Happy Diwali

Bonjour, Hello and Namaste to you

Happy Diwali!

What is Diwali?

Diwali is the Festival of Light and is a national holiday in India, Fiji, Guyana, Malaysia, Mauritius, Myanmar, Nepal, Singapore, Sri Lanka, Surinam, Trinidad and Tobago (Optional Holiday in Pakistan). The festival is celebrated by about 1 billion people around the world every year.

Diwali was originally the 'harvest festival/solstice' of India, also bringing a new financial year, people would seek praise and good fortune from Lakshmi: the Hindu goddess of wealth.
The festival of light is commonly known to celebrate the triumph of light over darkness and good over evil. The festival also brings in the New Year, over a celebration of 3 to 5 days (depending on the religion or geographic location) between mid-October to mid-November. Also known as Deepavali in Southern regions of India.
This year Diwali is set on Thursday 19th October.

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I often get asked about Diwali by friends: how to pronounce it? (I pronounce the W as a V), What's it for? what's it about? do you celebrate it? how? So, I thought I'd write a little blog post about a wee bit of my Indian heritage. (If you didn't know, I'm a mixed raced baby!)
My Indian family is huge! I have a ridiculous number of Aunties and Uncles (even if it's your dad's second cousin twice removed they're still your Auntie) all of which many different religions, Christian, Hindu, Seik, etc. Most of my immediate Indian family is Hindu, whilst I know a little about the Hindu gods I am not a walking encyclopedia on the subject.

I do, however, know the Hindu origin story of Diwali and it may just remind you of a classic fairy-tale turned into a Disney animation not so long ago.
There are many different origin stories all with different variations, but all include the moral of good overcoming evil (every fairytale plot ever).
For this story, I'll ask you to imagine a Powerful King with 3 beautiful wives (all of which birthed children).
One day the second wife saved the Powerful King's life and to show his gratitude he promised to grant her 2 wishes. A short while after this event had occurred, It was time for the king to step down and pass the crown down to his firstborn son Rama (son of the First Wife). As you can imagine the second wife had a little bit of the green-eyed monster of jealousy lurking in her, so naturally she did what she knew she could. The Second Wife wished that her son Bharat be king and for Rama (the heir and First Wife's son) to be banished to the forest for 14 years. (I don't know why 14 years exactly but there we go.) Whilst it pained the king to do so, he granted his second wife's wishes, keeping his promise to her.

Rama (the firstborn son) obviously had a life of his own and even though he was ready to take on the crown, and had a beautiful girlfriend; Sita (and probably so many other things going on in his life that living in a forest for 14 years would inconvenience) he packed up his bags and agreed to leave. Luckily the lad wouldn't have to go alone, as soon as his loving Sita heard the news she immediately declared she would go with him (it's either love or madness) and true to her word she did. They were joined by -quite possibly the best bro in the world- Laksham, who decided he would also go with Rama. (I would really have to think about living in a forest -which let's face it in India is more like a jungle- for 14 years if my sibling was banished there, It would probably come down to my love for my sis or my fear of spiders...)

(Left to Right: Luksham, Rama and Sita)

They set up camp in the forest and begun to live out Rama's banishment. Little did they know there was a 10 headed demon,  Ravana, watching their every move. (I do wonder if all the different heads had their own personalities or if it was just one mind with 10 faces?) Ravana became a wee bit obsessed with Sita, the stories say he wanted to marry her. Does he woo her, gain her friendship and trust, actually talk to her and see what she's into or if they have anything in common, I hear you ask?
No, the 10 headed demon runs off to his uncle (name unknown, also might not actually be his uncle but his dad's cousin twice removed) and asked him to turn him into a golden deer. (yes, you read that correctly, a golden deer, because naturally, every woman falls head over heels for a golden deer!? also since when do demons have family members that grant them wishes!?)

