The festival of lamps, Diwali, is an ancient tradition that is celebrated
through Karnataka in one manner. The festival has been celebrated for ages
and grows in fascination by each year. Everyone enjoys the goodies, the
glitter and glamor, and the endless zest for living that suddenly grips
people around this time. The victory of light over darkness is celebrated
joyously all over the region. It is also considered to be a festival of
wealth and prosperity.
The legend followed in Karnataka is that of an emperor named Bali who had
become all-powerful and a threat to the peace of the universe. God Vishnu is
said to have come to earth in the form of a short Brahmin (The Vamana
Avatar), and presenting himself before the mighty Bali asked for "as
much land as three of my footsteps would cover." As no king should
refuse a Brahmin's appeal for charity, Bali readily granted what seemed to
him a trifling request. Whereupon the diminutive Brahmin resumed his
all-pervasive, omnipresent form and covers the heavens with one foot and the
world below with another. He asked where he should place his foot for the
third step. Bali bowed before him and offered his own head for him to place
his foot on. This victory is observed on the day of the new moon (Amavasya)
when the month of Ashwin (October-November) makes way for the month of
Kartik.
The celebration of Diwali is marked by the lighting of innumerable lamps in
every courtyard and the bursting of crackers. Sweetmeals, new clothes and
spirit is there as in other festivals. The time for rejoicing is mainly
early morning and late night. These hours of darkness bordering the waking
hours are preferred as lights and crackers are the highlights of the
festivities and these need darkness to have their illuminating effect. Hence
people rise early and go late to sleep.
