Kerala - Kochi   

Spreading the spirit of festivities

KOCHI: Like Holi and other festivals in North India, Diwali is gradually moving deep into the Malayali psyche — in all its exuberance.

For those not used to the ritual, Diwali or Deepavali is a line of lamps — the festival of lights.

But old timers in Mattanchery, where business activities were controlled by Gujarati and Marwari communities a couple of decades back, try to recollect the time when people came together for celebrations.

“Actually, Diwali marks the end of a year in Samvat Era calendar.

“The books of accounts are kept for a puja and new ones started on the first day of the new year.

This custom has gone,” said Pravin Shah of Mattanchery.

At present, the community members arrange pujas and get-togethers.

“The real Diwali for us is on Friday. Today is Dhan Deres, when we light Yam Ki Diya. We purchase gold or silver on this day and worship it. Tomorrow is Chotta Diwali and then comes the real festival,” said Rachna Jain, who has her roots in Bihar.

The Sikh community also joined the celebrations.

Every family in the community has its head leading Ardaz, a prayer before all the 10 Gurus, followed by the distribution of sweets and dinner.

“Unlike North India, it is a working day here. Diwali is time for week-long celebrations over there. Most of our friends are working and hence the whole mood is totally different,” said Bunty Singh.

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