Diwali, also called the Festival of Lights, is one of India’s most anticipated and celebrated holidays. People from all over the country greet the festival with enthusiastic gestures. This wonderful festival is a five-day celebration. The main rituals of the Diwali festival take place on the third day of the festival. The main rituals of the festival are lighting Diyas and candles all over the house, worshipping Laxmi Ganesha to bring health and wealth, and bursting crackers. In this article, we will also discuss about 10 best places to celebrate Diwali in India.
Also, giving each other gifts from the heart is now a required part of the Diwali celebration. Friends, families, and coworkers exchange Diwali gifts for love and affection. The special thing about the event is that there will be a big feast with delicious food, including many kinds of sweets.
As I have said before, Diwali is celebrated over five days, which are:
Dhanteras: On the first day of Diwali, people will perform puja or pooja rituals, place tea lights around their balconies or entryways, and buy kitchen utensils, gold-silver products (like coins, jewelry etc.), which are thought to bring good fortune.
Narak Chaturdashi: While different regions celebrate in different ways, many people will stay at home and exchange sweets with friends and family. They may also use rangolis to decorate their floors, which are intricate patterns made of coloured powder, rice, and flowers.
Lakshmi Puja: This is considered the best day to honour the goddess Lakshmi. Families will dress up and gather for a prayer in her honour, which is usually followed by a feast, fireworks, and other celebrations.
Govardhan Puja: This day honours Lord Krishna and the Gujarati new year. For Puja, a mountain of food offerings is prepared.
Bhaiya Dooj: The final day is devoted to honouring the sibling bond. Tradition says that brothers will visit their sisters and bring them gifts. Their sisters will then honour them with special ceremonies and sweets.
They say that the exact date of Lakshmi Puja changes every year, but it is always on the night of the new moon before the Hindu month of Kartika. Hindus will wear new clothes and hold services to honour Lakshmi and Lord Ganesha on this day. During this Puja, the space is usually made clean and holy, prayers are said to call on the deity, and sweets, songs, and other gifts are given.
What are the best places to celebrate Diwali?
Varanasi Diwali
Varanasi is one of the holiest pilgrimage sites in India. On the main day of Diwali, firecrackers and fireworks are going off all night long. During the five days of festivities, the entire city is illuminated by clay lanterns, or diyas, that line the streets and stairs near the Ganges River.
The Ganga Aarti, a Hindu ceremony done every night on the Ganges, is also a big part of Diwali in Varanasi. During the holiday season, you can see people lighting small diyas and then throwing them into the river, surrounded by lanterns. The diyas float down the river, making a beautiful show of light beating out darkness.
Goa Diwali
Goa is yet another wonderful place in India to celebrate Diwali. The focus here is on the god Krishna’s defeat of the demon Narakasura. On Narakasura Chaturdashi, the day before Diwali, giant papier-mâché effigies of the demon built by locals are filled with firecrackers and set alight at dawn. Because Diwali is an auspicious time to spend money shopping and gambling, why not try your luck at one of Goa’s top casinos? Make reservations for the top floating casinos in advance, as they are trendy at this time of year. Other things to do while here include visiting the hottest beaches and expensive restaurants and lounges.
Amritsar Diwali
Amritsar is one of the best places to visit in India during Diwali. The Sikh community celebrates Bandi Chhor Divas during Diwali. The city, including the popular Golden Temple, appears stunning and illuminated. You can also enjoy the mustard fields and pleasant weather in Amritsar at this time of year. Don’t forget to try some of the best sweets made especially for Diwali and Bandi Chhor Divas.
Pink City, Jaipur Diwali
During Diwali, the vast expanses of Jaipur, the “Pink City,” are illuminated with the warm glow of lights and lamps. Its markets are also beautifully illuminated, and the various markets compete to see who has the best decorations. The beautiful lakes that glow and shimmer with the reflections of fireworks and Diwali lights make it a wonderful place to spend the holidays. Climb the Nahargarh Fort for spectacular views of the decorated and illuminated city. It’s also a great spot to watch the Diwali fireworks. Many heritage hotels in Jaipur celebrate Diwali with their guests by lighting diyas and letting them see how the holiday is done. Johari Bazaar, like Las Vegas, has earned the title of “The Strip” in Jaipur during Diwali.
Kolkata Diwali
Every part of India has its own way of celebrating Diwali. While the north sees it as Lord Rama’s return and Goddess Sita’s return, the south sees Lord Krishna’s victory over Narakasur as a call to celebrate Diwali. In the same way, Diwali is a celebration in Kolkata West Bengal of Goddess Kali and how she beat many demons and bad things. Goddess Kali’s statues, red hibiscus flowers, sweets, and certain foods like rice, fish, and others are in huge pandals. It’s amazing to walk through the streets of Kolkata, where people celebrate and live in style. In Bengal and Assam, Kali Puja and Durga Puja are some of the most important holidays.
Mysore Diwali
For those looking for warmer weather in South India, the historic city of Mysore is also a great place to be during Diwali. The Mysore Palace, the city’s main attraction and a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is beautifully lit up during the holiday season and attracts thousands of visitors yearly.
To reduce noise and air pollution, people in the city have started to use sky lanterns instead of traditional firecrackers. People of all ages can participate in the festival and are given lanterns of various shapes and sizes to release into the sky on Diwali night.
Madurai Diwali
During Diwali, one of the most popular places to visit in the city is the Meenakshi Temple. This vibrant temple is lit with yellow lights and decorated with intricately drawn rangoli or Indian designs made of flower petals and coloured rice placed on the ground.
Mumbai Diwali
There is no better place to experience Diwali vibes than Mumbai, which is alive even on regular days. Mumbaikars go to great lengths to bring the Diwali spirit into their lives and homes. Whether Diwali or another festival, Mumbai’s streets are always decked out to welcome the festivities. During the Diwali festival of lights, places like the Gateway of India and other historic sites are lit up.
Delhi Diwali
One of the best places to celebrate Diwali is in Delhi, India’s capital. Here, the festival is celebrated with a lot of noise and show. Families gather to clean their homes and make rangolis and diyas to decorate them. The city is lit up with different colored lights and lamps, but you can also feel the energy in the air.
People wear their best traditional attire on Diwali’s third day and visit their relatives and friends. Gifts are given, and delicious food is prepared and eaten by all.
Ayodhya Diwali
Hindus believe that Lord Rama was born in Ayodhya, which makes it a significant pilgrimage site. Diwali is celebrated with great devotion in Ayodhya, one of the best places to celebrate Diwali, and people from all over India come to participate in the festivities. You can find genuine happiness and pleasure here. People travel from all over Uttar Pradesh to celebrate on the banks of the Sarayu River. Nearly three lakh diyas were lit during the event, which was entered into the Guinness Book of Records.