Diverse Diwali traditions across India

A rich tapestry of varied traditions

Diwali, the Festival of Lights, is one of India's most popular and cherished celebrations, rich in religious and cultural significance. Celebrated across the country, it symbolises the triumph of good over evil. Each region of India brings its own unique traditions and stories to the festival, from the vibrant Narakasura Chaturdashi in Goa to the spiritual rituals of Kaunria Kathi in Odisha.

The vibrant, joyous and one of the most beloved festivals of the year, Diwali, also known as the ‘Festival of Lights’ holds great religious and cultural significance in the heart of Indians. While lit up streets and houses, markets brimming with people, families participating in rituals, and fire-crackers lighting up the night sky are the hallmarks of this festival, each region of India has its own unique way of celebrating this cherished occasion.

In Northern India, Diwali marks the return of Lord Rama and his wife Sita to Ayodhya after 14 years of exile, symbolising the victory of good over evil. Meanwhile, in the southern states, the festival honours Lord Krishna, celebrating his triumph over the demon Narakasura.

Despite these varied traditions, Diwali unites people in a shared celebration of love, culture, and community.

Here are some of the distinctive ways Diwali is observed across different regions of India.

Goa

Apart from its stunning beaches and vibrant night light, Goa also boasts a rich tapestry of traditions, one of which is the unique way it celebrated the festival of lights.

This celebration, known as the Narakasura Chaturdashi Festival is a tradition practiced in just a handful of states and emphasises eternal battle of good versus evil.

The festival is centred round the mythological tale of Narakasura, a demon king born to goddess of Earth, Bhudevi. As Narakasura grew powerful, he became arrogant, using his strength to terrorise villagers, even abducting women.

Desperate for salvation, the villagers prayed to Lord Krishna for help. Krishna, along with his wife Satyabhama, an incarnation of Bhudevi fought and ultimately defeated Narakasura, symbolising the triumph of good over evil.

The festival begins early in the morning with the burning of paper effigies of Narakasura, filled with grass and firecrackers. This ritual is performed by men who then partake in a traditional oil bath, symbolising purification. Homes are adorned with rows of lit lamps, and women perform aarti for the men. Gifts are exchanged, and participants crush a bitter berry called kareet underfoot, representing the defeat of Narakasura. This unique celebration blends myth, community, and joy, making it a cherished aspect of Goan culture. These festivities take place a day before Diwali every year.

Gujarat

Different regions in Gujarat celebrate Diwali in their own unique ways. In the Panchmahal region, located in the eastern part of the state, villagers playfully through lit fire-crackers at each other. A practice which may seem hazardous has been a centuries old tradition in the region.

In other parts of Gujarat like the Narmada and Baruch districts, locals observe Diwali for 15 days. During this time, they burn herbal wood, believing that the resulting smoke carries medicinal properties, symbolising good health for the coming year.

Another significant tradition among the Gujaratis is Chopda Pujan. This ritual, primarily practiced by businessmen and traders, involves the worship of Goddess Lakshmi and their financial records. It serves as a way to seek blessings for prosperity and a successful financial year ahead.

Madhya Pradesh

On the day after Diwali, locals of Madhya Pradesh celebrate Govardhan Puja, a day which commemorates the mythological tale of Lord Krishna lifting the Govardhan Mountain on his little finger saving the residents of Mathura in Uttar Pradesh from a deadly storm. Villagers in Ujjain district adorn calves with flowers and lay down on the ground letting the cattle to stomp on them. The ceremony usually occurs after villagers fast for a period of five days and they believe that this ritual will compel the gods to answer their pleas.

Another unique ritual performed in the village of Sultaniya in Rajgarh district of Madhya Pradesh on the same day as the Govardhan Puja honours cows in a unique manner. Known as the ‘Chhota Utsav’ the festival involves a ritual where the cows are baited with a piece of leather tied to a babool (Arabic gum tree) stick wrapped with a tulsi (basil) plant. The cattle are then incited to tear that shred of leather.

The event is believed to be a sport of the gods and is a reminiscent of the bullfights in Spain and Jallikattu in Tamil Nadu.

Odisha

Odisha attaches its own meaning to the festival of lights by participating in rituals to honour their departed ancestors. The festival known as Kaunria Kathi is a unique celebration of Diwali by the locals in the eastern state of India.

It involves a ritual where people burn jute sticks while chanting the prayer “Badabadua ho, andhaare aasa, aalua re jaa!” which translates to “O forefathers, come to us in this dark evening,” to call on their ancestors. The festival symbolises spirit of joy, community and togetherness.

Other rituals involve the people cleaning their houses, wearing new clothes, worshipping Goddess Lakshmi and Lord Ganesh, and following the Bengali rituals of worshipping goddess kali.

Himachal Pradesh

In Himachal Pradesh locals participate in a rather unique and dangerous event called ‘Pathar ka Mela’ which involves a stone-pelting ceremony. The event is held in Dhami, near Shimla, the capital of the state, in as a devotional celebration, and getting struck during the festivities is considered lucky.

The fair is held one day after Diwali in which two groups of people belonging to different villages participate by throwing stones at each other. The blood from those injured is applied on the forehead of an idol of Goddess Kali in the nearby temple.

The fair is believed to have originated from a legend about a queen who sacrificed hereself to stop the practice of human sacrifices in the region of Dhani.

Chhattisgarh

The festivities of Diwali, also known as Diyari in the region of Bastar in Chhattisgarh begin with a ceremonial marriage of tillers, or stem produced by rice plants, with rice seeds with an idol of Lord Narayana, this custom is known as Laxmi Jagar.  The celebrations are then followed by farmers stockpiling their produce.

On the first day of the unique three-day festival livestock owners in the tribal villages are honoured with alcohol. The celebrations also involve adorning the cattle with flowers, traditional dances and banging of drums and worshipping the crops as goddess Lakshmi who is also seen as a personification of prosperity.

Punjab

In Punjab, the Sikh community associates Diwali with the tale of the Sikh battle for freedom against the Mughal emperor Jahangir. The festival known as Bandi Chhor Diwas commemorates the release of the sixth Guru of the Sikhs, Guru Hargobind Sahib from the Gwalior Fort.

The occasion is celebrated by lighting of earthen lamps or diyas in houses and gurudwaras, as well as bursting crackers, gifting and feasting.