Tracking Diwali celebration -- Malayali people Traditions of chiraathu, temple visits, sweets mark Deepavali for Nagpur’s Malayalis

 

 

In Hindu culture, the ‘Ganga Snanam’ is one of the most sacred rituals which cleans the impurity of mind and soul. Performing the ritual with aromatic oils early morning makes it more divine and spiritual. Maliyali households of Nagpur begins the five-day festival of Diwali with oil bath ritual, makes it most important event of the celebration. Elders anoint foreheads of younger family members with warm oil as the fresh rays of sun hit the Earth. The day, called as Dhanteras, also honours Dhanvantari, the divine healer who emerged from the cosmic ocean with Amrit, the nectar of immortality. Maliyalis revere him as a symbol of wellness and balance.

 

“Our reverence for Dhanvantari endures, and Malayalis take pride in his connection to Ayurveda,” said Rajhesh Nair, a resident of Friends Colony. The coconut oil mingles with the savory sweetness of jaggery from early kitchen preparations, which is the festival’s opening act, said Rajesh. After Dhanteras, households awaken the next day for Narak Chaturdashi. Following ritualistic oil baths, families make their way to Krishna and Vishnu temples, dressed in crisp whites and jewel-toned saris. Prayers rise like sacred smoke into the morning sky. Children clutch elders’ hands, eyes wide with wonder. This day celebrates the defeat of Narakasur, the demon whose tyranny darkened heaven and earth until Krishna, accompanied by his consort Satyabhama, confronted him. As Narakasur’s life waned, repentance softened his heart, and he wished that his demise be remembered with joy. Krishna honored this wish.

 

“When Krishna returned to Dwarka after defeating Narakasura, lamps were lit to welcome him home,” narrated Rashmi Umesh, a resident of Swavalambi Nagar. “Lighting Chiraathu, the small clay lamps, is our way of commemorating that victorious moment” Umesh added. Diwali arrives with Malayali homes glowing in hundreds of tiny flames. Each Chiraathu is placed near thresholds, courtyards, and Tulsi plants. Many Malayali families in Nagpur also observe Lakshmi Puja, as Vilasini Udaybhaskar Nair, a resident of Ram Nagar, mentioned that they have mixed northern rituals with their own traditions. Kitchens glow with the festival’s culinary delights. The creamy aroma of Payasam (a pudding of milk, rice, and jaggery), mingles with the golden Unniyappam (sweet round rice-based fritters), while Murukku (a savory deep-fried spiral, hisses as it emerges from hot oil). Vilasini shared the sweets prepared for the festivities, “We lovingly prepare Besan Laddoo, Mysore Pak, Imariti, and Tirupati Laddoo.” The festival continues with Bhai Dooj, as this too has been blended with northern traditions. Siblings exchange blessings, sweets, and gifts. Rangoli patterns, crafted in rice flour and bright powders, gleam under the morning sun. As Vilasini concluded, that while Diwali elsewhere is an elaborate spectacle, for Malayalis it is a milder celebration, treasured as a time of indulgence soaked in sweets and familial warmth.