WHEN YOUR DIWALI IS NOT MY DEEPAVALI
The Morning Standard|November 02, 2024
O how should I greet you this week? Am I supposed to say 'Happy Diwali' or 'Happy Deepavali'? That is just the beginning of a meandering tale of rich possibilities in the way we celebrate festivals.
MADHAVAN NARAYANAN

In fact, if you are from Bengal or other parts of eastern India, it is best to wish you for Kali Puja that typically falls a day after Deepavali, which northerners conveniently abridge to Diwali.

I have just learned that Kali Puja was practically unheard of until the 16th century and became widespread two centuries later, thanks to a king. Not everything in Hindustan is ancient, though some would like us to believe that.

Festivals get tricky in the land of Hindus. Sometimes the day varies for the same event. Sometimes the same event has different reasons. Bengalis celebrate Lakshmi Puja in devotion to the goddess of wealth, five days after Vijayadashami that falls during Navratri in which the prominent deity representing the mother goddess is the selfsame Kali, the goddess of valour, who is specially worshipped the day after north Indians have had their own Lakshmi puja.

I have childhood memories of celebrating the south Indian Deepavali in Delhi, where neighbourhood kids would insist Diwali is celebrated at night to mark the return of Lord Rama from exile, while we would get up at dawn to mark the slaying of a demon called Narakasura by Lord Krishna. The demon's last wish in repentance was for people to celebrate his death as a fall of evil. For the record, Keralites mostly do not mark Deepavali, preferring instead their own Onam, linked to the appearance of Lord Vishnu as Vamana, while Tamil Nadu and the north mark the later incarnations of the same protector.

Diese Geschichte stammt aus der November 02, 2024-Ausgabe von The Morning Standard.

Starten Sie Ihre 7-tägige kostenlose Testversion von Magzter GOLD, um auf Tausende kuratierte Premium-Storys sowie über 8.000 Zeitschriften und Zeitungen zuzugreifen.

Diese Geschichte stammt aus der November 02, 2024-Ausgabe von The Morning Standard.

Starten Sie Ihre 7-tägige kostenlose Testversion von Magzter GOLD, um auf Tausende kuratierte Premium-Storys sowie über 8.000 Zeitschriften und Zeitungen zuzugreifen.

WEITERE ARTIKEL AUS THE MORNING STANDARDAlle anzeigen
The Morning Standard

WHY FOREIGN INVESTORS ARE EXITING INDIA

FOREIGN Institutional Investors (FIIs) are offloading their holdings in India at a scale not seen in years.

time-read
5 Minuten  |
November 24, 2024
The Morning Standard

Judicial sparring oven a missing phrase in final judgment

Justice Nagarathna in her verdict quoted Justice Chandrachud as observing that \"The Krishna Iyer doctrine does a disservice to the broad and flexible spirit of the Constitution.\"

time-read
6 Minuten  |
November 24, 2024
The Morning Standard

NorthEast edge Punjab FC in ISL

NORTHEAST United FC recorded a terrific 2-1 victory against Punjab FC at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium as an early burst by their frontline paved the way for the Highlanders to grab three points from this encounter in the Indian Super League (ISL) on Saturday.

time-read
1 min  |
November 24, 2024
High-flying Chelsea see off Leicester
The Morning Standard

High-flying Chelsea see off Leicester

CHELSEA survived a late Leicester rally to win 2-1 on Enzo Maresca's return to the King Power Stadium on Saturday, moving just a point behind second-placed Manchester City in the Premier League.

time-read
1 min  |
November 24, 2024
China Masters: Sat-Chi go down fighting in semis
The Morning Standard

China Masters: Sat-Chi go down fighting in semis

INDIAN doubles pair of Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty were involved in an engrossing contest and they were stretched to their limits on Saturday.

time-read
1 min  |
November 24, 2024
Netherlands reach first Davis Cup final
The Morning Standard

Netherlands reach first Davis Cup final

NETHERLANDS reached the Davis Cup final for the first time with a battling 2-0 win over Germany on Friday, with captain Paul Haarhuis labelling the feat \"unique\".

time-read
1 min  |
November 24, 2024
The Morning Standard

Challenger & king set for game of thrones

The beginning of the city-state's wet season couldn't have been more pronounced.

time-read
1 min  |
November 24, 2024
Gajewski the 2nd with multiple roles
The Morning Standard

Gajewski the 2nd with multiple roles

Challenger & king set for game of thrones

time-read
3 Minuten  |
November 24, 2024
Perth-certificate: India make opening statement
The Morning Standard

Perth-certificate: India make opening statement

With record partnership, openers put India in command on day two

time-read
3 Minuten  |
November 24, 2024
Never signed pact to operate airport in Kenya: Adani
The Morning Standard

Never signed pact to operate airport in Kenya: Adani

BILLIONAIRE Gautam Adani's group on Saturday clarified that it had not entered into any binding agreement to operate Kenya's main airport.

time-read
1 min  |
November 24, 2024