Deepavali: Everything you need to know about the Hindu festival of lights

Deepavali is the most important festival of the year for many Hindus, as well as Indians of other religions, such as the Sikhs and the Jains. It is a celebration that marks the victory of good over evil, as well as light over darkness. Traditionally spanning five days, the festival falls on the 14th day of the dark fortnight in the Tamil month of Aipasi (mid-Oct to mid-Nov). (Source: National Library Board). This year (2022), it falls on Oct 24.

To North Indians, Deepavali is linked to Ramayana, a story in Hindu mythology. After 14 years in exile, Lord Rama, his wife Sita Devi and brother Lakshmana returned to the city of Ayodhya on the day now known as Deepavali or Diwali. The villagers lit a path for Rama, who had defeated the demon king Ravana.

In the South, the festival is associated with the story of Lord Krishna who battled and defeated the cruel demon king Naraka, and ended his rule (likened to darkness) to bring light into the world. Hence, the day is also known as Naraka Chathurdasi (Naraka’s 14th day), to commemorate the day the demon was slain.

Beyond these tales, Deepavali is also an ode to the Hindu goddess of wealth, good fortune and fertility, Lakshmi.

You might have heard of the festival referred to as Deepavali and Diwali, and both aren’t wrong. Both are variations of a Sanskrit (an ancient Indo-Aryan language) term that translates to ‘row of lights’. “Deepa” or “dipa” refers to light and “avali” means row, earning it the moniker, “Festival of Lights”.

The Tamil term Deepavali is generally used in Singapore, reflecting Tamil as one of Singapore’s four official languages (Source: The Straits Times). Meanwhile, Diwali is a Hindi term more commonly used in India.

While celebrated by all Hindus, customs and the way it is celebrated vary across different regions of India.

But general practices include the lighting of diya (oil lamps made from clay) to signify the victory of good over evil. Hence, houses are commonly decorated with diya, alongside flower garlands. Rangoli designs created using coloured rice, dry flour, coloured sand or flower petals, are also placed at the entrance of the house to invite the goddess Lakshmi to visit, as well as welcome guests during the celebration.

Gifts are exchanged, and celebrants gather to share feasts, as well as perform pooja (prayers) to deities. Before the festival begins, the home is cleaned, and families prepare sweet and savoury snacks.

Classic food served during Deepavali includes traditional Indian sweets like gulab jamun, adhirasam (a deep-fried snack made with rice flour and jaggery), murukku (a spiral-shaped fried snack) and vadai (a savoury fritter).

On the day of Deepavali, prayers and puja (prayer rituals) are performed before the family shrine as part of the morning ritual. It is also customary for Hindu families with South Indian origins to wake up early for the oil bath cleansing ritual. Younger family members then prostrate before their elders to receive their blessings.

Following the morning rituals, Hindu families visit temples to offer their prayers, before proceeding to visit relatives and friends. Some Hindus may also opt to abstain from meat as Deepavali is a religious festival.

When night falls, diyas are lit and displayed on window ledges and at doorways. While prohibited in Singapore without a police permit, firecrackers and fireworks are part of the Deepavali festivities in India.

Getting new clothes, as well as jewellery, is another festive tradition, to signify a new start and a hope that the individual will become a better person. Bright colours are also favoured, while black and white are avoided as they are deemed inauspicious.

Men and boys usually don traditional garb like the dhoti (a piece of cloth knotted around the waist that extends to cover the legs) and angavastram (a piece of long cloth draped across one shoulder, and worn with the dhoti). Women and girls are dressed in beautiful embroidered saris and choli (blouse) as well as lehengas (long skirts)

Women may adorn their arms and legs with mehndi (temporary body art), expressing good luck and happiness.

Did you know? It is customary for newly bought traditional outfits to be dabbed with a dash of turmeric, a symbol of sanctity, before being placed on the family altar to be blessed. This signifies respect for the festivity and invites blessings for the family.

Deepavali has been gazetted a public holiday since 1929.

When it comes to public celebrations, the Little India precinct at Serangoon Road — where many Indian shops are clustered— usually comes alive with vibrant lights and installations leading up to Deepavali. This practice was introduced in 1985, and is now an annual month-long affair.

In recent years, the light-up has also been accompanied by various activities such as dance and musical performances (many of which were shelved during the pandemic but are now back).  The festival of Indian arts, Kalaa Utsavam (Nov 18 – 27, 2022), has been held annually at the Esplanade – Theatres on the Bay since 2002, and showcases dance as well as theatre performances, workshops, and talks.

About a week before the actual day, Singapore’s oldest Hindu temple, the Sri Mariamman Temple will host the three-month-long Theemithi (Firewalking) Festival. A significant religious event for Hindus in Singapore, the cultural ritual will witness thousands of men walk on burning charcoal as a tribute to the goddess Sri Drowpathai Amman held on the Theemithi (Firewalking) day itself. This is slated for Oct 16 this year (2022), with several pre-event day ceremonies held prior to it.

You can find out more about the festival here.

Fun fact: In 2003, India-born artist Mrs Vijaya Mohan, who became a Singapore citizen in 2005, made it to the Guinness World Records for creating the largest rangoli (256 sq m). She completed it in seven hours at Whampoa Community Club.

The 63-year-old has 36 local records under her belt and has completed over 20,000 rangolis here and overseas.

This article was first published in The Singapore Women’s Weekly. 

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