Diwali is one festival that every corner of India celebrates, in some form or the other. As there is no central model or standard protocol, the diverse local-level celebrations are not really regional variations, but represent the cultural tradition of that part of India. Each region, sub-region, cult or sect has evolved its mode of celebration, based on its history and ancient beliefs, but each is definitely connected to the main festival of Diwali. This loose confederation of festivities epitomises the actual operation of Hinduism’s core plurality and explains how a religion that has no central command or headquarters or even an agreed-upon “Bible” has grown from strength to strength. It has succeeded in uniting incredibly diverse ethnic communities in a vast country.

Let us see how while much of India celebrates Lakshmi’s glittering festival of lights, Bengal and large parts of the East worship the fearsome, blood-drenched ebony Kali on this darkest, moonless night of Amavasya. The fact is that the East is over with its chief harvest festival during Durga Puja, three weeks before, and also has thanked Lakshmi by then. The monsoon hits eastern India (and the western coast) much before it crawls up the Gangetic valley to reach the northern and western states, hence, these areas celebrate later.

On Diwali night, much of the East invokes Kali through a one-day worship — unlike the five days of North India’s Diwali. The Deepavali of South India is also........

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