(left to right: Rama, Sita, The Golden Deer)

Sita (who we've already established could possibly be the loveliest woman or potentially mad) decides she wants to look after the beautiful deer and keep it from the dangers of the forest. Rama -either had a bit of a hunch something was wrong or is a bit controlling and possessive, you decide?- drew a circle of protection around Sita. Whilst Sita knew that she probably shouldn't step out of the circle, the deer wouldn't leave the circle border, Sita finally gave into the lure of the golden deer, she couldn't resist any longer and stepped out of the circle. *big panto gasp* (Personally, I think she just didn't want to do her business in front of Everyone, which is still a problem for women in India today but that's another matter entirely.). Ravana, being the sneaky demon he is, immediately transformed back into his true form (from a golden deer to 10 headed demon, bet Sita had a bit of a shock) and he Kidnapped Sita, whisking her away to his 'secret island' (oooh how mysterious and spooky).

Meanwhile poor Rama, who has so far been banished to the forest for 14 years, whose girlfriend couldn't resist a golden deer and chose the deer over him, then discovers he's right to have tried to protect her as his girlfriend has now been kidnapped by a ten-headed demon, poor lad. Luckily a little birdie told Rama he knew where his beloved Sita was being held captive, and that bird (is apparently a god by the way) led Rama to mate of his; Hanuman (the monkey god, this god is genuinely a monkey, that was not a metaphor of some sort). Rama and his brother Laksham asked Hunaman for help and Hunaman sent for his men to help build a bridge to Ravana's 'secret island' (oooh the mysterious and spooky island). Hunaman gifted Rama a bow and arrow and wished him luck ("let the games begin! And may the odds be ever in your favour" Anyone? No? Just me?).

(Left to Right: Rama and Ravana -no clue whats's happening in the background-)

After carefully crossing the man-made bridge to the 'not so secret, secret Island', Rama managed to somehow 'sneak up' on the 10 headed demon,  shoot Ravana through the heart and rescue his beloved Sita. I imagine this all took quite a long time, as shortly after the rescue of Sita the 14 years of banishment were soon to end.

When the 14 years in exile were over, Rama and Sita were still very much in love (everyone was still alive, no one else had been kidnapped). Rama, Sita and Luksham were worried they may not remember their way back. To The trios amazement and surprise, their path home had been lit with candles and lanterns, they followed the path of light back home and were greeted with celebrations and festivities for their return and their triumph over Ravana.

Some variations of the stories note that candles and lanterns were lit every year to pray for the safe return of Rama, Sita and Luksham, and to bring light to their dark times in the forest.

So does anyone have any guesses on the Disney animation that may have 'taken inspiration' from the festival of light? A story about a kidnapped princess who is fooled into taking care of a monster, who conquers the evil and follows the lanterns home? 10 points if you guessed Tangled!

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Whilst Tangled is loosely based on the Grimm Brothers fairy tale of Rapunzel it also has a ridiculous amount of similarities to The festival celebrations of Diwali. The abundance of food and Last Harvest, Days of celebration; including feasts, dances, music, bright colours, street art, the braiding of the hair, the flowers and new clothes, and of course the lanterns and floating candles.
Tangled is one of my favourite modern Disney animations but I cannot help shake the feeling that there is an awful lot of 'cultural appropriation' masked underneath the surface of this simple fairy-tale remake. Am I being oversensitive here? Or does anyone else agree that there may be one to may 'similarities'?

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How do you Celebrate?

I have never been to India (I feel slightly ashamed to say this but I honestly have never had the time opportunity or money, I would love to go), so I can only go off what my family have told me happens and the pictures and videos I have seen. I would love to go to India for Diwali, when the streets transform into works of art, the biggest family feasts occur, the food is divine, the new clothes and bright Saris, hair is done, smell the smells, see the sights and taste the Diwali treats, make my own lanterns, Diyas (a candle holder made my hand with clay or salt dough).
This being said In my little house in England we still have a mini Diwali Celebration, Indian Sweets, Candle Lighting, Lanterns and Art.

I'm off to enjoy some Diwali Celebrations (and maybe watched Tangled).
Hope you enjoyed this Blog Post and Learned a little about Diwali.

Thanks For Reading
Happy Diwali, May The Light In Your Life Always Brighten The Darkness and The Good Conquer Evil. 

xo

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