Illuminated Piety

One of the most iconic symbols of the festive season that begins with Diwali is of Shaniwarwada lit up by thousands of traditional lamps.

Padva is lit up by the many deepotsavs held across the city

One of the most iconic symbols of the festive season that begins with Diwali is of Shaniwarwada lit up by thousands of traditional lamps. The fort comes alive with large diya formations and with the chatter of hundreds who gather to witness this simple spectacle. Many deepotsavs apart from this one are held around the city to mark Padva as well. Today,on the occasion of Padva,the fourth day of the Diwali festival,what better way can one observe it than by gathering family,friends and well-wishers,and lighting a huge array of lamps?

Chaitanya Hasya Yoga Mandal has been responsible for the yearly spectacle at Shaniwarwada for the past 14 years. This year too the Deepotsav was held on the first day of Diwali. Close to 50,000 wax diyas formed the 50 ft by 50 ft visage of a meditating yogi,with a swastika design beside him. About 400 members of the club worked through the day to make the design outline and then light the diyas in the evening. “The participation is always great and we encourage the public to join in. At least a 1000 people come every year to the deepotsav,” says Vithal Kate,president of the Chaitanya Hasya Yoga Mandal.

Inspired by the Chaitanya Mandal,the Meenakshipuram society branch of the laughter club in Wadgaon Budruk started its own deepotsav three years back. Every year,1000 lamps are lit by the residents starting around 6-30 pm on Padva. This year,the deepotsav will be held on Saturday. “People have the time to spare on weekend to come and light the lamps. On other Diwali days,they are busy with pujas and other rituals,” says Shreeyash Deshpande of the Meenakshipuram club. This deepotsav however relies on no design and the diyas are placed randomly to cover the space around the society. “It automatically takes on a shape,” Deshpande smiles.

In preparation for the deepotsav,Rs 10 was collected from every family in the society,the rest of the corpus being filled in by the club. “There is no compulsion to contribute and it is open to non-members as well,” says Deshpande,for whom the deepotsav represents a community activity that unites the neighbours together in celebration.

Another Padva deepotsav that is organised every year since the past decade is the one by Rashtriya Kala Academy Nyas. The institute is well-known for the giant street rangoli designs that its students and academy members make during Ganeshotsav and Diwali. The close to 140 rangoli students and 15 teachers of the institute gather at Chaturshrungi temple after sunset on Padva day and light lamps at the temple. “We try to bring people together through the deepotsav. Like rangoli,this too is a symbol of our tradition and we should preserve it,” says Yogesh Golande of the academy.

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