It is that time of the year again; the time to bring out your finest clothes, to run to the bazaars and grab the best discounts on home décor, and commence the cleaning and upkeep of your homes. India as a diverse nation celebrates and upholds many a tradition and festival, one of the most revered of which is Diwali. Diwali Rituals in India are celebrations with much fervour and pomp, not to forget a myriad of activities, pujas, and family reunions to look forward to.
So, we hope you’ve booked your tickets in advance as we take you along to discover various practices and rituals revered in different parts of India when it comes to celebrating the ‘Festival of Lights’ and the unified victory of light over darkness.
Learn more about Diwali rituals in India
1. Varanasi
Varanasi, aka Benaras, is a sacred city in the state of Uttar Pradesh that invites hundreds of Indians and foreigners to its ceremonial ‘ghats’ bordering the holy Ganga river each year. The constant chaos of the city is heightened ever more during Dev Deepavali; a celebration held 15 days prior to Diwali. The festival is celebrated on Kartik Poornima by lighting diyas and offering them to the river as it is believed that gods bathe in the holy river on this day, followed by a Ganga aarti or prayers in the evening.
2. Bihar
In Bihar, the fanfare begins two days prior to Diwali with Dhanteras followed by Choti Diwali, which is a way to phase into the festivities that are to be held the next day and shopping for necessities such as delicious mithai. People decorate and illuminate their homes with oil diyas and rangoli to beautify their homes, making it welcoming for goddess Lakshmi.
3. Kolkata
The new moon day as per the Hindu calendar is an auspicious event across the country and it is on this day that Kolkata celebrates goddess Kali by offering their prayers to her idol. Clay idols of goddess Kali are sculpted and revered in homes or communal pavilions through the night while tantric mantras are chanted and offerings in the form of food and flowers are extended to the goddess.
4. Assam
In Assam, people worship goddess Kali and perform Kali puja or Mahanisha puja on the day of the full moon. In some parts, animal sacrifices are also made to the goddess along with other food like lentils and rice. In Guwahati, Kali puja is even held in cremation grounds as Kali is the goddess of death.
5. Gujarat
Diwali is the most celebrated festival in the state of Gujarat as it marks the beginning of a new year; a time that calls for establishing new businesses and making sound monetary decisions. Prior to Dhanteras, the state celebrates for two additional days by worshipping cattle and sharing food with loved ones. People also worship goddess Lakshmi and goddess Kali to signify the triumph of good over evil. Diwali is followed by Govardhan puja or the New Year and Bhai duj to celebrate the bond between siblings.
6. Punjab
In Punjab, while Punjabi Hindus celebrate Diwali like most of the country by worshipping goddess Lakshmi, the Sikh community celebrates the festival a day after Bandi Chhor Diwas; a momentous time in history for it signifies the release of Guru Hargobind from prison. The festivities are marked by lighting of traditional diyas, decorating homes with flowers and rangoli, meeting family, and exchanging gifts.
7. Maharashtra
In Maharashtra, Diwali is celebrated with pomp and fare wherein people offer their prayers to goddess Lakshmi and celebrate the bond of husband-wife, mother-child, and brother-sister. The end of Diwali is significant for tulsi-vivah, which is the marriage of Tulsi or the basil plant with Shaligram. This also marks an auspicious time for parents to arrange marriages for their sons and daughters.
8. Odisha
Bursting crackers, burning of diyas, decorating homes with vibrant rangolis, relishing hathi ghoda mithai or sugary animal-shaped sweets, Odisha too hails the coming of the Hindu new year with much gusto. The people in Odisha pay their respects to their elders on Bada Badua Daka, held on the eve of Diwali. Prayers are offered to goddess Kali for her victories and the defeat of evil. Kali visarjan or the immersion of the idol of Kali is performed in Cuttack marking the end of Kali puja.
9. Goa
Diwali in Goa is the celebration of the defeat of Narakasura at the hands of Lord Krishna. Celebrated as Naraka Chaturdashi, people burn effigies of the demon Narakasura fashioned out of paper and straw, inserted with fireworks that blast off once the effigy is set on fire.
10.Tamil Nadu
In South India, the festival of Diwali is celebrated a day prior to other parts of the country and many families prefer not to burn crackers and instead revel in the company of family with delicious food. Homes are adorned with colourful rangoli while fragrant betel leaves, sandalwood, and fresh flowers grace the temples.
*Note: These rates are based on search queries made on kayak.co.in on 1st November 2018. The prices are quoted in INR. Flight prices are based on results for a return economy flight search. Hotel prices are for double occupancy and include taxes and fees. Prices are subject to change, may vary, or no longer be available.
