Diwali in the Northeast
Upasana Chandan Sharma

WHAT crackers are to North India, banana trees with saaki (earthen lamps) is to the Northeast when it comes to the celebrating Diwali. In fact, a survey conducted last year pointed out that each year Diwali celebrations cost about Rs 2 crore worth of banana trees. The government has appealed to people to cut down on it but the folk rituals are difficult to give up and as banana trees grow in abundance in Assam people celebrating Diwali by decorating the entrance to their houses by lighting up banana trees.

The celebrations show the marked influence of Bengali culture which is observed on the second day by worship of goddess Kali. On the day of Kali puja, the goddess is worshipped in community pandals as well as at an individual level. Many places in lower Assam witness sacrifice of kumura, a particular type of round gourd, which is a symbolic ritual.

But then no Diwali is complete without fireworks. The satras (a place of worship) of upper Assam observe the ritual of lighting up an akash banti, which is a perforated earthen pot with a lit diya inside it and put on a high platform. Besides the Barpeta district manufactures firecrackers which are equivalent to those coming from Sivakasi, if not superior.

Houses are decked with lights and early enough in the evening, earthen lamps are brought out to line up the peripheries of the homes. The verandah, the terrace, that old Banyan tree by the street corner, cement posts lying bare or even plain patches of ground - we place an earthen lamp there too, to drive away the darkness.

Assam being the gateway to the Northeast, is a hub of different cultures and economic groups coming together. Although it isn't necessary for every family to paint a rangoli, we more or less see it being done by the affluent strands of people living in colonies and suburbs. In rural regions, the picture is a slightly more subdued one. Families get together for celebrating together where cousins and family all gather at one house, the elders of the house are felicitated first and the young are guided by their parents.

River banks and tree branches are decorated too. Goddess Lakshmi is revered on the first day of Diwali. Love, light and luck are invited into every home and small pujas are held in honour of the Goddess of prosperity. The evening starts with the lighting of crackers. The elders of the house are revered with gamusas and their blessings are sought.

The second day of Diwali is Kali puja. On the second day the celebrations are just as bright as on the first day. Sometimes due to political disturbances, a place might have restrained celebrations. But these times are exceptions. Popular culture has been seeping in and we see mass celebration of Diwali being held in commercial places — such as Dhanteras taking place in a completely commercial manner.

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