On Ddiyaarii (Diwali)

[Gul Agha <agha@CS.UIUC.EDU>]

From: Suraiya Makhdoom <smakhdoom3@yahoo.co.uk>
Subject: DDIYAARI-A  JOON  WADHAYOON  TO  ALL THE  FRIENDS
Date: Thu, 11 Nov 2004 22:44:16 +0000 (GMT)

On this auspicious occasion, may I request all Sindhis to always call
this festival by its Sindhi name, Ddiyari.

By the way, word Diwali is not universal. In some parts of India, it's
called Deepawali -- from the word Deepak, meaning Deeyo (a clay lamp).
Ddiyari is associated with Ddiyo.  Hence word Ddiyari and all its
other linguistic versions are derived from the equivalent of Ddiyo
word in other languages:

In Sindhi, Ddiyari is derived from Ddiyo.  In Hindi, it was originally
Diyaali, based on Diya.  Later on in the British period, Diyali became
Diwali, which has become a popular version now in the Hindi world.

Like the modern times, light was an expression of happiness in the
ancient world as well.  Ddiyaari is a celebration of happiness. Hence
the lighting of Ddiya. To add to the speciality of the occasions,
Ddiya on special occasions are fuelled by expensive energy sources,
like Geehu or butter oil, although people can light them with ordinary
oil as well. Diyaari marks the new year in Hindu calendar. So the new
year is welcomed by light, by Ddiya.

Yet another feature of Ddiyo is that is it represents storage, one of
the main features of an agriculture society.  Being made of clay, from
which many household utensils were made at that time and still are in
the villages of Sindh and rest of the Sub-continent, Ddiyo reminded
people of the necessity of storage for the coming months. This laid
the foundations of buying utensils at the Ddiyari time. This also
ensures prosperity in the coming year.  I know many Hindu friends, who
buy new utensils on Ddiyaari.

Ddiyo, due to its unique shape, ddiyo has been highly recommended for
mediation by the Yogis throughtout the history.  Meditation was and is
good for mental health. In modern times, as far as meditation is
concerned, ddiyo has been replaced by candles, especially in the
western world, where this form of meditation is quite popular now.

Ddiyo features prominently in Latif's poetry, especially in Suru
Moomal (Shah Latif), in which Moomals lights "Ddiya teela phulel ja"
to welcome Rano.  Hence lit by especial fuel, Ddiyo is also symbolic
of celebrating a beloved's home-coming.

In a word Ddiya has all the ingredients essential for a happy and
prosperous and healthy life, both physically and mentally:  light,
storage, planning ahead, medidation.  That’s why Diyaari is associated
with Diyoo.

With best wishes for the festival season,

Suraiya
  ****************************************************

From: Gul Agha
Date: Thu, 11 Nov 2004 17:27:12 -0600

The celebration of Ddiyaarii is intimately connected with the rhythm
of life of the Sindhi people since ancient times.  It is tied both to
their agarian background and to the origins of navigation by the
Sindhi people.  (it is interesting that the history of ddiyaarii also
shows that the caste system was effectively ended in Sindh, as people
who were originally the Shudra's even ruled Sindh as late as 7th
cent. AD).  Here are a couple of my postings from past years.

http://yangtze.cs.uiuc.edu/~jamali/sindh/sindh-l/archive/her/msg00155.html
http://yangtze.cs.uiuc.edu/~jamali/sindh/sindh-l/archive/her/msg00682.html

   **********************************************
From: Ali Brohi <brohi@hotmail.com>
Date: Sat, 13 Nov 2004 02:29:17 +0000

Saaeen Agha Sahib Namastkar aen Diyaria joon Wadhayoon,

Please Read the following athentic articles, Published in Sindhi Daily
Ibrat about Ddiyaarii as per Hindu Dharam then compare it with Sindhu
Dharam.

http://www.dailyibrat.com/edition/dewali/art-3.htm
http://www.dailyibrat.com/edition/dewali/art-4.htm

With Best Regards

Ali Brohi
  *************************

From: Gul Agha
Date: Sat, 13 Nov 2004 09:02:32 -0600

Saaiin Ali Brohi,

avaahn khe bbi ddiyaarii juun vaadhaayuun.

Thanks for the pointers to the articles.

The two articles are a bit disappointing in that in one case the
articles ignore the Sindhi significance entirely, and in the second,
it makes only a small reference to ddiyaarii as the Fall harvest
festival but no reference to the particular Sindhi significance --
that this is the time new soil is created (the land reborn) by the
receding Sindhuu waters, Sindhu being the richest river in terms of
silt deposit (before the Great Indus Water Robbery through damming by
Northerners) and the historical raison d'etre of Sindhii civilization.
Given the current circumstances, this is an important time to
remember this significance, embodying our relation with Sindhuu.

One can also see the rather unfortunate ignoring of our Sindhi
heritage in these articles by the fact that neither article talks
about the uniquely Sindhi Jhule Laalu or explains why the key Sindhi
celebration on the ddiyaarii is bahrano of Laalu Sahibu (on kati jo
chanddru).  It is as though daryaa panthiis were not the dominant
Sindhis.  Also, the connection with saamondrii is not mentioned --
thus they fail to explicate the significance of visiting the in-laws
the day after ddiyaarii.  This is sad because Sindhis are believed to
have invented the art of navigation in ancient times.

As I have always emphasized in my talks to different Sindhi groups, it
is important for Sindhis to remember their own roots and own legends.
Although Sindhuu is the origin of Hinduu, we have suffered cultural
colonization from the East and the West, as well as the North, and the
process continues today to the extent that few Sindhis remember their
identity or the heritage handed down from their ancestors.  Worst case
is that of the city dwellers, the so-called "educated elite".
Reclaiming our ancient festivals in this secular age is an important
step towards a Sindhi renaissance.

-----
jiye Sindhu,

Gul Agha
  ***********************************************

From: Ramesh Kateja <rukateja@yahoo.co.in>
Date: Sat, 13 Nov 2004 20:54:22 +0530

Both the articles in Ibrat are only relatively indicative.  "Diyaari"
was celebrated even before the occurrence of the happening described
in the articles.  It is only coincidental that Lord Rama' coronation
was held on 'Diyaari' day after his return from Banwaas.  'Diyaari' is
traditional festival of lights celebrated by Sindhis for ages, at the
time begging of the winter and new harvest.