Almost a week before Diwali is Ahoi Ashtami, a day when mothers in many parts of North India pray and fast for the well being of their male off springs exclusively. The baniya-marwari (traders) community in Rajasthan has held on to this tradition quite religiously over centuries. In the age of ‘readymade’ items though quite a few Marwari households which buy a ready-made Ahoi Mata calendar, there are still those who retain the age-old tradition of making the Mother’s sketch with the help of geru - red powder diluted with water to make a paste. Her picture is either hung (if it is a calendar) or made on the wall, which has been covered with a layer of cow dung over which a fresh coat of lime is applied.

It is in front of this sanctified wall that the Marwaris perform Diwali puja, beginning with Ganesha Stuti (invocation to Lord Ganesha), followed by Lakshmi pujan and concluded by the Satyanarayan aarti.

Between the Laskshmi puja and Satyanarayan aarti, prayers are offered to the family deity and all the other deities the family may have abiding faith in. Not to forget that among the delightful and sumptuous spread of fruits and sweets, there is a one must-have for the puja to be complete in its essence - that being the charnamrit – a delicious mixture of curd, un-boiled milk, basil (tulsi) leaves and sugar. And if the usually well-off marwari can afford it, a new silver coin is also bought and worshipped on the auspicious day of Diwali – this is seen as a good omen for financial wealth.

The other exclusively marwari do on Diwali day is penning down the current grocery rates in the account book and placing a betel leaf in between the covers. After this, the family does a parikrama (taking seven rounds) around the sanctum santorum and the pujan is concluded by the Satyanarayan aarti.

As in most Hindu households, marwaris too feast on what is called ‘pucca khana’ in the Hindi-speaking belt, i.e. anything that is cooked in oil or ghee and not baked such as chapattis or boiled rice. Puris and halwa are a must along with other dishes where sweet daliya (sweet porridge) is not to be missed.

Megha Bist

Uttar Pradesh

In UP, Diwali finds its origins in the legend of Lord Rama (one of the incarnations of Lord Vishnu) and his victory over the evil king, Ravana, who had kidnapped Sita, Rama’s wife. The festival of lights is easily the Hindus’ most important festival and begins with Dhanteras, when utensils are bought specially for the occasion. These utensils are worshipped in order to please the Goddess of wealth, Lakshmi who will bring in prosperity and wealth to the household. On Chhoti Diwali or Narak Chaturdashi a big diya (earthen lamp) is placed outside the main entrance of the house to drive away evil spirits.

Spread over a period of five days, Lakshmi puja (the main celebration) is done on the third day. Traditionally, the entrance of the house is decorated with aam patta (mango leaves strung across the main door), phool (flowers) and a rangoli created with roli (vermillion powder) and powdered rice on the floor of the entrance. Early on Diwali day, the head the family takes a broom, attaches to it a piece of cloth and cleans the house with it. He then prays for all indigency to go out of his home and hearth and for prosperity to come in.

On Diwali evening, only mud idols (though, these are now replaced with idols of other materials such as silver) of Goddess Lakhsmi and Lord Ganesha idols are placed at a designated spot in the house. All the earthen diyas (a minimum of 16 – there is no upper limit), which have been pre-soaked for a couple of hours that morning (to prevent from the oil from seeping into the lamps) are then brought out and filled with oil. There is a main (read a special, big diya with four separate spaces for four wicks, which is put at the head of the rangoli. The Puja is begun with Ganesha strota (invocation to the Lord Ganesha) followed by Lakshmi strota.

Five types of fruits and flowers are offered to the Gods as well. A minimum of eight kulias (or small-sized gharas / earthen pots), are filled with kheel (puffed rice) with a batasha (a sweet made only out of sugar) are kept alongside. Lakshmi is also worshipped in the form of actual currency - silver or a gold coin in order that prosperity become a part of the household. Thereafter, an offering (in the form of some sweet or the other) is made to the Gods and everyone in the family partakes a bit from the same.

All the diyas, except the main one, are then picked up from the rangoli and taken to the darkest corners of the house in order to dispel the evil spirits, which may be hiding there!

The holy patterns (rangoli and other auspicious symbols such as the Swastika) in the sacrosanct area are left thus, for the next couple of days and removed only on Bhaiya Dooj after tying kalava (holy thread) to Lord Ganesha and Goddess Lakshmi. Diwali puja culminates with the sister applying tilak on her brother’s forehead, wishing for him to be prosperous.

Manjulaa S. Negi