DEEPAVALI - THE FESTIVAL OF LIGHTS

The Light Stuff – Lights! Camera…Peacock!

 

The first visual that smacks you in the eyes as you enter Little India in the evening is the explosion of colour and light and one very huge purple disco looking peacock, followed by its equally lighted up entourage of displays. Bask in the purple glow as they welcome you into Little India. The whole stretch of Serangoon Road which goes through Little India is decorated with lighted displays. The reason for this obsession with purple and peacocks… ‘tis the month of Deepavali! To be honest, peacocks are usually associated with Thaipusam, another Indian festival. But we suppose peacocks make more alluring visuals than a giant lamp or a mother killing her own son. Shocked? Read on….

 

Deepavali also called “The Festival of Lights” has its origins from early practices in India to anticipate winter and the start of a new sowing season. (In Singapore we welcome sewing season all year round, after all we do love fashion!) On the new-moon day after the mid-Autumn harvest, Indians celebrate Deepavali by lighting oil lamps and candles. Traditionally, celebrations include explosion of firecrackers. As lighting of firecrackers is prohibited in Singapore, eating a lot of onions can emit the same loud explosions.

In India , the festival is traditionally celebrated over a period of 4 days whilst in Singapore it is celebrated for only one day ( Hello! Shouldn't we be embracing our traditional examples, like longer holidays?!!).

 

 

A four-day celebration would take place as such –

On day one, a refreshing (i.e. to wake you up!) early morning bath is taken. After that the first candles and oil lamps are lighted before sunrise and placed all over the house. This is also the green light for children to light up their sparklers and firecrackers (nothing like a loud snap crackle and pop to wake up your neighbours and invite them to your homes!) Spring cleaning and decorating of homes are in full swing in anticipation of visitors. Believe it or not, visitors are welcomed to pop by all hours where everyone exchanges sweets and wishes.

On the second day, get ready to read your wish list to the goddess of grace and wealth, Goddess Lakshmi. It is believed on this day she is feeling extra benevolent and in the mood to grant all the wishes of her devotees. Which explains why lamps are always placed outside homes during this festival to ensure she can find her way and bestow her blessings to the right home. (Hmmm, in that case, those who live in lighthouses would definitely have their wishes granted).

The third and fourth days are for prayers and feasting. Children look forward to these two days as they are generally not to be scolded during the festival and count on getting away with mischief.

 

Like every good festival, there is always a legend lurking behind it. In the case of Deepavali, there is a South and North Indian version. In Singapore we follow the South Indian version. More twisted than a soap opera plot, the legend unfurls where Narakasura (the demon son of Bhudevi), became king. After severe penances, his powers increased tremendously. You'd think he would have learnt his lesson by now because he started on a campaign of terror throughout his kingdom. To add to his street cred he gains a boon whereby he can only be killed by his mother! Enters the hero Lord Krishna who tries to stop this pesky tyrant. Obviously a male who doesn't suffer from low self-esteem issues, he asks his wife Satyabhama to be the charioteer in the battle with Narakasura. Are you ready for the twist in the tale? Satyabhama is actually a reincarnation of Bhudevi, the mom!

(If you find the stories totally unbelievable, just remember they're all allegorical and meant to teach some virtue or the other to innocent children at the temple!!)

 

In the heat of the battle, Krishna feigned unconsciousness when Narakasura shot him with an arrow. Satyabhama immediately aims an arrow at Narakasura, and kills him instantly. To celebrate the death of the evil king, Satyabhama decrees a festival to be conducted. Thus, Deepavali is celebrated every year to symbolise the triumph of good over evil.

 

The North Indian version goes something like this. Lord Rama the king of Ayodhya and his wife Sita were banished to the forests by his step-mother. To add to their stress, an evil king Ravana kidnaps Sita and keeps her prisoner. Together with Hanuman the monkey-god, Rama fights a battle where Ravana is finally killed. Rama returns to his kingdom only after 14 years. (Well, with a stepmother like that I'd take my own sweet time to return home too.) To commemorate his homecoming and coronation as king, his subjects illuminate the kingdom with oil lamps and release firecrackers, to signify the triumph of good over evil.

 

And there you have it. For more information on local Indian culture, make like a peacock (or peahen if you prefer) and strut down to Little India with us on Dhobis, Saris and a Spot of Curry™