Happy Deepavali!

A rap song to celebrate the festival of lights!

Hey folks,

Diwali is the Festival of Lights 🪔 celebrated all over India between 22 Oct—26 Oct 2022. A curious thing to note is the spelling: it’s “Diwali” in northern India, and “Deepavali” in the South. The origin story is different too!

North Indian version

Lord Ram married Princess Sita. Ravana, the demon king, became obsessed with her and kidnapped her when Ram and his brother Laxmana went hunting. Jatayu, the elderly vulture demigod, intervened to save Sita but Ravana clipped his wings.

Jatayu Vadh by Raja Ravi Varma (1895). In public domain.

Rama and his brother happened upon Jatayu in his final hours, who told the duo where Ravana was headed. After performing the funeral rites for Jatayu, Rama, Laxmana, and the Vanara army traveled to Lanka to rescue Sita. Ravana was slain in battle and the festival of Diwali was marked by the occasion of the Lord and Lady returning to their kingdom in Ayodhya. The city's people lit lamps to celebrate the triumph of light over darkness.

South Indian version

The demon king, Narakasura, conquered heaven and earth, even displacing Indra, the god of the Devas. Lord Vishnu (one of the Hindu Triumvirate) fought Narakasura in his avatar as Krishna. As the demon king drew his last breath, he asked that his death be commemorated with an array of lights.

West Indian version

After a bit of digging, I found this origin story of Diwali being celebrated on the eve of the banishment of King Bali. It was said that the demigod Bali ruled over heaven and earth. Bali was a just and kind king by some accounts, but his ego started to become a threat to the gods. He was immortal and once resurrected himself using the Nectar of the Gods. So, Vishnu adopted the guise of a small-statured Brahmin and visited King Bali when he was granting boons to anyone who asked him for one.

Vamana by Raja Ravi Varma (1890). Public domain.

“I ask for just 3 steps of land”, said Vishnu.

Bali was so vain that he did not realize it was Vishnu himself. He looked at the small feet of the man before him and agreed.

Vishnu dropped all pretense and assumed his heavenly form. In one step, he consumed all of heaven. With his next step, he covered all of the earth. “Where is the land for my 3rd step, King?” he asked. Bali, in supplication, pointed to his head.

Before Vishnu stomped him into the nether world, Bali asked that his banishment be commemorated with lights.

Diwali, not just in India

That being said, the festival is celebrated in any country hosting a vibrant Indian diaspora. So, today, I want to share a rap song about Deepavali, sung in Tamil, from Malaysia (truly Asia).

Happy Diwali/Deepavali and I hope you all are blessed with joy this year.

See you on Monday for a special guest post!

-Nikhil. 🪔