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Celebrating Diwali ‘The Festival Of Lights’ In India

Diwali lights

‘With a sky full of fireworks, mouth full of sweets, house full of lights and a festival full of memories, Diwali is the pinnacle of Indian festivals’.

Firework sparkling in the sky
Image Credit: Zuza Gałczyńska on Unsplash

Right from late September, the festive atmosphere begins to set in India and you will be greeted with one of the Indian festival every now and then. This festival begins with the celebration of Dussehra and escalates through the whole country celebrating the most popular and must-experience festival in India, the festival of lights and joy – Diwali or otherwise also known as Deepavali. If you plan on tracking a trip to India, there is no better time to be mesmerised by the culture and traditions of the country other than travelling to India during Diwali.

Family celebrating Diwali together with fire crackers
Image Credit: StockImageFactory.com

Diwali in India is a 5-day grand affair but the festive preparations start weeks in advance. Houses are cleaned, adorned with diyas and flowers, people buy new clothes, Indian sweets and delicacies are prepared in houses and the joy of the festival is celebrated with friends and families.

Diwali 2022 Dates:

Diwali festival of lights
Image Credit: Analogvibestudio

Diwali falls on 24th October 2022 this year.

Before the main festival, ‘Dhanteras’ will fall on 23rd October 2022 and afterwards, we have ‘New Year’ or Govardhan Puja on 24th October 2022 and ‘Bhai Dooj’ on 25th October 2022.

Reasons behind Diwali Celebrations:

To celebrate the victory of good over evil, of light over darkness:

Making flower Rangoli on Diwali
Image Credit: StockImageFactory.com

By adorning houses with colourful lights and diyas, making colourful rangolis and dressing up in new clothes, Diwali in India is celebrated as a mark of brighter and good beginnings.

Marks the beginning of the Hindu New Year:

Diwali celebration
Image Credit: Jacob Varghese on Canva

The day after Diwali is said to mark the beginning of the auspicious new year according to the Hindu calendar.

Celebrate the return of Lord Ram after 14 years in exile:

Rama, Laxmana and Sita returning after he spent 14 years in exile
Image Credit: stockshoppe

Diwali also marks the return of Lord Ram after he spent 14 years in exile. In this period he also defeated Ravan who had abducted Sita (Ram’s wife), symbolising the victory of good over evil.

How to Celebrate the Festival of Diwali in India:

Celebrating Diwali with firecrackers
Image Credit: Rodane Production

Diwali in India is celebrated for 5 days and each day marks a different celebration. Each day has a different significance, with its respective traditions and rituals. The rituals and traditions of celebrating Diwali keep on changing in every state. Celebrations are drastically different in Southern and Northern India. Many say the more authentic and fervorous Diwali is celebrated in North India.

Day 1 is called Dhanteras. It is an auspicious festival worshipping Goddess Lakshmi- goddess of wealth and Lord Dhanvantri. Buying gold, silver, appliances, vehicles, etc. is considered auspicious on this day.

Day 2 is celebrated as Choti Diwali in the North, Naraka Chaturdashi in the West and South and Bhoot Chaturdashi in the South. People put lamps around the house and make rangolis, preparing for the grand day of Diwali.

Day 3 is the main festival of Diwali. Everyone wears new clothes, there is puja, the house is filled with light and family and friends come together for a feast. People also enjoy bursting crackers at night.

Day 4 some people celebrate ‘Govardhan Puja’, honouring Lord Krishna’s act of lifting the Govardhan mountain while some celebrate the ‘Hindu New Year’.

Day 5 is the celebration of Bhai Dooj, where sisters pray for the long life of their brothers and gifts are exchanged.

Different States Celebrating Diwali in India:

Diwali celebrations are carried out differently in different parts of India, but the festive spirit and essence remain the same. A few days before the festival, Diwali holiday is declared for schools and colleges across India and preparations begin in full swing.

