Diwali, a festival so our very own with myriad people across the pan Indian continent eulogizing in unison a series of rituals and celebrations with niches of individuality woven in. childhood memories assail the senses, foods and mithais, of every form, hues and content, newly stitched wardrobes, mirroring polished gleaming utensils, neatly arrayed on freshly plastered walls; the aroma of food blending with the acrid smoke of an ostentously displayed fire cracker, light, sparkle and magical bonanzas accompanied by a cacophony of sounds and noise to decibels beyond. Sensuously flowing luminousness dropped from the heavens like a net engulfing and illuminating a city in splendor. Stories within stories, legends surrounding myths, the most universal of them being associated with the return of Lord Ram to Ayodhya after his consort Sita’s rescue and the end of his exile. There is the other legend of a great king Mahabali Chakravarthi. Due to a boon granted by Brahma he achieved invincibility over the three domains of the earth, heavens and the nether regions. His domination made Indra and other demi gods seek solace from Vishnu as Mahabali exerted control over all and nothing short of Ragnarok or Kralizec would change the tides favorably and bring succor to the ‘oppressed’.

Vishnu promised aid and came forth in a manifestation of a Brahmin, a man of stunted growth, a person undersized and insignificant therefore known as Vamana. Bali the king was known for his magnanimity towards Brahmins and Vaman presented himself at the court, impressed the king with his discourse and asked for three steps as dakshina. Vaman’s single step covered the earth, the other air. Though by now knowing the outcome, Bali offered his own head to place the third step on, Vishnu’s final step exiled the king to the nether regions over which he was granted dominion and freedom was restored elsewhere. Consequently Vishnu, in the guise of a Brahmin by the very act of placing his foot automatically absolved Bali of all his sins and it is that elevation to greatness which is celebrated as the festival of lights.

An older legend within the Skandapuran, tells of twentyone days spent in austerity by the mother goddess beginning of ashtami of shuklapaksha which nominally falls on the eighth day of Navratri. At the end of the cycle, Shakti joined with Shiv finally creating Ardhanarishwar, the complete being. Traditionally even today, there is a symbolic fast maintained for these 21 days known as ‘kedar vrat’ and the day of Diwali is the celebration of its completion. Diwali day is celebrated in Eastern India through Kali Puja.
The day after Diwali celebrated as Bhai Duj or a confirmation of the bond between a brother and sister. This acknowledged ritual of protective ambience predates Rakshabandhan. The mists of the Bhai Dujian legend relate to an important anecdote woven within the story of the reunion of Lord Yama and his sister Yamuna, hence forth celebrated as a meeting of siblings ascertaining their mutual love and bond.

As Diwali marks a change in the Agrarian cycle based on the lunar calendar wherein the first day of Kartik maas is celebrated as bestu varsh or the new year. Gaiety and cacophony with homes bedecked in marigold and asopalav, rangolis unfolded, anew to welcome in prosperity and the goddess Lakshmi. An old pagan ritual of breaking ceremoniously a chink of salt called sabraas marks the beginning of this new day.

The fifth day in the calendar of events is considered the most auspicious for the beginnings of trade and business activities and therefore most muhurats takes place on this day of laabh pacham. This cycle of festivities that is Diwali culminates on the fifteen day of Kartik Maas, know as Dev Diwali in recognition of the return of Vishnu to Vaikunth after reading the earth of her burden.

Diwali heralds the beginning of a cycle of festivals celebrated through variety of fairs, rituals, religious pilgrimages and the like.. The city of Ahmedabad is also celebrating its heritage week eulogizing a culture dating back to almost six hundred years of uninterrupted history.