Narakasur Vadh – Diwali Tradition In Goa

When we think of Goa, the picture that comes to our minds is of beaches, nightlife, tourists, and fun. However, Goa is much more than that. It is a melting pot of cultures- if you were to speak to the local natives of Goa, you would come to know of its rich cultural heritage and traditions.

Due to having an office in Goa, I have been fortunate enough to befriend a few locals from Goa. A good friend told me about the unique tradition of recreating the scene of Narakasur Vadh (killing) to herald the beginning of Diwali in Goa, the festival of lights and celebrating the triumph of good over evil.

The Story Goes…

Narakasur was the son of Bhoomi Devi (Mother Earth). He had earned a boon from Lord Brahma- he could only be killed by his mother.

Emboldened by this unique boon, he became a tyrannical ruler. He captured 16,000 women from the palaces and caused a lot of pain and suffering. As he was leaving the palace after the capture, he noticed a pair of glowing earrings adorning the ears of Aditi, the mother goddess. Fascinated, he tore the earrings from her ear and left.

Satyabhama- Krishna’s wife- is believed to be an avatar of Bhoomi Devi. When the pain and suffering caused by Narakasur became unbearable, Aditi – a relative of Satyabhama – approached her for help.

When Satyabhama heard of the Narakasur’s ill-treatment of women, she was enraged. Satyabhama approached Krishna for permission to wage a war against Narakasur.

Krishna and Satyabhama travelled to the fortress of Narakasur to fight against him. In the prolonged battle that ensued, Krishna used the Narayanastra and Agneyastra (weapons of Krishna) to defeat Naraksur’s army. But he knew that the demon could only be killed by his mother.

Narakasur hurled a trident at Krishna and he pretended to swoon. Satyabhama was enraged at this and aimed an arrow at Narakasur’s chest. It pierced him and he fell to the ground with an agonizing cry.

When an anxious Satyabhama reached Krishna, he woke up with a mischievous smile. He was only pretending to be unconscious as he knew it was only Satyabhama who could kill Narakasura. All the 16,000 women were freed following that.

Tradition in Goa

On the day of Diwali, the Goan households get ready for Diwali by recreating the scene of Narkasur Vadh – the scene of Krishna and Satyabhama aiming an arrow to kill the fierce demon.

The effigy creation is a grand affair in preparation for Diwali. The households create an effigy of Narakasur with hay and paper, decorated with colors to make the demon look fiercer. This is not mandatory in every household, but the kids love to beautify them, letting the creative juices flow.

Bigger effigies are created by different communities and clubs as part of the effigy-making and burning competition. The folks spend weeks and months preparing for this effigy.

On the day of Diwali, at dawn, the smaller effigies of the household are burnt to mark the triumph of good over evil. With that starts the grand celebration of Diwali and diya lighting to usher in the festivities.

It’s a mandatory custom to take a bath in the morning after Narakasur is burnt to herald the start of Diwali.

Communal Narakasur Vadh Competition

The face of Narkasur symbolizes the demon’s evil nature:

• Big and fierce eyes
• Sharp fangs
• Evil and menacing grin
• Bright colors – red, green, black – to make it look terrifying
• Crowned or horned head

The festivities across Porvorim, Panaji, Margaon, Mapusa, etc., are marked by grand processions accompanied by music and very lively performances.

The Significance

This festival and tradition foster a community spirit. The youth and families come together to bond and work collaboratively.

The effigy making showcases the creativity and craftsmanship of local communities.

The winning effigies are honored with trophies, certificates, and sometimes cash prizes. But more than anything, it brings prestige and recognition to the winning community.

In this manner, grand festivities and spectacular Narakasur Vad marks the beginning of the Diwali festivities in Goa.

By Manjusha Dutta

Manjusha Dutta is a Senior Manager with a Software Insurance organization. A movie buff and an amateur dancer, she rocks in the videos that she creates for her YouTube channel. She can be reached at manjushadutta@gmail.com.