If you plan to travel to India during Diwali, exploring North India would be a great option, while South India will offer a different glimpse of the festival. Here are some fascinating ways of celebrating Diwali in India:

Odisha

Lighted diyas for Diwali in Odisha
Image Credit: Sash Sriganesh – Unsplash

In Odisha importance is on praying to the ancestors on Diwali to seek their blessings. A lighted path is created in the dark with burning sticks and lamps to guide the ancestors. This is called Kauriya Kathi. Reflect on your family’s past or just watch this unique experience by planning a trip to Odisha on your India holiday.

Kashmir

Decorated Shikara’s at Dal Lake during the Diwali
Image Credit: Syed Qaarif Andrabi – Pexel

The Kashmiri Pandits do celebrate this festival of lights and joy subtly. Homes are cleaned and adorned with lights for a warm glow. People get together to worship Goddess Lakshmi followed by feasting on sweets, dry fruits and traditional Diwali dishes. The main event of Diwali in Kashmir is visiting Dal Lake and watching hundreds of diyas float on water. Enjoy Diwali surrounded by snow-capped mountains and the onset of winter with our Kashmir tour packages. This would be one of the most picture perfect memories from your India holiday.

West Bengal

Kali Puja in Kolkata during Diwali
Image Credit: Suprabhat Dutta – Getty/ Canva

In West Bengal, Goddess Kali is worshipped during Diwali by adorning her with garlands and is offered sweets, lentils, rice and fish as part of the rituals. According to Bengalis, Maa Kali is the destroyer of evil and the past, so you can look forward to a brighter future. Enjoy Diwali in West Bengal along with Durga Puja (Dussehra) while you visit India with our affordable India tour packages.

Goa

Effigy of Narakasur that people burn in Goa to celebrate the victory of light over darkness
Image Credit: knyazevfoto

The Goan Diwali celebrates the legend of Lord Krishna killing the demon king Narkasur using the Sudarshan Chakra. Narkasur’s effigies are burnt across Goa once again symbolising the victory of good over evil. What better way to spend the Diwali holidays than experiencing the Goan Diwali and combining it with a trip from our Goa tour packages?

Maharashtra

Diwali decorative lamps/ Akash Kandil/ Lantern lights hanging outside traditional Indian homes/ Chawls in Mumbai
Image Credit: Snehal Jeevan Pailkar

Diwali fireworks at Marine Drive/ Queen’s Necklace in Mumbai.
Image Credit: Vishal More

The 5-day festival of Diwali in Maharashtra begins with the celebration of Vasu Baras worshipping cows. As Diwali nears, celebrations in cities like Mumbai and Pune are grand and dazzling. People gather on the streets to light firecrackers and public places are all decked up. Celebrating Bhai Dooj, locally known as Bhau Beej is a big affair in Maharashtra. Get lost in the festive essence, especially in cities like Mumbai with our Maharashtra Tour Packages.

Uttar Pradesh

Diwali decorations at the Ganga ghats
Image Credit: Davide Gandolfi

Diwali is a big affair as it marks Lord Rama’s return to Ayodhya in Uttar Pradesh. The ghats of Varanasi are lit up with luminesce of diyas and grand aartis, drowning the city in spectacle and spirituality. While exploring the Uttar Pradesh tour packages make sure to have ample time to spend along the ghats for this auspicious occasion.

Rajasthan

The city of Jodhpur during Diwali
Image Credit: Anirudh – Unsplash

In Rajasthan, the festival signifies celebrating wealth and new beginnings. Old stuff is thrown out, houses are cleaned and festival shopping is in full swing. In major cities of Rajasthan like Jaipur, Udaipur, Jodhpur, etc. markets are filled with shoppers. Dhanteras, Diwali and the Hindu new year are celebrated pompously in Rajasthan. Explore the grandeur of these places with our Rajasthan tour packages.

Apart from these Indian states, Diwali is also celebrated in other states with their local touch but the festival essence is ever so strong. Plan a trip to India around November and get to experience authentic traditions and cultures with one of the biggest festivals of India.

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