NARAK CHATURDASI
EXCLUSIVE for Goa-World.net
Pics by Menino Menezes
Text by Sanjay Bhandare
Compiled by Cecil Pinto
Panjim is teeming with people doing last minute shopping for Diwali. Effigies of
Narkasur dot the suburbs. After 12 midnight they will be burnt symbolising the
destruction of evil.
According to legend Narkasur was a Rakshas (demon) who was terrorizing the
people. He used to come down to the villages and capture and kill the citizens.
Lord Krishna killed him and freed people from his terrorism. Till this time
there was no peace because of the people's fear of the Narkasur. With his
killing, people were in a celebratory mood. They lit up their houses with 'pontis'
and hung 'akash divas' above their houses.
Krishna was tired and hurting from the long and prolonged fight. His mother
massaged his aching body with oil and 'utnem'. She then fed him some sweet
dishes made of 'foav' (beaten rice) which was Krishna's favourite dish. There is
another legend about why this is Krishna's favorite dish. But that is another
story.
Early on Diwali day after burning the Narkasur the Hindu menfolk will return to
their homes to be massaged by their wives / mothers with the same type oil and 'utnem'.
The family then visits the local temple and returns to a similar feast of 'foav'
sweets.
Diwali symolizes the destruction of evil and the return of peace and happiness.
It is a concept which transcends all religions and is a celebration of the
triumph of good over evil.
click on the thumbnail images for larger ones
Crowd At Market - Bhatlem Slope - Bin Ladin At Malim - Bin Ladin Bhatlem - Xenvtim, Abolim, Rosan etc
Bin Ladin at Malim - Bin Ladin at Bhatlem - Earthen Pontis for Sale - Sky Lamps for Sale - Mala Narkasur
Mala Narkasur - Many Faces Of Narkasur - More Pontis - Near Maruthi Temple Mala
Near Four Pillars - Near Maruti Temple - Sky Lamps and Masks - In front of Maruti Temple
Goa readies for date with Diwali
VIDYUT KUMAR TA
TIMES NEWS NETWORK
ANAJI: When Lord Rama returned to Ayodhya after 14 years in exile, the entire
Bharatvarsh (India) lit oil lamps to welcome him and called it Deepavali which
in the modern age transformed into Diwali.
A thousand years later, Diwali still marks a new beginning in Goa. It is a
passage from the old to the new, a change of fortunes and a celebration of life.
Diwali tradition in Maharashtra, and specially in Goa, are celebrated with lamps
lit to keep alive the memory of Lord Rama's return to Ayodhya after conquering
the tyrant Ravana, the evil ruler of Lanka, who had abducted his consort Sita.
Diwali symbolises unity in diversity as every state like Karnataka, West Bengal,
Uttar Pradesh, Bihar and Madhya Pradesh celebrates in its own special ways.
Goa celebrates Diwali in a typical mythological manner by welcoming Lakshmi,
goddess of wealth and prosperity. Here people wake up before sunrise and prepare
``mock blood'' by mixing kumkum in oil. Some even have an oil bath using
sandalwood paste.
With the festive spirit catching up the young and old alike, Goa is expected to
witness lots of activities around the city in the next couple of days from now.
Diwali is a four-day event in Goa. Starting from Dhan Trayodashi -- the 13th day
of the dark fortnight of Ashwin -- the celebration extends up to Bhau Beej, on
the second day of the bright fortnight of the month of Karthik.
Each day has its own relevance and is distinct in every respect. Dhan Trayodashi,
for instance, is associated with Dhanvantari, a healer who cures all ailments.
He is also called the God of Good Health.
Goa has one more peculiarity as Diwali is celebrated twice here, which falls on
the full moon day of the month of Karthik. It is called the `big Diwali'
although the celebrations are limited to performing the marriage of tulsi plant
only.
This unique Diwali marks the beginning of marriage season here. The idea of
performing marriage of tulsi plant was perhaps mooted to imbibe the importance
of plants and trees in maintaining the ecological balance, so vital for human
survival.
Animals too play an important role in the socio-cultural and economic
development of human society. That is why a pooja of cattle is performed on
Balipratipada, the day following Diwali.
