavali is the only day when the atchathai is prepared with kumkumam —on other days it is done with haldi. At the Sri Parthasarathy Temple in Triplicane, the brilliantly decorated utsavar would be taken in a grand procession around the Mada streets, with continuous bursting of crackers, as dusk falls on Deepavali day. 

In fact, Deepavali and crackers became synonymous in 1923, when a unit in Sivakasi began making crackers exclusively for Deepavali. The festival of lights is celebrated across the world. The Canadian Parliament celebrated it in 1998. Everyone celebrates the festival of prosperity and light, in the quest for material and spiritual wealth.