Diwali is one of the most widely celebrated festivals in India and is bound to leave you awestruck. This festival of lights, fireworks and colours is celebrated in every corner of the country. During this time, families and friends come together. They exchange gifts and distribute sweets. Homes are lit up with lights that radiate happiness. Besides that, people buy new clothes, they decorate the exterior of the homes with coloured powder designs on the floor and lamps or candles. This festival, like most other Hindu festivals, celebrates the triumph of good over evil. Also, it marks the beginning of a new year as per the Hindu calendar. Prayer rituals (Puja) are conducted along with offerings made to the different deities to honour and worship them.

Present-day celebrations

 

Religious significance – To celebrate the start of a new year, Hindus worship the Goddess of prosperity, Lakshmi. Cleaning your house and worshipping assets is a way to express gratitude. Primarily, celebrating diwali is based on the ancient Sanskrit epic of Ramayana. It marks the day when Lord Ram returned to the kingdom of Ayodhya, along with his wife, Sita and brother, Lakshman, after having spent 14 years in exile.

Unmissable experiences – Colours and chaos at local markets. Streets and homes decorated with lights, lamps and lanterns. In other words, fireworks are all around you and throughout the festival. 

Best places to experience these grand celebrations – Jaipur, Udaipur. Varanasi, Amritsar and Kolkata. Celebrations across the country differ from one region to another. Accordingly, each region provides a unique experience of this vibrant festival.

If you’re travelling to India during the Diwali season, be sure to make all your bookings well in advance. Because the train tickets, hotel bookings, guides, everything becomes harder to get and/or more expensive during this time.