Marwaris of Rajasthan consider Diwali as their New Year. They believe
Diwali to be an auspicious day to venture into new projects and thus
celebrate it as New Year's day. It usually falls in the month of October
- November. The Marwari New Year is celebrated with great charm and
exuberance in almost all parts of Rajasthan.
Marwari New Year Celebrations
Diwali celebrations begin almost a month before the festival.
Ahoi
Ashtami is a women's day celebrated a week before Diwali. On this
day, women fasts for long lives of their husbands and adorn their house
doors with mirror worked hangings. The Bania - Marwari community
celebrate this day very religiously. In some houses, age - old tradition
of making the sketch of Ahoi Mata with geru (paste of red powder diluted
in water) is followed. Sometimes, her picture is hung or made on the
wall, which is layered with cow dung and a coat of fresh lime is
applied. This is a holy wall of Marwaris and the prosperous Diwali pooja
is done in front of this wall. They worship Goddess Laxmi (goddess of
wealth) and Lord Ganesha on the day of Diwali. Family members does a
parikrama around the sanctum and accomplish it with the Satyanarayan
Aarti. After the pooja, Charnamrit - a mixture of curd , unboiled milk,
tulsi leaves and sugar is given to every one present at the pooja.
People often buy a silver coin as it seen as a good omen. Diwali is the
time when new account books are prepared by all traders after the pooja.
They believe good luck and prosperity ushers when new books of accounts
are opened and a betel leaf is kept in it on the New Year's day.
Evening festivities include special Marwari meals. They feast upon '
pucca khana' (food cooked in oil or ghee). Puri, halwa and the sweet
vermicelli are not to be missed food items of a Marwari festival dishes.
