Dhaakti Diwali in Goa
by Rohit Phalgaonkar The Indian continent including some parts of the world, will be celebrating Diwali today. Most of the Indians celebrate it as a commemoration of the return of Shri Ram and Sita with his brother Lakshman back to Ayodhya. After 14 years of exile and slaying the Demon Ravan their return was celebrated with pomp and gaiety. The Valmiki Ramayan describes the preparations made by the people of Ayodhya to welcome their beloved prince. ‘The city was cleaned and the roads were covered with carpets of flowers. There were drums and trumpets playing everywhere in the great city’.Apart from this reason, the Goans celebrate Diwali with different objective. Yes! It is the celebration of killing of Narakaasur by Shri Krishna. Goans call it as ‘Dhaakti Diwali’. The ‘Hari Vansh Puraan’ gives an account of Shri Krishna’s life. While going through chapter 66 of the Puraan one comes across texts explaining Narakaasur’s death. The demon had abducted 16000 Gandharv princesses. His evil deeds had also created havoc on Earth. So Shri Krishna put an end to this malevolence by his Sudarshan Chakr. In this chapter no reference to Goa is found. Therefore I was curious to know why Goa had a different reason to celebrate Diwali. My curiosity ended when I came across the ancient name of Goa in Chapter 40 titled ‘Shri Krishna Gomant Rohann’ (visit to Gomant by Shri Krishna). Here a description of Gomant’s or Gomaanchal’s (ancient Goa) flora and fauna is also available. Probably because of this visit, Shri Krishna is more closely associated with Goa. There are so far two Puraans in which Goa is mentioned. The Sahyadhri Khand, which fully concentrates on Goa and the Hari Vansh Puraan composed by Ved Vyas. The former gives a more detailed overview of Goa in the Puraanic era. In Goa, colossal effigies of Narakaasur are burnt in the early mornings and people bathe by applying oil and ‘Utne’ to the body. The elderly lady of the family (married) shows oil lamps to the other members who stand in a row wearing new clothes. This tradition is called as ‘Dive’ or ‘Dive Dhaakhovap’ in Goa. The bitter ‘Kaarit’ (type of gourd) is crushed by each one under his/her feet to signify the death of the evil. It also indicates that evil ideas should find place near one’s feet and not in his heart. One cannot miss the traditional ‘Fauv’ prepared in different varieties. The ‘Taakantle’ and the ‘Dhudaantle Fauv’ (Curd Fauv and Milk Fauv) along with ‘Aambadyaachi Karam’ are some of the dishes which require special mention. The ‘Akash Dive’ and the ‘Pantteo’ are also an integral part of this festivity. I wish all the readers a Very Happy Diwali. http://www.navhindtimes.com/articles.php?Story_ID=110829 - Forwarded by: Sanny de Quepem <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Visit: http://www.live365.com/stations/61664 Goa's first and only Konkani music station online, brought to you by Ulysses Menezes & Gaspar Almeida of www.goa-world.com based in Kuwait. Send instant messages to your online friends http://uk.messenger.yahoo.com
