The festival of lights is approaching and everyone is preparing to celebrate arguably the most important festival in the country. Not that other festivals are celebrated with less enthusiasm in this land of diversity, Diwali has a special significance and people wait the entire year to celebrate the festival. The festival has a religious significance for the Hindu community in the country but the festival is celebrated by every community in the country. From lighting lamps to distributing sweets and burning crackers, everyone has their own way of celebrating the festival joyfully. Every city has its own way of celebrating the festival of lights which is also a symbol of brotherhood and communal harmony.
Since the festival holds a significant value in terms of religion and is connected to Lord Ram, some particular cities celebrate the festival in a more traditional way. Visiting these places during Diwali can enhance your experience. In this blog, I’ll tell you about the places where you can enjoy Diwali in the best possible way.
- Delhi: Delhi is the capital of the country and people from every region of the country reside here. This is why the culture in Delhi is a blend of all the cultures that flourish in India. People from every region come together to celebrate the festival. They light lamps, diyas, burn crackers and exchange sweets with each other. The streets are illuminated with attractive lighting. Key attractions like India Gate and Lotus Temple are decorated in a unique way. People observe Lakshmi Puja at home that is followed by an endless celebration.
- Varanasi: Varanasi is said to be the oldest city in the world and its way of celebrating the festival is different and unique in comparison to any modern city. The illuminating decoration at the shore of river Ganga looks mesmerising. People from the Hindu community light diyas and float them on the river. You can take a boat right and see the reflection of the sparkling city on the water. The chants of mantras and aartis echo throughout the city on the day of Diwali. Traditional sweets are prepared and people celebrate the festival with full enthusiasm.
- Amritsar: Amritsar is another holy city of India. It is home to the Golden temple which is an important religious place for the Sikhs as well as the Hindus. Anyone who lives in Indian or has been to India will know that Hindus and Sikhs are closely bonded and the festivals are celebrated with equal enthusiasm by both the communities. The Sikh community also celebrates Bandi Chhor Divas on the day of Diwali. The entire city is illuminated with lamps, diyas and crackers. The Golden Temple looks majestic with attractive decoration. Celebrating the festival amid clear weather is a surreal experience.
- Udaipur: Udaipur is a city with a glorious and royal history. Every festival in the city of lakes has a unique experience. The celebration starts days before Diwali on the day of Dhanteras. Streets and palaces light up with illuminating lamps and diyas. People decorate houses and buildings with flowers. The decoration at the bank of Lake Pichola steals the show. The City Palace in Udaipur is the centre of attraction. People share traditional Marwari cuisines and sweets with each other to celebrate the festival.
- Kolkata: Kolkata is known for its unique way of celebrating each festival. While the rest of the country goes into celebration mode just a few days before Diwali, Kolkata starts the preparations a month back, right from the start of Navratri. It is an entire month full of celebrations and joy. The Bengali community celebrates Kali Puja by lighting diyas, lamps, candles and fairy lights and you can witness the joy of two festivals on the same day. The Dakshineshwar Temple and Victoria Memorial are key attractions in Kolkata on the day of festivals.
- Chitrakoot: Chitrakoot is also known as the second home to Lord Ram, whose return from Lanka upon victory over Ravana is celebrated as Diwali. There are thousands of temples in Chitrakoot that are decorated with lamps, diyas and flowers. The entire Kamadgiri mountain is illuminated with diyas. People light diyas on the bank of Ramghat in Chitrakoot. It is known as ‘Deep Daan’ in the local language. Prayers are offered to Goddess Lakshmi, Lord Ganpati and Lord Ram.
- Ayodhya: If you want to understand the religious significance of the festival, head to Ayodhya as it is the birthplace of Lord Ram. Lakhs of diyas and lamps are lit by the local people and the government to illuminate the entire bank of the river and various temples of Lord Ram to celebrate the festival. The decoration is followed by the prayers of Goddess Lakshmi, Lord Ganesha and Lord Ram. Traditional sweets and dishes are cooked by locals and exchanged with each other to celebrate the festival.
