Deepavali Harathulu.

This year, Naraka Chaturdashi and Deepavali (Amavasya) are being observed on the same day, 17^th October. Naraka Chaturdashi is the 14^th day of the Waning Crescent Moon after Pournami that is Full Moon day. And Amavasya is the next day that is New Moon Day. On Naraka Chaturdashi we get up early in the morning have a traditional oil bath and burst some crackers. Then around breakfast time, we have Harathulu. The above photographs are of Harathulu at our home, over the years. You can see the children from a young age onwards. We invite my sister and brother-in-law to attend Harathulu. As you can see in the photographs Harathulu means – the ladies and girls in the house light lamps on a Pooja plate, apply kumkuma bottu to the forehead of the menfolk of the house who are seated before them, sing a Harathi song and bless the men and boys with flowers and Akshanthalu. The custom of Harathulu and Harathi songs is to invoke divine blessings and to ward off evil. After Harathulu we have the traditional breakfast consisting of Sevalu, Peni, Garijalu, all sweets and savouries like Murukulu, Segu and other regular breakfast items like Puri. Lunch and dinner are also festive ones. In the afternoon my wife is busy arranging Bommala koluvu. I and the children would complete decorating the house with rows of colourful electrical lamps. Children would intermittently burst crackers on Chaturdashi and also on Deepavali day. Of course, the major amount of fireworks is reserved for the two evenings and nights.

Every now and then there is confusion about the exact date of celebrating a festival, the date differing by a day. Different priests and scholars have their own supporting interpretations and the public in general are confused and ultimately celebrate the festivals as per a holiday for the children or a holiday to their office or factory.

Except for Sankranti which is always on 14^th January all other festivals are celebrated according to the Telugu Lunar Calendar which does not match with universal Calendar dates. Telugu days start and end at different timings with respect to our regular clocks. The Telugu day Chaturdashi is starting on 16^th October at 12:48 Noon and ends at 11:42 A.M. on 17^th October. For observing festivals the starting time of the day is not important but the availability of the Lunar day at the time of Sunrise is important. Hence Naraka Chaturdashi will be celebrated on 17^th October. According to the same rule, Deepavali should be celebrated on 18^th October as Amavasya would start on 17^th October after 11:42 A.M. and end at 10:15 A.M. on 18^th October. But since Deepavali Lakshmi Pooja has to be performed on Amavasya evening it is decided to celebrate Deepavali on 17^th October itself.