Diwali-2023

Diwali aka Deepabali is a Hindu festival, popularly known as festival of lights. It is celebrated to symbolize the victory of goodness over evil power. It is the day when Lord Ram returned to his kingdom after many years of exile. In the happiness of his returning, the people of Ayodhya lighted the lamps everywhere.

One special ritual in Diwali which is unique in Eastern India state Odisha is the calling of ancestors’ souls on the day and praying for their souls to find the peaceful path. The souls are attracted by keeping a diya inside an earthen pot. Recalling to forefathers, is another traditional way of celebrating Deepabali in Puri Odisha, lots of people from different part Odisha throng to Puri to celebrate this holy occasion.

Odia - { Bada badua ho, andhaara re aasa, alua re jaa. Baaisi pahaacha re gada gadau tha }.

Translation - "O forefathers, come to us in this dark evening, we light your way to heaven. May you attain salvation on the 22 steps of Jagannath Dham"

People get dressed up in new clothes, distribute sweets and dry fruits to neighbours and relatives. In the evening, a special rangoli is made which is of the shape of a sail boat. Just near this rangoli a plough, some mortar and pestle are placed and worshipped. The sail boat has seven chambers and each chamber has a special item like asparagus root, salt, turmeric etc. In the central chamber the ‘prasad’ is kept, on top of which a jute stem is placed and this is used as a deepa (diya).

OSCAA Organized Deepabali on November 18, 2023 at Scandinavian Centre.