Why Does Goa Burn Giant Narakasura Effigies Before Diwali?
In many parts of India, Diwali preparations mean cleaning homes, arranging sweets and lighting rows of lamps. In Goa, the night before Diwali can look very different. Communities build towering effigies of Narakasura, display them in neighbourhoods and burn them…
Why Does Bengal Worship Goddess Kali on Diwali Night Instead of Celebrating Only with Diyas?
On the night when many Indian households light diyas and perform Lakshmi Puja, several parts of West Bengal turn their attention to another form of the divine: Goddess Kali. Known as Kali Puja or Shyama Puja, the observance takes place…
Exploring India through a new lens
