Abhyanga Snan / Pahili Anghol – Naraka Chaturdashi

Naraka chaturdashi

Diwali is a festival stretching over many days, and a few days are more widely celebrated than others. The second such day is Naraka chaturdashi (following Dhana trayodashi or dhan teras).

[Naraka– name of an evil mythological character, chaturdashi– 14th day of the moon’s phases.]

Pahili Anghol / Abhyanga Snan

At dawn on Naraka chaturdashi we have the ‘pahili anghol’ literally meaning first bath, or the ‘abhyanga snan’ (abhyang loosely means spa/ oil massage, snan means bath). So it translates into a full spa bath.

We wake up at dawn on this day and before taking a bath apply natural perfumed oils on our body, followed by application of ‘utna’ or ‘ubtan’ which is a natural scrub made of sandalwood powder and other ayurvedic herbs to scrub, exfoliate and condition the skin. Then, an age old traditional body conditioner made with sandalwood paste, milk/cream, rose water and besan/gram flour and a hot bath follows. This whole ‘spa’ experience is simply heavenly and luxurious on the cold autumn/winter morning of Diwali.

After this self-pampering, we dress up in new clothes, pray to God, seek blessings of our elders.

Crushing the bitter kartula fruit under the foot. Why?

After the abhyanga snan, we walk out of our home. Right outside the doorstep, place this small green fruit called kartula on the floor and crush it with the right foot. It spills out its juice and seeds. This juice must be tasted by the crusher (basically just dip a finger in the squish and lick it!). It tastes absolutely bitter!

The little green fruit kartula symbolises the head of Narakasura. It stands for all the evil, negativity that we need to get rid of. By taking it outside and crushing it we crush the things it stands for.

However, we do this also because it signifies that everything in nature and life is a balance. To balance all the sweet, rich foods and happiness that are to follow through the Diwali festival, this bitter drop will remind us to stay balanced.

Why burst crackers on Naraka Chaturdashi?

In the early hours of the morning of Naraka Chaturdashi friends and family get together and burst a few crackers or fireworks. These bright fireworks at this time signify victory. It is said that an evil Narakasura was brought to his end at dawn on this day.

Some versions of this story say that Narakasura was beheaded by Lord Shri Krishna using the Sudarshana Chakra.

Some parts of India also celebrate this day as Kali Chaudas. Where the version of Narakasura’s death takes place at the hands of the powerful godess Kali Maa. Hence, the day is also celebrated as Kali Chaudas.

Of course, over time due to its environmental effect this practice of fireworks has been reduced significantly. Now all we do is minimal, least polluting, very few short burst crackers, maybe a few sparklers, etc. to carry forward the symbolism and tradition.

The most looked forward to breakfast feast- Faraal!

Once the customary fireworks are done, we all gear up for another big indulgence- the typically Maharashtrian Diwali festive breakfast – faraal. (Of course following this breakfast, faraal is served at all times throughout Diwali.) Everybody looks forward to the foods that are prepared specially for Diwali faraal. A large selection of homemade sweets and savouries like ladoos (Check out my Besan Ladoo recipe), chivda, chakli, shankarpala, karanji, spicy shev, barfi, mithai and so much more!

And of course a cup of kadak masala chai to go with it! Sounds perfect for the wintery morning of Diwali!

 

 

DIY Diwali Decorations

Diwali is a festival of lot of DIY projects! Diwali decorations include making aakash kandils, rangoli, diya decoration, mud forts and sumptuous cooking!

Aakash Kandil – Lantern

[Aakash– sky, kandil– lantern]

Aakash kandil is traditionally an oil lamp or lantern lit and hung high outside the home, on terraces or outside windows. After electricity became common, it came to be replaced by electric lights encased in the traditional or modern lanterns. No Diwali decoration is complete without the beautiful, graceful aakash kandil.

Continue reading “DIY Diwali Decorations”

What is Dussehra Saraswati Puja/ Pooja?

