Diwali or Deepavali is the Hindu festival of lights celebrated every year usually in the months of October or November.
It is one of the major festivals of Hinduism and it spiritually
signifies the victory of light over darkness, good over evil, knowledge over
ignorance, and hope over despair. The celebrations include millions of lights
shining on housetops, outside doors and windows, around temples and other
buildings in the communities and countries where it is observed. The festival
preparations and rituals typically extend over a five-day period, but the main
festival night of Diwali coincides with the darkest, new moon night of the Hindu Lunisolar month Kartika in Bikram
Sambat calendar. In the Gregorian calendar, Diwali night falls
between mid-October and mid-November.
The name of festive days as well as the rituals of Diwali vary
significantly among Hindus, based on the region of India. In many parts of
India, the festivities start with Dhanteras (in Northern and Western part of
India), followed by Naraka
Chaturdasi on second day,
Deepavali on the third day, Diwali
Padva dedicated to
wife–husband relationship on the fourth day, and festivities end with Bhai Dooj dedicated to sister–brother
bond on the fifth day.
Before Diwali night, people clean, renovate, and decorate their
homes and offices. On Diwali night, people dress up in new clothes, light up diyas (lamps and candles) inside and outside
their home, participate in family puja (prayers) typically to Lakshmi – the goddess of fertility and
prosperity. After puja, there
is a family feast including mithai (sweets), and an exchange of gifts
between family members and close friends.
Here is my list of 4 places to enjoy Diwali in a unique and a memorable way:
Varanasi
Varanasi is a crazy place at any time of year,
but it becomes even more so during Diwali with a constant stream of
firecrackers and fireworks going off all night long. Begin the day with a Ganga bath ritual, followed by exploring the bustling street markets selling Diwali
sweets and brightly colored clothes.For the best experience, make sure to stay
at one of the riverside hotels in Varanasi, to have an amazing view of the
fireworks over the Ganges. Other highlights are the special Ganga Aarti, diyas
(earthen lamps) that are floated down the river, and procession of Hindu
deities through the streets.
Amritsar
The city of the Golden Temple is a treat at any time of the year, but
particularly so on Diwali, as it coincides with the Sikh celebrations of Bandi
Chhor Divas. It is celebrated to mark the return of the Sixth Sikh Guru, Guru
Hargobind Ji, from Mughal imprisonment. Special kirtans (prayers)
echo through the city and the Golden Temple is bathed in light – a feast for
any photography enthusiast. Club that with the infectious spirit of the people
of Punjab, the culinary delights of a typical Amritsari dhaba (eating
joint), the cool weather, and the majestic fields of sarson (mustard)
in the countryside, and you’ve got yourself a winner.
Goa
In Goa, the focus of Diwali celebrations is on the destruction of demon
Narakasura by Lord Krishna. Competitions are held in every village and city to
see who can make the biggest and scariest effigy of the demon. Some are really
huge! They're burned at dawn on Narakasura Chaturdashi, the day before the
main day of Diwali. As gambling is also a popular activity during Diwali,
one might want to try their luck at one of Goa's top casinos as well.
Purushwadi (Maharashtra)
Purushwadi is a small village located on a hill along the Mumbai-Nashik
highway. Families in this little hamlet light a bonfire on Diwali night and
cook local food, while children move from door to door, singing traditional
songs, inviting each household to pour oil into their oil lamps, mounted atop a
handmade bundle of sticks.
