In North India there is a practice of burning effigy of Ravana, the king of Shrilanka, who was defeated and killed by Lord Rama. But people from South India, who are basically Dravidians, dont like or rather hate this practice. Why so?
2006-10-28 20:29:06 · 3 answers · asked by Mithunda 1 in Society & Culture ➔ Mythology & Folklore
Deepavali is celebrated throughout India for very many resons. It is celebrated according to region and religions for different reasons. In North India a setion of perople celetrate as the daty of Rama's Return to ayothya.
The festival marks the victory of good over evil. The Sanskrit word Deepavali means an array of lights that stands for victory of brightness over darkness. As the knowledge of Sanskrit diminished, the name was popularly modified to Diwali, especially in northern India.
Hindus find cause to celebrate this festival for different reasons:
It commemorates the killing of Narakasura, an evil demon who created havoc, by Lord Krishna's wife Sathyabhama. This happened in the Dwapara Yuga during this time of Lord Krishna's avatar. In another version, the demon was killed by Lord Krishna himself. In South India, Diwali does not coincide with the beginning of a new year as South Indians follow a different calendar, the Shalivahana calendar.
Before Narakasura death, he requested a boon from his mother sathyabhama, that everyone should celebrate his death with colorful light .
As per sacred texts, according to Skanda Purana, the goddess Shakti observed 21 days of austerity starting from ashtami of shukla paksha (waxing period of moon) to get half part of the body of Lord Shiva. This vrata is known as kedhara vrata. Deepavali is the completion day of this austerity. This is the day Lord Shiva accepted Shakti into the left half of the form and appeared as Ardhanarishvara. The ardent devotees observe this 21 days vrata by making a kalasha with 21 threads on it and 21 types of offerings for 35 days. The final day is celebrated as kedhara gauri vrata.
Children lighting lamps in the form of a swastika on the eve of Diwali.Diwali also celebrates the return of Lord Rama, King of Ayodhya, with his wife Sita and brother Lakshmana to Ayodhya from a war in which he killed the demon king Ravana. It is believed that the people lit oil lamps along the way to light their path in the darkness. This is the reason, why the festival is celebrated a day earlier in South India since Lord Rama travelled from the south to his kingdom in the north. In North India, the festival is held on the final day of the Vikram calendar. The following day marks the beginning of the North Indian new year, and is called Annakut.
In Bhavishyottara and Bramhavaivarta Purana, Diwali is associated with the Daitya king Bali, who is allowed to return to earth once a year.
In South India it is celebrated as Naraka Chathurdasi. Dravida culture is not against worship of Rama alone. They do not worship God at all. On deepavali day Rama is not worshiped in south India but Naraka Chathurdasi is observed. They also observe Lakshmi Puja on this day. This is in practice for ages. Ofcourse Rama is worhiped in south India on Rama Navami in a elobrate way.
2006-10-28 23:11:15 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Ravana was very wise. Although he done some wrong things. South indians pray him thats why they don't like burning Ravana.
2006-10-29 02:32:13 · answer #2 · answered by Viren 3 · 0⤊ 1⤋
http://in.answers.yahoo.com/
2006-10-29 02:37:57 · answer #3 · answered by zen 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