DEEPAVALI
Falling in the lunar month of Aswiyuja on
the Amavasya or blue moon day, Deepavali / Diwali is celebrated in commemoration of
the victory of good over evil.
The Rituals
:
Deepavali (Deepa = light & Avali
= row, in Sanskrit) as the name suggests is the ‘Festival of Lights’ that
time and again reiterates to the mankind, to uphold the light of true values in life.
 The actual
festival starts a day prior to Amavasya, on Naraka Chaturdasi. It is on this day that
Satyabhama, the consort of Lord Krishna is held to have killed the demon king Narakasura,
which is celebrated as the victory of good over evil. Holy baths, new clothes and
colourful floral rangolis mark the day. Towards the evening is an effigy of Narakasura
burnt in commemoration of the legendary battle.
The day of Diwali is marked with a wide
array of fireworks, ranging from simple sparklers, pencils, flower pots, ground
chakras & Vishnu chakras to rockets, long ladi / garlands & hydrogen bombs. Not to
mention the much fancy items like parachute bombs and the like. Matabas, earthen
flower pots, sisindris, thataku tapakaya and Tara Juvva are the
specials among crackers that are now scanty in presence.
 Towards the evening of Deepavali are all the houses, huts of the
poor and the mansions of the rich alike, lit up with rows of twinkling diyas welcoming
Goddess Lakshmi. Lakshmi puja is performed in the honour of the Goddess
of wealth and prosperity.
Bommala Koluvu and the give
and take matkas filled with candy and puffed rice is a common ritual in the
Telangana region. This apart, aarti is also performed on brothers by
applying tilak on their foreheads wishing them good luck on the eve. And Peneelu
served with milk is the dish special for the festival.
It is also customary for children to
perform a small ritual called "Dibbu" where in they are made to
put off a burning stem of Gongura with oil cloth-pieces tied to it and then fed with a
couple of sweets before burning the crackers. This is believed a good omen for the family
welfare. And then it is time for all the fireworks even as the darkness unfolds
itself, which goes on and on till late in the night.
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