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MAY, 1903.]
MISCELLANEA.
MISCELLANEA.
DIVALI-FOLKLORE.
BY B. A. GUPTE, F.Z.S.
HOLIDAYS in all countries have their folklore, and the Divâli of India is no exception. The
greater the number of folktales, the higher the stage of development in the society, and the greater the interest we find attached to the evolution of the festivities. In the case of the Hindu Divall, I have been able to collect the following half dozen different folk notions:I.
Vishnu, says a priestly Brahman, apportioned
four chief holidays between the four varnas or castes. The Brahmans of the alms-receiving class have to observe the rákhi-parnama, or the full-moon day of the month of Sravan, and to collect money by tying the well-known raksha or protecting charm to the wrists of their masters; and every employer will testify that they have not neglected this opportunity! To the Kshatriya or warrior caste Vishnu gave the Dasahra holiday, to the Vaisyas or trader caste, the Divali, when they are expected to worship goddess Lakshmi who presides over wealth, and to the Sadras or servile class. Phâlgun or Hôli, the filthy and indecent rowdyism of the last month of the Hindu Calendar.
II.
The second idea claims Divali as the day on which Raja Bali was deprived of his empire on earth. In Maharashtra, women prepare effigies of Bali, either in rice-flour or cow-dung according to grade, worship them and repeat the blessing "May all evils disappear, and Raja Bali's Empire be restored [इडा पिडा जावो, आणि बळीचें राज्य येवो. ] There is no such worship in Bengal.
III.
It is believed that Vishnu killed Narkasur or the giant of filth on the 14th day of the second Asvin. On this day, all Hindus bathe very early before sun-rise after anointing their bodies with many perfumed unguents and oils. There are two baths taken, one after the other, just as is done on the death of a near relation. After the first bath, a lamp made of rice-flour and an oval piece of the same stuff called mutké are waved round each male by some girl or married woman, and the fruit of the cucurbitous plant, chirat, is placed in front of him. He then crushes the fruit under his left foot, extinguishes
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the lamp with the toe of his left leg, and takes the second bath. He wears a new dress and partakes, with his friends and relations, of the numerous dainties prepared for the occasion. This, it is said, is in celebration of the victory of Vishnu over the giant.
IV.
The fourth explanation is but a variation of Lakshmi-worship, in which the Bengalis bring home clay figures of their dreadful Kâli and worship it in the place of the charming conBort of Vishnu, represented by heaps of Rupees
placed in trays. They say that Kali is Lakshmi
Learning), and the procreative female power as (Goddess of Wealth), is Saraswati (Goddess of
well!
V.
The fifth idea has a historical basis. It is that
King Vikramaditya of Ujjain, a scion of the Gupta race, was crowned on this day, the 16th of Aévin, and counted his era accordingly.
This is thus a new year's day.
VI.
It is asserted that after his return from Lankha, Rama was crowned on this day!
Taking, however, into consideration the season the primitive origin of Divali has connection or the time of the year, one is led to suspect that with the movement of the earth round the sun. That luminary passes the tula, the libra or the balance,' about this time and marks the beginning of the second half of its course.'He' is then seen going farhter and farther from the Northern hemisphere, the nights become longer in proportion, snow begins to fall on the peaks of the Mêru or Himalaya mountains. At this time the desire to wish him (the sun) speedily return to enliven the North is natural and is possibly expressed in the vernacular quotation given above. The sign of the zodiac, libra or balance, may have influenced belief in the weighing of the harvest-products followed by "counting" the cash realized. Hence the joy felt by the Baniâs.
We have thus (1) the desire to see the sun return to the land of the Aryans, and (2) the destruction of the giant of filth or farm-yard and other manure-heap, which have to be removed or taken away from the house, heaped together, worshipped, topped by a burning lamp and offered a coin. This is done before the early
