Why Crackers Are Burnt in the Morning During Diwali in South India, Know Significance of Naraka Chaturdashi

The Supreme Court on Tuesday gave Tamil Nadu and Puducherry a time slot of two hours in the morning to burst crackers following a petition. The Tamil Nadu government urged the Supreme Court on Monday to allow bursting of firecrackers on Diwali morning according to the religious practices in the state. The apex court had permitted time period from 8 PM to 10 PM to burst crackers.

The Hindu quoted the application filed by the State, through advocate B. Vinodh Kanna read, "India being a Federal State is with different traditions and cultures. As far as celebrations relating to Diwali are concerned, each State or Sect has a separate set of beliefs, traditions and culture." 4-Day Diwali 2018 Holidays: Tamil Nadu Government Announces Two Days Vacation on November 5 & 6 for Educational Institutes.

It said that "in Northern India, Diwali is celebrated in the night to celebrate the homecoming of Rama after slaying Ravana, Diwali is therefore on the night of November 7, 2018. In the State of Tamil Nadu, Diwali, pronounced as 'Deepavali', is celebrated commemorating the death of Narakashura, the Evil, slain by the Goddess in the early hours of dawn".

Narakasura was killed on Naraka Chaturdashi which falls on Krishna Paksha in the Hindu month of Ashwin. It falls on the second day of the five-day-long festival. While in north India, Diwali celebrates the homecoming of Ram, in South India the day commemorates the death of Narakashura. It is celebrated during early morning as according to Hindu literature Krishna, Satyabhama and Kali killed Narakasura during the daytime.

The petition further reads, "Tamil Nadu, on the day of Diwali, people wake up early at around 4 a.m., take an oil bath, wear new clothes, and start the celebration with bursting firecrackers in the early morning itself. The celebration goes all day. Diwali this year in Tamil Nadu, is on the early morning of November 6."

In parts of South India, on this day people wake up early in the morning and take oil bath. People also apply kajal to ward off the evil eye. In Goa, effigies of Narakasura made of paper, grass are burnt early in the morning. Families members meet and burst firecrackers at four in the morning. In parts of Karnataka and Tamil Nadu, Diwali is celebrated on Naraka Chathurdasi while the rest of the country celebrates it on Amavasya.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Oct 30, 2018 05:41 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).