At a time when Deepawali celebrations have become associated with alarming levels of noise and air pollution, observers point out that the traditional and environment friendly customs of celebrating Deepawali in Uttarakhand need to be retained and encouraged as these traditions are dying out.
However, the traditional customs which used to strengthen community bonding in villages are now being replaced by market oriented celebrations that present a glaring and polluting contrast to traditional Deepawali celebrations.
In the Garhwal region, Deepawali was traditionally celebrated with villagers cookingswanli-pakodi (Puri and pakodi made from urad paste) and distributing these to families in the village- especially to a family that had seen death that year as it would be unable to cook the dishes during the mourning period.
Flower garlands were used for decoration while after sunset, the villagers played bhailu - swinging bundles of burning pine wood pieces tied with a string made using green fibre.
In the dark moonless night of Deepawali, villagers used to swing these burning bundles of pine wood deftly to create various patterns of illuminated movement. In the Kumaon region, Aipan- the traditional rangoli made using powdered rice is also an important part of the Deepawali festivity. However, the traditions are being replaced by market driven aspects.
Noted folk singer Narendra Singh Negi said, "Changes do take place but our traditions are being left behind. Deepawali celebration is now more market oriented. Bhailu is being played only in some villages now and now instead of the traditional urad pakodi on Deepawali many have taken to cooking aaloo pakodi which is more convenient to cook. Amidst such cultural changes, the sense of camaraderie maintained and encouraged by ethnic customs is also being lost," he said.
Noted activist Anil Joshi states, "So called modernity is taking us away from our traditional values and customs. The traditional celebration of Deepawali in the mountainous regions was environment friendly and also strengthened the bonds in the community. However, with the people now moving away from their traditions, Deepawali celebration has become associated more with generation of noise and air pollution along with financial stress," he adds.
Historian and academician professor Shekhar Pathak said that traditional Deepawali celebrations have become influenced by market trends to varying extents. He said, "Aipan is still continuing but now many have started using the readymade Aipan stickers. This has done away with the creativity part of the festivity seen in creation of traditional aipan with deft use of the fingers using rice powder. Customs like cleaning up homes and family members returning to the village to celebrate are being maintained but the traditional diyas have gone underground. The diyas have been replaced by electric illuminations with celebrations in the rural areas also being influenced to varying extents by market trends," said Pathak.