Araria 21 October (NEWS IN BIHAR). There is a mythological custom of playing hookah patti in rural areas on the occasion of Diwali. This time also there was a lot of fun playing hookah patti on the night of Diwali. A large number of men and women offered prayers to the house by lighting hookah pots made of jute sandhi wood and prayed to Goddess Lakshmi for happiness and prosperity.

Even today in rural areas, there is a custom of playing hookah paati during Diwali. All the villagers light the hookah made of jute and sandhi wood from their respective houses with the lamp of their puja house. After lighting the hookah, in the rural areas, Dalidar (pauper) of the house i.e. poverty go out, Lakshmi from outside calls upon the house to come. After which everyone gathers outside the village with a smoldering hookah in their hands and then burns it together there. Some youth jump over the blazing flame and show their bravery. This is all a ritual, which also has risks. After the hookah paati, crackers and fireworks are done.

Knowledgeable Pandit Manish Pandey explains that ancient customs like hookah-paati are still a living example of our cultural heritage and folk tradition. It not only connects us to our past, but also keeps the coming generations connected to our culture and tradition. This tradition is a symbol of welcoming Goddess Lakshmi into the home as well as a means of driving out poverty and wishing for prosperity.

/ Rahul Kumar Thakur