The Festival of LIght

Divali, Dewali, Deepavali – all names for the festival of Light dedicated to the Goddess Laxmi. Four days of prayers, good food, lights and the giving of gifts. The festival celebrates the victory of the Pandava brothers over the devil, Narkashur who used to eat one person every day from a village in the jungle. One of the Pandava brothers, Bhim, killed the devil and the villagers celebrated that day as the first Divali.

The first day of Divali is called Narakshur day, the second day is Laxmi Puja, the third day is Padava,(also Marathi New year) and the final day is Bhaubeej, (brothers’ day). Four days to eat good food including gulab jamun, sweets, dahi barra and an excuse for indulgence.

At Divali time people spring clean their houses, sometimes painting the house, and decorate it with lights and lanterns called Kandils.At Awaas we made kandils from coloured paper and fixed them to lights bulbs.

The kandils were made under Sainath's supervsion by volunteer residents and staff. Our electrician fixed wires to attach them to points along the corridors, dining room and main hall.

 Special ‘rangoli’ designs are made with coloured powder in front of the house or shop. Manisha made our Awaas rangoli, in front of the main door, in the corridor and in the courtyard where we play badminton. 

Gates and doors were decorated with marigold flowers

Special prayers and hymns were sung in the Mandir (our temple room). 

The courtyard rangoli lit with oil lamps at night,

Garlands of plump marigolds were made by Sangeeta and hung on the main gate, and other doorways.

Little oil lamps in tiny clay dishes (diya) were lit and placed in doorways and in the windows to welcome Laxmi into the house so that she could bring wealth and prosperity. Children let off fireworks when it got dark.

Garlands of flowers and coloured lights decorate the shops in the town. Sweet shops do a roaring trade and families shop for new clothes and special foodstuffs. New clothes are gifted to husbands, wives and children. Mr Pareekji, an Awaas trustee, gave the male residents new tee-shirts and the ladies had saris. Staff had sweets and a special food container. Ashok the Awaas manager gave the staff watches. 
Deva, Sureka and the kitchen staff kept us supplied with special DIvalli treats to eat at meal times.

It is like an Indian Christmas!