Maharashtra
Diwali starts from Vasubaras which is the 12th day of
the 2nd half of the Marathi month Ashvin. This day is celebrated by
performing an Aarti of the cow and its calf – which is a symbol of
love between mother and her baby.The next day is Dhana Trayodashi.
Traders and business people give special importance to this festival. It is
also considered an auspicious day for making important purchases, especially
metals, including kitchenware and precious metals like silver and gold.This is
followed by Naraka Chaturdashi.
On this day people get up early in the morning and take their bath before
sunrise while stars are still visible. Bathing is an elaborate process on this
day with abundant use of ‘utnas’, oils and perfumes, and is preceded by an Aarti performed on the person by some lady, usually mother or
wife. The whole process is referred to as ‘abhyanga-snaan’.Then comes Lakshmi-pooja. It occurs on Amavasya . The dark
night is illuminated by lamps and at dusk firecrackers are burst. New account
books are opened after a pooja.
Generally the traders do not make any payments on that day . In every household, cash, jewellery and an idol
of the goddess Lakshmi is worshipped. Friends, neighbours and relatives are
invited over and celebrations are in full swing. The broom used to clean one's
house is also worshipped as a symbol of Lakshmi in some places .Bali Pratipada is the 1st day of
the new month – Kartik in the Hindu calendar. It
marks the start of Hindu financial year. Its a special day for Husband and
wife. The wife puts tilak on her husbands forehead and he gives her an
expensive gift. In recent times there is a growing trend of organising a
cultural event called 'Diwali Padwa' early in the morning. Bhau-beej – it is
the time when the bond of love between a brother and sister is further
strengthened as the sister asks God for her brother/s' long and successful life
while she receives presents from her beloved brothers. On these days People
makes 'Faral' like Chakali, Laddu,
Karanji, Chiwada etc.
Odisha
Diwali is celebrated with great joy. Rows of oil
lamps, candles adorn the thresholds of all houses. Firecrackers are burst,
sweetmeals are relished and distributed. Some people also worship family
goddess. Tarpanam is done in the morning of diwali.
All the members of the household gather together just after dusk. A rangoliof a
sailboat is made on the ground. The boat has seven chambers in north, ten
chamber in east, and twelve chamber in south.the east chamber are meant for
gods.north chamber for seer or Rishi and south chambers for manes and
forefathers. Perched over the
prasad is a jute stem with a cloth wick tied around the edge. It is lit at the
beginning of the puja. All members of the family hold a bundle of jute stems in
their hands, Lighting their respective bundles from the flame on the rangoli,
they raise them skywards to their forefathers chanting: Badabadua ho andhaara e
asa Aluaa e Jaao Baaisi pahacha e Gadagadau thaao Beside the rangoli, a mortar
and pestle and a plough are also kept and worshiped. After the puja and
offerings, the family celebrates Diwali festival by bursting firecrackers. As
in other regions, most people prefer to celebrate it in their own homes, though
family gatherings are also common. Various kinds of Pithas are prepared and given to the deities and forefathers,
and enjoyed with family and friends. The ritual of Kali Puja is a famous affair in Puri, Bhadrak, Rourkela, Cuttack &Jajpur area.
West Bengal, Mithilanchal,
& Assam
Kali Puja in Kolkata
and Assam.
Kali Puja is light-up night for West Bengal, Mithila region in Bihar & Assam corresponding to
the festival of Diwali ( Dipaboli
in Bengali), (in Maithili, Diya-Baati) where people light
diyas/candles in memory of the souls of departed ancestors. The goddess Kali is worshipped for whole night on one night during this
festival. This is also a night of fireworks, with local youth burning
sparklers and firecrackers throughout the night. Both the traditions of
worshiping the Goddess Kali as well as Goddess Lakshmi and Lord Ganesha is
prevalent in the Mithila region. Kali puja is also known by the names of Shyama
puja or Nisha puja in the Mithila region and West Bengal.
Goa and Konkan
Divali begins in Konkan and Goa on the day of
Naraka Chaturdashi. The houses are cleaned and decorated with kandeel, lamps, mango leaves, and marigold
flowers. The utensils are made to shine, filled with water, and decorated for
the holy bath the following morning. On this day, paper-made effigies of Narakasura, filled with grass and
firecrackers symbolising evil, are made.These effigies are burnt at around four
o'clock in the morning the following day/ Firecrackers are burst, and people
return home to take a scented oil bath. Lamps are lit in a lineThe women of the
house perform aarti of the men, gifts are exchanged, a
bitter berry called kareet is
crushed under the feet in token of killing Narkasur, symbolising evil and
removal of ignorance. Different varieties of Poha and sweets are made and eaten with
family and friends. Festivities continue till Tulsi Vivah and lamps are lit every
evening. Celebrations include Lakshmi puja on the Diwali day, Krishna puja or
Govardhan puja and cattle worship on Balipratipada day, Bhaubeej, and Tulsi
vivah.
