Deepavali

Introduction

Deepavali – literally "a row of lamps" – is the festival of lights, celebrating the victory of light over darkness and of good over evil. It falls at the end of the month of Ashwayuja, on Bahula Chaturdashi and Amavasya, the darkest night of the month, which is lit up by countless lamps. In Andhra Pradesh and Telangana, the heart of the festival is Naraka Chaturdashi – the main Deepavali day – remembering the fall of the demon Narakasura. In the evening, homes worship Goddess Lakshmi and light pramidalu (clay lamps) at every doorway. The next day, the holy month of Karthika begins.

Significance and Legend – Satyabhama and Narakasura

According to tradition, Narakasura, the son of Bhudevi (Mother Earth), ruled Pragjyotishapura and grew arrogant with power. He troubled the gods and sages, and held thousands of princesses captive. He had a boon that he could die only at the hands of his own mother.

Lord Krishna went to battle against him, with Satyabhama – revered as an incarnation of Bhudevi – riding with him in his chariot. In the Bhagavata Purana, Krishna slays Narakasura with Satyabhama at his side. The version cherished in Telugu tradition, sung in folk songs and performed in dance dramas, tells that when Krishna was struck down in the battle, Satyabhama herself took up the bow and loosed the arrow that ended Narakasura – so that the boon was fulfilled through the Mother. Before he died, Narakasura asked that his passing be remembered not with mourning but with joy and lights – and so Naraka Chaturdashi is celebrated with lamps and fireworks.

Deepavali is also a day sacred to Goddess Lakshmi, who is welcomed into homes that are clean and bright with lamps on the night of Amavasya.

How it is Celebrated in Andhra Pradesh and Telangana

• Naraka Chaturdashi morning: families rise before dawn for an oil bath (abhyanga snanam) with sesame oil, wear new clothes and offer prayers – the most important ritual of the festival in the Telugu states.
• Cleaning and decorating: homes are cleaned and painted, doorways are decorated with mango-leaf toranams and colourful muggulu.
• Lamps: at dusk, rows of clay pramidalu filled with oil or ghee are lit along doorsteps, windows, compound walls and terraces.
• Fireworks: children and families enjoy tapasulu (fireworks) in the evening. Many families now choose green crackers and celebrate with care for safety, the elderly, animals and the environment.
• Diviteelu: in some Andhra families, children light small bundles of cloth soaked in oil and tied to gongura stalks after the Lakshmi puja, and tap them on the ground with the joyful chant "Dibbu dibbu Deepavali, malli vacche Nagula Chavithi".
• Sharing: sweets and savouries are prepared at home and shared with relatives, friends and neighbours.

Rituals and Puja

• Abhyanga snanam: the early-morning oil bath on Naraka Chaturdashi, considered to cleanse body and mind.
• Lakshmi puja: in the evening of Amavasya, Goddess Lakshmi is worshipped with lamps, flowers, kumkum and naivedyam, praying for prosperity and well-being. Many business families also begin their new account books on this day.
• Kedara Gowri vratam: some families observe this vratam of Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati on Deepavali Amavasya.
• Deepa aradhana: lighting lamps is itself an act of worship – a prayer to remove darkness, both outside and within.

Foods and Offerings

• Homemade sweets and savouries, prepared in the days before the festival and offered to the Goddess before being shared.
• A festive meal with family after the Naraka Chaturdashi morning bath and prayers.

Temples and Deepavali

Deepavali is above all a festival of the home, celebrated in every household with lamps, prayers and family gatherings. Temples across Andhra Pradesh and Telangana are lit with lamps and offer special worship, but no temple on this site is especially associated with Deepavali.

The Deepavali dates are shown in the festival dates above. In the Telugu panchang, Naraka Chaturdashi falls on Ashwayuja Bahula Chaturdashi and Lakshmi puja on the Amavasya that follows; in some years both fall on the same day.