First of all, I would like to wish each and every one of you a very happy and prosperous Deebavazhi 2023. I know many of you may be curious to know why I have used a rather strange way of spelling this wondrous festival of light. It is for those such that I am writing this post.
Many celebrate this festival which they call Diwali and some celebrate it as Deepavali but I prefer to call it and celebrate it as Deebavazhi. The term “Deebavazhi” has a special significance in most Dravidian languages. Deeba or Deepam denotes the light or the clay lamp upon which the light is lit. These simple clay lamps are filled with oil and have strands of cotton wound together to form a wick or “Thiri” on which the light is lit.
“Vazhi” denotes the way and is an abbreviated form of the actual word “Vazhipadu” which means “worship” or the way to worship. “Vazhipadu” has over time become Vazhi and it is this vahi which is now appended to Deeba to form Deebavazhi. Simply put the actual meaning of the word Deebavazhi is the Festival when the light is worshipped and celebrated.
So what is this light? This light is what we call as God, Shiva, Jehovah and many other meaningful names. Yes, God is nothing but light. Then where is this light? This light is within each and every one of us. How can we see the light? We can see the light only when the lamp is lit within our body. How then is the lamp within our body lit?
Well that’s the subject matter for another post and until then may I wish all dear readers a Blessed, Happy and Prosperous Deebavazhi 2023
