Historical Development of Hindu Festival Diwali and Its Reflections in Different Religions

Yıl 2022, Cilt: 24 Sayı: 46, 581 - 605, 15.12.2022

Ahmet Türkan Mehmet Safa Cevahir

https://doi.org/10.17335/sakaifd.1157015

Öz

Diwali is derived from the word Deepavali, which means "series of lights", and has had wide repercussions in the Indian world and continues to do so. As Diwali is determined according to the lunar calendar, it has different celebration days. It is usually celebrated at the end of October and the beginning of November in the Gregorian calendar. There are different mythological accounts of the origin of Diwali. The most prominent origin narrative, as a Hindu festival in the first stage, is the one centered on Rama-Sita-Ravana. This narrative was later reinterpreted by Sikhs in line with their own traditions, and this is how the understanding of Diwali emerged in Sikhism. In the Rama-Sita-Ravana narrative, which represents the central narrative of the origin of Diwali in Hinduism, Rama's wife Sita is kidnapped by Ravana, King of Lanka, then Rama wages war on Ravana and saves his wife by defeating him. Afterwards, a magnificent welcome is organized for the couple who come to Ayodhya, and with their return, abundance and fertility occur in the city. Hindus adopted this narrative to their daily lives and believed that Goddess Lakshmi, who is a prominent figure in Diwali, also provides abundance and fertility today.

Anahtar Kelimeler

History of Religions, Diwali, Festival of Lights, Hinduism, India.

Hindu Bayramı Divali'nin Tarihi Gelişimi ve Farklı Dinlerdeki Yansımaları

Öz

Divali, Hindistan’da ve diasporada büyük coşkuyla kutlanılan bir bayramdır. Hinduların yanı sıra, Hindistan'daki Caynist, Sih, Budist, Hıristiyan ve Müslümanlar tarafından bu bayrama önem verilmiş ve her bir dini grup kendi anlayışları ve gelenekleri doğrultusunda benzer veya farklı mitolojik anlatılar ortaya koymuşlardır. Caynistler Mahavira'nın aydınlanması, Sihler Guru Hargobind'in esaretten kurtulması ve Amritsar'a dönmesi, Newar Budistleri ise Kral Aşoka'nın Budizm'i kabul etmesini Divali ile ilişkilendirmişlerdir. Hintli Müslümanlar Divali’yi daha çok kültürel bağlamda değerlendirirken, Hintli Hıristiyanların bir kısmı ise Kutsal Kitaptaki ışık ve karanlık tasvirleriyle Divali arasında analoji kurmuşlardır. Bu çalışmada, öncelikle Hindular nezdinde Divali’nin kökenine ilişkin farklı anlatılar ortaya konulmuş, sonrasında beş günlük kutlama şekilleri ve bunun topluma yansıması ayrıntılı olarak betimlenmiştir. Divali’nin farklı dini gruplar nezdindeki anlam ve önemi karşılaştırmalı olarak ele alınmıştır. Hindistan dışındaki Divali kutlamalarının Hint kökenli kişilere sağlamış olduğu kazanımlar ve gelecekte karşılaşılması muhtemel durumlarla; COVID-19 salgın sürecinde Divali kutlamalarının nasıl gerçekleşmiş olduğuna dair bilgiler güncel veriler ışığında ele alınmıştır.

Anahtar Kelimeler

Dinler Tarihi, Divali, Işıklar Festivali, Hinduizm, Hindistan.

Kaynakça

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