Goverdhan Pooran ( Worshipping of Mt. Goverdhan)

Goverdhan Pooran  ( Worshipping of Mt. Goverdhan)

Painting from Bhagwat Puran by Fattu, Kangra School,18th Century CE

           Lord Krishna was surprised to see that the people of Vrindavan prayed to Lord Indra, the God of rain. Instead of praying for rain, it is better to pray to the mountain which with its green cover invites the rain. He taught the people to worship the Goverdhan hill. 

           Here Fattu, the famous Kangra painter, depicts Nanda, Krishna's father, and the people circumbulating the mountain. Lord Vishnu sits on top of the mountain while Krishna and Balaram and Nanda go around the mountain.  To mark the festivities, there are musicians playing the long horn and beating the drums. Ladies are carrying water in the pots; the offering are kept on the ground. A young cowheard points to Lord Vishnu sitting on top of the hill; an old man bends and pays homage to Lord Vishnu. 

           Fattu has depicted different strata of society from the village headman, Nanda, to the cowheard, from the young child in the arms to the old man. The costumes of the people depicts the composite culture of the people. Interestingly Nanda looks like a Mughal Emperor, while the women are attired in lenhga and odhani  (the long skirts and the stoles) of Hindu womenfolk.  All the cultures and community live peacefully.  

           The story of Goverdhan pooja is a story of conservation of Nature,  of Man living harmoniously with Nature, of different strata of society living peacefully. It is a celebration of peace and harmony. 

Rani Celebrating Deepavali in Her Palace

Rani Celebrating Deepavali in Her Palace

Attributed to Nainsukha, Kangra School,18th Century CE

            Deepavali is an ancient festival. Initially it was celebrated to mark Lord Ram's return to Ayodhya after spending fourteen years in the forest. Subsequently, it became the festival for praying to Goddess Lakshmi,  the goddess of wealth. It also marks the beginning of the Hindu financial year.  In Bengal, on the other hand, Goddess Kali is worshipped on Deepavali. While for North India Deepavali is a major festival,  in South India it is hardly celebrated. 

             Here we see the Rani sitting in a chair. Both she and another Lady are busy with fire crackers. The maids have lit lamps all over the palace. There is music and light, gaiety and celebrations all around. Interestingly whole many  women are wearing Hindu dresses, the ghaghara and the odhani, ( the skirt and the stole), other women are sporting the Mughal dress of the inner pajama and Mughal caps. The life of the palace reflects the composite culture of its time. 

             Deepavali is a festival which celebrates our coming out of the woods: of destroying the prejudices,  the bad deeds, the evil spirit in us. And thereby moving from the darkness of our personality to the light within us. It is a celebration of our rebirth each year. 

            May the divine light inside you ever burn so brightly as to light up every corner of your  home, office and of our nation.