Diwali or Deepavali is a great Hindu festival, perhaps the most celebrated one in North and South India. It is the festival of lights signifying victory of light over darkness,literacy over ignorance, truth over lies, good over evil, progress over backwardness. In India they observe the festival by offering special puja, scintillating illumination,fire crackers,new clothes,festive food and sweetmeat. We in Bengal,observe the day similarly but with a little less fervour since our biggest festivities is during Durgapuja which has just passed.On Diwali day,we observe Shyamapuja offering our obeisance to Maa Kali and observe all that has been mentioned,but to a lesser extent.It is on the Amavashya day which is the darkest day of the month Karthika of the Bangla calender. The day prior to that is called Bhoot-Chaturdashi. Today,I am going to bring to you how this day is observed in some parts of our country,specially the Barishal area.
According to Hindu mythology the departed souls of the predecessors come back to the earth in their bhoot(unseen airy soul) form to see their descendants,to find out their whereabouts/welbeing and to bless them. The descendents, in return,clean their tombstones befittingly,decorate them nicely,illuminate them hugely to show the way to the souls in the Amavashya darkness. Ample food of their(the predecessor’s) choice,water,sweetmeat and drinks are offered for their satisfaction infront of all tombstones. Everyone visits the cremation grounds of their predecessors and other deceased ones of the family on this occassion. This custom is particularly prevailing in a huge scale in the south western part of Bangladesh and specifically in Barishal area. It is known as Shwashan Deepavali or commonly called Shoshan Dipali. The biggest happening takes place in Barishal Kaunia Mohashwashan. It encompasses an area of about 5 acres and said to accomodate about 50000 Mauths or tombstones. Many are quite eye catching whereas others are simple. Many may have disappeared with time since their descendents may have left for safer or better living elsewhere. On this day the whole area and sorrunding takes a festive look with the happening as described earlier. It is estimated that hundreds of thousand people belonging to different strata of the society visits the place on this Shoshan Dipali day to show respect to the departed souls,to seek their blessings ,to show solidarity to the occassion or simply to participate in the festivities. A big Mela is organised to mark the occassion. The law enforcers face a tough time to manage such a big gathering of people and to maintain proper discipline. A big contingent of volunteers are arranged by the Managing Committee of the event to assist the law enforcing agents. Usually no untoward happenings are reported. On the same day all cremation grounds of the country has similar event but to a lesser degree. The grand Kaunia Shwashan deepavali is being observed at the same location reportedly from 1927 when the cremation ground moved there from Notun bazar. In the previous location it started about 200 years ago,initiated by the local zaminders. It is known that father and grand father of the great poet Jibanananda Das were cremated in Kaunia. Mahatma Aswini Dutta though was cremated at Calcutta,his ashes were brought and a tombstone was built here.
Shashan Deepali is an event to reckon with in Barishal.
We pray for the salvation of the souls of all our predecessors and seek their blessings.
May Almighty place all of them in the most coveted place in their eternal abode. This year the Bhoot Chaturdashi falls on 23 October.Hope the Bhoot-Chaturdashi festivities pass happily and uneventfully.
