Diwali is to India what Christmas is to the Western world. After all it is only on Diwali that people spend up to Rs 27,000 on an air ticket to come home, pay premium charges to get their house repainted and spend precious money on buying gold and silver to register an increase in asset value.
And though the rituals mostly comprise of cleaning the house, having an elaborate oil massage and bath and worshipping Laxmi and Ganesh in the evening by offering sweets along with puffed rice and sugar toys, there are other varied rituals observed by different communities across the country.
Maharashtrians: The abhyang snan is undoubtedly the biggest Diwali ritual in the state. Kapil Chandrayan, a student of astrology, explains, "The mainstay of this ritual is that everybody tries to propitiate the goddess of wealth. One way to do so is to worship her through the planet shukra, which symbolizes rich and luxurious things. So we clean and decorate the house, clean the body with scented soaps and oils, offer sweets, and buy and keep gold and silver ornaments in the Diwali puja to please and welcome home the goddess of wealth."
Tamilians: For Tamilians, there isn't an evening puja but early morning bath is a must. Srilatha Balasubramanian says, "Applying of oil before having bath is mandatory. Sesame oil is used and it is prepared one day earlier by adding black pepper, ajwain and paan leaves to it. Next day, before sunrise elders apply sandalwood paste and kumkum to the younger members. Chandan and vermilion is also applied to the source of water, be it the tap or the tank. Then everybody has a bath using shikakai seeds. It is believed that having a bath with these rituals is equivalent of having Ganga snan."
Marwari: The Marwari community largely engaged in business begins its celebration from Dhanteras. Meenakshi Damani, a homemaker, says, "The day before Diwali, which we also call Roopchaudas, is devoted to the ritualistic bathing. Women use sesame oil to massage themselves as it is believed that on this day mother Ganga dwells in water and Laxmi in til seeds. After the bath, we draw a swastika of haldi and rice flour mixture on the main door and a conch is blown to welcome the goddess of wealth. The food comprises of a curry made with Kali bari, which is a moong dal preparation to which amla powder is added to give black colour. Chapatis are not made on Diwali, as we do not use the tawa on this day."
Sindhi: In every Sindhi home a wooden shelter is built where the idol of Goddess Laxmi is kept. Lavita Arya says, "For Laxmi pujan, coins and ornaments are placed in a thaali filled with milk and vermilion is mixed into it. This is passed around as family members hold it in their hands and pray for prosperity. Kalam or pen made from banana stalks is prepared and every member of the family uses it to write their name on the wall of the well located in the house."
Bengali: The rest may worship goddess Laxmi for peace and prosperity, but Bengalis turn to goddess Kali. Former DGP PKB Chakraborty explains, "Laxmi is believed to be chanchal, so she cannot provide lasting security. This is why most of the Bengalis who follow the tantrik cult worship Kali to be blessed with var and abhay, which means wish fulfilment and security. Diwali is the biggest amawasya in the Hindu calendar. So we do Kali puja after midnight on Diwali day. Laxmi too is worshipped, but only in the evening at homes."
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