Diwali is known as the festival of lights. In the ancient era, Diwali in India was celebrated as the main harvest festival. Diwali is the brightest, as well as the biggest festival in India. It signifies the victory of light over the dark. Diwali always falls between mid-October and mid-November. It holds different significance in different religions.
Hindus celebrate Diwali to mark the return of Lord Ram to Ayodhya. Jains celebrate the festival of light to mark the attainment of moksha by Mahavir, Sikhs celebrate Bandhi Chhor divas on the day of Diwali.
Interestingly, Diwali is not just celebrated in India. It is an official holiday in Nepal, Sri Lanka, Myanmar, Mauritius, Malaysia, Singapore, Pakistan, Fiji, etc. You can also get flight deals during the festival season for promising and budgeted vacation.
Let us now find out about the different ways in which the sparkling festival of Diwali is celebrated in different parts of India.
1. Andhra Pradesh
Diwali celebrations in the state of Andhra Pradesh started out at the crack of dawn and carried on very well into the night. People visit temples along with their families to seek blessings of their respective Gods.
Whitewashing or repainting of the houses, and lighting of hundreds of Diyas and candles on the occasion of Diwali. Not only this, during the season you can get Washington to Hyderabad flight deals for a promising vacation.
In Hyderabad, people follow a unique tradition of bathing a buffalo on the day of Diwali. People also decorate their homes with paper figures. Everyone indulges in shopping, and make sweets at homes or even brought in from the markets.
2. Assam
In Assam, a lot of emphases are laid on lights and the symbolic message behind the Diwali celebrations, which is the victory of good over evil. All the houses are lit up with beautiful lights. Worshipping Goddess Lakshmi is an essential part of Diwali celebrations.
People draw rangolis and perform chopda puja. Also, they consider starting new projects or jobs as auspicious on the occasion of Diwali. All you need to do is search for the cheap fares website and make your bookings to the earliest.
3. Bihar
People purchase new utensils on the occasion of Dhanteras and keep them at the place of worship. They bathe in the holy water of Ganges, early morning, and observe a fast for the whole day, that breaks at sunset with succulent delicacies. Choti Diwali is a day before Diwali. People perform Lakshmi puja in the evening.
A week after Diwali, people celebrate Chhath where people literally live on the banks of River Ganga and make an offering to the Sun God. And when you have taken the best flight deals, you can be sure of having fun at the least expense.
4. Jammu and Kashmir
Jammu Kashmir celebrates Diwali much like the rest of the country, they clean their houses and lights up candles and diyas. Diwali is an auspicious day to buy new things, so people wake up early in the morning for the ritual bath and purchase sweets and gifts to distribute among their friends, family members, and even the underprivileged.
People light up earthen lamps and place them in temples, cremation grounds, cowsheds, and also the courtyards. Be a part of this magnificent festival of lights by booking your best flight tickets that fall in your budget.
5. Punjab
Diwali also marks the anniversary of Guru Hargobind Singh Ji being released from the prison of Gwalior fort in 1619 AD. He, along with various Hindu Kings, was held captive by Mughal Emperor Jahangir.
On this day, you can find a mesmerizing decoration on the entire Golden Temple with beautiful and colorful lights. The view is truly mesmerizing. You can search for websites for best deals on air tickets for your family vacation to India during Diwali.
6. Rajasthan
On the occasion of Diwali, people of Rajasthan celebrates the festival with the same enthusiasm and happiness as the rest of the country. They decorate their homes, buy new clothes, perform Lakshmi puja in the evening and visit their family and friends, and exchange sweets and gifts with them.
The main attraction of this festival in Rajasthan is the preparation of traditional Rajasthani sweets like Til Ke Ladoo, Piste ki Launj, Moti Pak, Gond Ke Ladoo, Feeni, Sohan Papdi, etc. Everyone enjoys these in the evening, and the city sparks like a dream with all the lights and fireworks.
7. Himachal Pradesh
One of the most beautiful states of India celebrates Diwali with great vigor and enthusiasm. People perform well cleaning of all the walls of the traditional homes and then repaint them with white clay and cow dung. Not only this, they decorate all houses with sparkling lights and flower garlands.
Also, young ones hear the ales of Ramayan from the elders of the family to let them know all about the festival of lights. Also, they prepare aulos and exchange them with loved ones along with sweets. People worship Goddess Lakshmi, and the young ones seek blessings from the old ones.
8. Tamil Nadu
In Tamil Nadu, Diwali celebrations usually start with everyone taking a traditional oil bath before sunrise. Elders apply oil on the heads of the younger members of the family. In the evening, people light up Kuthu Vilakus in the puja room.
Also, they perform Naivedhya of the items, and after that, distribute a plantain fruit to every family member following betel nuts and betel leaves.
Moreover, performers of the Pithru tharpanam do not eat rice that night, and they will have a second bath. Like the rest of the country distributing sweets, new clothes, crackers etc. are also part of Tamil Nadu Tradition.
9. West Bengal
People make rangoli at the front door. Also, they decorate the houses by lighting up hundreds of lights. The entire family gathers to perform Lakshmi Puja in the evening. People celebrate Diwali for three days in West Bengal. Also, on the final day of the festival, people worship Goddess Kali, and reducing all the lightings. The place has been inviting tourists from all over the world for a wonderful celebration.
All you need to do is, avail your best flight offers and get ready for the fun that follows. The first two days hold great importance as families get together to feast, drink, gamble, firing crackers that keep them all occupied.
People do not buy anything new on the day of Diwali, i.e. No new clothes, gold or utensils in fact all the shops except the ones selling firecrackers and sweets, remain closed.
10.Orissa
Orissa celebrates Diwali in a unique way. People erect tall Bamboo poles are in front of the houses. Also, they tie a handi (Earthern Pots) to poles with ropes. Inside the pot, people keep earthen lamps and raise them high using the ropes. People follow a tradition of lighting up Jute stems up the dark path to help ancestors find their path to heaven.
Also, people make rangoli of a sailboat with seven chambers on the ground with different items placed on each chamber. Diwali in Orissa also remains the festival of light, and every corner has candles and diyas.