I peeped through the window of our house that one day and enjoyed an extravaganza like those stars twinkling high over the sky. The sight was as fresh as it is on all the days of Diwali. It was the house of a family from Karnataka settled near our house from time immemorial. The candles and diyas lighted in their varandah, on the courtyard, walls, windows and their house flickered three continuous days. Inspired by them we started lighting candles in our varandah. There are a few shops and other houses that glittered during Diwali. I find it fortunate, to join hands with every other Indian in Kuwait, apart from their religion, region, caste and creed, to celebrate with the same zeal and enthusiasm they carry from their homeland or even more.
It is an occasion of joy and togetherness, wherever Indians live. Every year on the Diwali day, I insist my husband to take me a drive through the roads of Salmiya, an area in Kuwait where Indians celebrate their festivals. Even though we get stuck in the traffic, in the midst of the Indians I often become mesmerised to see the lamps and lights of different shapes and sizes, lanterns kept on the balconies, the porticos of the apartments and enjoying a few fire crackers. I often looked with eyes open wide at the beauty of the bright and traditional attire of the men, the women and the kids walking round in plenty. That evenings, I am not there only for dining in and buying sweet packets.
I would also love it to drive through other areas where Indians celebrate in vigour and gaiety. Sorry to myself that the festivities over and over again fall on working days. I think this unity in celebration has made a Kuwaiti tell me with a pleasant smile on his face, ‘’where ever Indians are, they celebrate their festivals in pomp and show’’. He even said that while he was in United states of America doing his studies, he witnessed Indians celebrate all their festivals.
And on the Diwali days and evenings, my phone beeped a thousand times as the friend and family groups on wats app send photographs, videos, and greetings aplenty. The uncle in United Kingdom greets Diwali with the same spirit of the friend somewhere in United States of America. There are a some who go through their memory lane too. On social media, greetings flourish from knock and corner of the world. From history to present, from to culture to atheism and more of Diwali thoughts comes and goes in galore. The world become abuzz with Diwali as Indians are spread around the planet.
I am inspired. And I bought a few diyas and a thali(plate) to keep on the table in my drawing room. Ours is an area, where very few Indians stay and the festivals remained closed in inside individual flats. I always made it a point to do a clean makeover of my house before the Diwali knocks their door. The belief of Goddess Lakshmi, the deity of wealth wandering around the earth on the day and entering purer, cleaner and brightly illuminated houses are lively with every Indians.
The main festival day falls on the no-moon day of the dark half of Kartik, according to the Hindu lunar calendar. It is the new moon day in October or November. The deities of Goddess Lakshmi and Lord Ganesha are worshipped on thesedays.
Diwali is predominantly a five-day festival. The first day is considered auspicious to spring clean the home and shop for gold or kitchen utensils. The second day, homes are decorated with lamps, usually made of clay, and rangoli. Rangolis are patterns designed on the floor using coloured powders or sand. The third day is the main day of the festival. Families and friends gather for Lakshmi puja followed by sumptuous feasts and fireworks. The fourth day signifies the beginning of the business year. Friends and relatives visit with gifts and best wishes for the season. On the last day of Diwali, brothers visit their married sisters. The sister and brother-in-law’s family welcome them with love and lavish meal.
It is with the same spirit carried from the home country, the Indians residing abroad celebrate at faraway lands. They meet their relatives, make friends, even find their long lost kin, does Poojas together and share sweets and gifts.
The word ’Diwali’ is the abbreviation of the Sanskrit word ’Deepavali’, which means ’rows of lights’. The festival commemorates the victory of Lord Rama over Ravana and rescuing his wife Sita from his custody. It symbolises the victory of the good over the evil.
On the same day Sikhs around the world celebrate Bandi Chhor Divas. Diwali marks the return of the Sixth Guru, Guru Hargobind Ji, who was freed from imprisonment and also managed to release 52 political prisoners at the same time from Gwalior fort by Mughal Emperor Jahangir in 1619.
Jains celebrate Diwali as a festival of light, a symbolic representation of the nirvana or spiritual awakening of Lord Mahavira for the peace and welfare of all living beings in 527 BC.
It is a festival beyond religion and caste. In each state, each region of India, the people have their own way of belief and way of fête. In some parts of the southern India it is the day Lord Krishna defeated the demon Narakasura. In the western part, especially the Tulu Nadu region of Kerala-Karnataka states the festival marks the day Lord Vishnu sent the demon King Bali to rule the nether world. Well known as ‘Poliyandram’ or ‘Baliyandram’, they welcome the erstwhile ruler with the lamps lit in their varandah, courtyard, cow shed and other auspicious spaces of their house on the day Lord Vishnu assured Bali a visit to see his subjects on earth.
Where ever Indians are, it is a festival auspicious and it is of no language and religious barrier. It is when darkness paves way to light, and it is in its true spirit the festival of light.