Actually Diwali is Diwali. There cannot be any big or small Diwali, right? Under the influence of Hindi though, these days there is this high funda talk of the Badi Diwali which, I suppose, begins with Narak Chaturdashi.
Yes, THE feel of Diwali truly sets in with Narak Chaturdashi. Ardently i remember the childhood days. Aai used to wake up 4.30-ish. Well, she finally slept forever around that time, too! She used to play the Bismillah Khan shehnai record. We always woke up to those lovely tunes.
Those days it used to be truly cold circa 5-ish. Winter would have set in. The cold, however, would not matter as Aai would massage us with warm oil and the Diwali special 'utane', the special scrub. Silken used to be her fingers. The warm water, the mellow light of the 'panati', the 'diya' on the window ledge, her eyes lit up as she would perform the Diwali special "owalne"at the end of the ceremonial bath, siblings lighting up a sparkler, the Diwali special Mysore Sandal soap, this bath, a feast for four senses, would make one feel light as a feather!
The missing, the fifth, sense would soon be satiated with her truly tasty 'faral'. Distinctly I remember Papa performing 'puja', while she would bathe us. Hers would be somehow managed before the day break. Hardly would it matter to her.
Given such total, complete and absolute adoration and love of our parents, I respect, come what may, her only wish that the three of us should always continue to care for each other, and be together at least during the festive times. Simple soulful wish, MUST be fulfilled. Till the end of my days, I am sure. It is thus that evil is defeated, the real meaning of the 'good winning', the core message of Narak Chaturdashi!
Pratima@As for the 'Narkasur Vadh', everyone remembers Krishna marrying the sixteen thousand women the demon, Narkasur, had incarcerated. Actually, the marriage is a symbolic sanction of their dignity, otherwise not granted by the social strictures supposedly.
Funny, however, it is quoting Krishna marrying these unfortunate women because forgotten is the fact that Satyabhama, Krishna's consort, helped Krishna defeat the demon. Apparently, not only did she provide him support and succour during the fierce battle, but actually hers was the final blow which killed Narakasur. Essentially, it is a woman who can defeat a demon!
In my opinion, that is the real win of the good over evil, often overlooked in the 'sixteen thousand wives' narrative! Actually, it is Satyabhama, a trained warrior, an accomplished archer, who, too, sure deserves our respect, however much traditionally overlooked.
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