is celebrated in all parts of India. It starts on the
14th day of the lunar month of Ashvayuja and
extends to the second day of the lunar month of
Kartikka. It usually falls around the end of Octo-
ber and the beginning of November.
The origin of the festival of Divali cannot be
traced, but it is known to be at least 1,000 years
old. As a “festival of lights” it resembles many
other festivals in the world with quite ancient
roots. On the first day of the festival one makes
an offering to the god of death, YAMA, after pray-
ing for expiation of sins. One lights a lamp to “the
underworld” where Yama lives. After feasting,
rows of lamps are lighted in the evening on ledges
and external places of houses. Temples and public
places are also illuminated the same way. On the
second day LAKSHMI, the goddess of wealth, is
worshipped; in Bengal KALI is worshipped instead.
Lights are also lit on this day, when late at night
a huge racket is created with drums and such to
drive away Alakshmi, Lakshmi’s (or Kali’s) inaus-
picious counterpart. In fact, by tradition every day
of Divali is filled with the sounds of firecrackers.
The third day is devoted to the unusual wor-
ship of a demon, BALI, the demon king who was
vanquished by VISHNU. One is to stay awake the
whole night. On the day of Bali it is common for
people to gamble, since many believe that this was
the day that PARVATI defeated her husband, SHIVA,
in a game of dice. On this third day cows and bulls
are also worshipped, as is a pile of food that rep-
resents the hill Govardhana, which KRISHNA lifted
to protect his people from storm. People also pass
under a rope of grass tied to a pole and tree in
order to assure safe journeys. The final day is a
brother and sister day, when brothers are invited
to the homes of their sisters for feasting.
Further reading: Jagadisa Ayyar, South India Festivities
(Madras: Higginbothams, 1921); M. P. Bezbaruah, with
Krishna Gopal and Phal S. Girota, eds., Fairs and Fes-
tivals of India, 5 vols. (Delhi: Gyan Publishing House,
2003); H. V. Shekar, Festivals of India: Significance of the
Celebrations (Louisville, Ky.: Insight Books, 2000).
Draupadi
Draupadi is the joint wife of the five PANDAVA
brothers in the Indian epic MAHABHARATA. Her
name derives from her father, King Drupada, of
the Panchalas.
Draupadi and her brother, Dhristhadymna,
were born from the sacrificial fire in the altar of
the house of Drupada. She was a partial incarna-
tion of the goddess SRI, who is associated with
kingship and kingly success. As she was supremely
attractive and desirable her father decided to hold
a “self-choice” festival, where, after a competi-
tion of her kingly, princely, and other suitors,
she would be able to choose her husband. In the
competition, whoever among the suitors could hit
a revolving, fish-shaped object suspended from a
tall pole would receive Draupadi in marriage.
KRISHNA and BALARAMA, the two AVATARS of
VISHNU, participated in the contest, but it was the
Pandava ARJUNA who successfully hit the target
and was garlanded by Draupadi. The five Panda-
vas, accustomed to sharing travails and rewards,
argued on the way home as to who should receive
this lovely woman as his wife. When they arrived
at home and announced that they had obtained a
prize, their mother, distracted with another task,
absentmindedly told them that they should share
it as brothers. Because holding to one’s word was
more important than anything in those times, the
mother, KUNTI, could not release them from her
command; nor could they refuse a mother’s direct
requirement. Therefore, Draupadi became the
wife for all five. Henceforth, she stayed two days
with each husband in turn.
Draupadi figures prominently in the famous
“dice scene” in the MAHABHARATA. YUDHISHTHIRA,
trying to win his kingdom back from his evil
cousins the KAURAVAS, wagers everything he
owns—and loses. Finally he offers his wife,
Draupadi, as a wager. He loses her as well. Drau-
padi, in menstruation, was rudely taken from her
quarters into public view by the Kauravas. Drau-
padi argues that since Yudhishthira has already
lost himself in the dice game and has become aK 136 Draupadi