Rare Deepavali Greetings from 1898 Unveiled in Bengaluru Exhibition

A captivating exhibition in Bengaluru is shedding light on the rich history of Deepavali celebrations through a collection of rare letters, postcards, and greeting cards dating back to 1898. The exhibition, curated by author Ankita Pandey and organized by Azim Premji University, is currently on display at the Indian Heritage Academy in Koramangala.

The letters and postcards on display capture the essence of Deepavali festivities during their time, with creative illustrations adding vibrant color to the greetings. Alongside depictions of deities worshipped during Deepavali, the exhibition also features sketches of Bharat Mata, reflecting the spirit of the freedom struggle. The letters written by merchant communities, who celebrate the new year on Deepavali, include lists of products, some categorized as Swadeshi, highlighting the Swadeshi movement in the early 20th century.

The exhibition also showcases postcards carrying price lists along with details of Lakshmi and Saraswati Puja performed by the traders. These letters and postcards are written in various languages, including Hindi, Marathi, Gujarati, Kannada, English, and Sanskrit, and were sent to distant towns across states, such as from Kolkata to Ramgarh, Rajasthan.

In addition to the historical memorabilia, the exhibition includes commemorative stamps and postcards, the recent ones being the covers for the Deepotsav in Ayodhya. "While stamps and commemorative covers show us the government's perspective, letters and postcards tell us about the lives of the common people," says Pandey, whose collection of close to a hundred Deepavali-themed letters and stamps started in 2020 through philately clubs.