The festival of Dasara/ Dussehra is celebrated all over India as a festival of new beginnings and triumph of good over evil. It has different interpretations and significance due to diverse cultures but it is an auspicious day throughout India. Aayudha Pooja and Saraswati Pooja is celebrated in the Western and Southern region on the day of Dussehra.

When is Dussehra celebrated?

This auspicious day is the tenth day of the Indian lunar calendar month of Ashwin and falls on the day immediately following the nine days of Navratri.

Dasara is also called Vijaya-dashami (vijaya means victory). It is one of the three and a half most auspicious days of the entire Hindu calendar. Important projects and new ventures are very often initiated on this day because a good enterprise started on Dussehra will be successful.

Continue reading “What is Dussehra Saraswati Puja/ Pooja?”

Launching my blog with Navratri and Colours!

It is the first day of Navratri festival (festival of nine nights) as I write this – a very auspicious day to start my new blog! This is the festival of Goddess Amba, her nine incarnations worshiped on each of the nine days of the festival.

These nine days and nights are some of the most vibrant of the year all over India. The trees are lush post-monsoon and evenings are breezy making it perfect for sparkly garba and dandiya dance functions everywhere.

A part of the festivities is wearing certain designated colours on each of these nine days. It is followed throughout India in some form or another. While some believe that these colours are symbolic and create harmony with the energy of the avtar (incarnation) of the Goddess Amba being celebrated that day, the more prevalent and recent history is that it was started by a regional Marathi newspaper to improve its circulation, and how it has caught the public’s fancy (Should not be a surprise that the said newspaper has some of the top readership numbers now!).

Of course participation is voluntary and a lot of it is just for the fun factor of being part of a huge self-formed group of people who are all celebrating this wonderful festival.

So, whatever the reason –

It is quite impressive – as with all things in Mumbai, along with most of Maharashtra and Gujarat to follow the dress colour code. On the streets during peak hours you see waves of people – strangers, going about their daily life at a frantic pace wearing a shade of the day’s colour at least in some part of their outfit.

Fellow Mumbaikars will know the feeling of belonging to this single huge tribe and for those who have not yet experienced this- it is something that is as momentous as running an organized multi-day marathon with thousands of participants – only, this is not an organized event and there is no special award for doing this!

In the days when I took my regular train to get to college and work, I would look at my co- commuters and often wonder then, as I still do that all these people must have some prayer for Amba Mata in their hearts which makes them mindfully wear her colours and keep her in their thoughts. That to me is what makes this so much more special and unique!

Ladies in yellow. An example of the sight in Mumbai during Navratri.

While I was in Mumbai, it was a thing my mother and I did- looking through our available wardrobes to get these coloured clothes ready to wear for the next day. That also meant we had a “legit” excuse to shop for some new stuff if we did not own anything in the colour of the day! 😉

But this is not a girl thing nor a religious thing! Men, women, young and old everybody becomes a part of this Indian culture! If you want to – then you should participate! It is fun!

Some people follow the colour code to manifest their devotion to Ambe Mata while many do it as it is the “thing to do in Mumbai” during Navratri.

My father is mostly oblivious to what colour it is supposed to be, but since childhood it has been my appointed duty to pick out his shirt daily and he would wear whatever I picked!  So – while I was there I ensured that he wore the correct colours/shades too!

Today’s colour is YELLOW and my husband picked out a yellow shirt this morning by complete coincidence! There have been times through the years when I have forgotten and worn a random top just like this and it ended up being the right colour! So people like us too make up for a tiny part of the colourful waves!

The latest update on this colourful cultural practice – This year my mother’s workplace even has a small penalty if you do not turn up in the colour for the day! Although I am pretty sure someone must have suggested this to humour the others, it will rake in a nice little kitty by the end of these nine days. I wonder what use they will put it to!

For those of you who are curious to know this year’s Navratri Colour Calendar (2017) –

DATE (2017) DAY COLOUR
21st September, Thursday – Yellow
22nd September, Friday – Green
23rd September, Saturday – Grey
24th September, Sunday – Orange
25th September, Monday – White
26th September, Tuesday – Red
27th September, Wednesday – Royal Blue
28th September, Thursday – Pink
29th September, Friday – Purple