Some of the rituals associated with this festival remain unchanged even with the
passing of time. Diwali begins early in the day when the sun has not yet
appeared in the sky. People get up even before the sun rises and take bath in
starlight, after a good oil
massage.
There is a popular belief that twilight bath on this day is as auspicious as
taking a bath in the holy river Ganga.
The earthen lamps illuminate the entire house and the surrounding areas,
while the ladies in the house busy themselves in the kitchen preparing special
delicacies, mostly of puffed rice.
After the traditional early-morning oil bath the little children emerge fresh
and well scrubbed to a series of noisy adventures with crackers and sparklers
which sometimes become nuisance yet it is accepted under the rationale of
theology.
(Courtesy: Times of India)
Akash kandils usher in Dewali
PANAJI, Nov 13: Diwali, the
festival of lights, will be celebrated throughout the state tomorrow, with the
usual religious fervour and gaiety. The festival was heralded in with the
burning of effigies of Narkasur, though amidst strict restrictions imposed on
the organisers by the authorities.
An array of colourful akash kandils which adorn the houses during the
festivities could be seen, on the eve of festival, hung up in the shops or fixed
along the footpaths by hawkers.
All the shops in the city witnessed brisk sales with shopping frenzy reaching
its peak on the eve of festival. Traffic jams were witnessed throughout the day
near the main market in the city. There was heavy rush at shops selling clothes,
sweets, utensils, and gifts.
However, the Supreme Court ruling restricting use of crackers seem to have
dampened down the spirit of people as they would not be able to burst crackers
as in the past. The ruling has also hit the traders dealing with fire-works, as
the sales have fallen.
Traders in the city lamented that the ruling has created fear amongst the public
of police action in case the crackers are used by them whilst celebrating Diwali.
This has considerably slackened the sales of fire works this year.
A fire-cracker seller in the city said that his sales were less compared to last
year by Rs 2 lakh. He also said that to add to their woes the government has
slapped a 40-per cent sales tax on fire crackers. The traders further said the
rates of the crackers have not been hiked this year and are being sold at last
year’s prices.
The sweet and farsan shops also witnessed brisk sales with large number of
people making a beeline to these shops. According to one of the shop keepers the
sales have risen because people prefer to buy ready-made stuff rather than
preparing them at home because of time constraints, etc. Besides, ready-made
sweets are cheaper, he added.
The Internet, however, has affected the business of greeting card sellers in the
state. With the introduction of e-cards, the number of customers buying greeting
cards has fallen, according to a leading shop-keeper selling them. A greeting
card shop
owner claimed that there are people who still prefer to post cards rather than
send e-cards through the Internet though it is more reliable and quick.
Meanwhile, the police have been placed on high alert and patrolling has been
intensified. “The local police as well as the personnel drawn from Goa Reserve
Police have been pressed into action to prevent any untoward incident,” said the
superintendent of police in-charge of crime and traffic, Mr Devesh Shrivastava.
Meanwhile, the state Governor, Mr Mohammad Fazal, has extended heartiest
greetings and best wishes to the people of Goa on the occasion of Diwali.
In his message, the Governor has said: “The festival of lights is celebrated
with enthusiasm and joy by all, irrespective of religion, caste or creed. Diwali
as a festival dispels darkness and brings light, the light of selflessness
truth, humility, happiness and peace.”
The Chief Minister, Mr Manohar Parrikar, has also extended his good wishes to
the people of Goa on the occasion of Diwali.
In his message, Mr Parrikar has said that Diwali is celebrated to ward off
darkness and welcome light into our lives. The festival marks the vanquishing of
demon Narkasur by Lord Krishna and his wife Satyabhama, he has said further.
The Chief Minister has further urged the people to pledge to bring lights,
particularly to the homes of the poor, downtrodden and the under-privileged
people in Goa, on the auspicious day of Diwali.
(Navhind Times)
CREDITS:
EXCLUSIVE for Goa-World
Pictures by Menino Menezes
Text by Sanjay Bhandare
Compiled by Cecil Pinto
Website designed by Ulysses Menezes
Edited by Gaspar Almeida