India is a land that is painted with colours of many hues. It is a land of many traditions and rituals as is evident from the diversity seen in India. Diwali is the main and primordial festival celebrated in India. As there are differences in culture from place to place so are the differences in ways of celebrating Diwali. The festival of lamps and lights is celebrated with much vigour throughout India yet there are unique ways and unique reasons behind the celebrations. Flyopedia offers affordable flight tickets from Canada to India so as to enable you to witness this festivity back in India.
While the most plausible and extant reason for celebrating Diwali is the coming back of lord Rama after defeating the demon Ravana to Ayodhya. People begin the preparations much in advance before the festival, such is the propensity and love of Indians for the great and historic festival. Diwali is a festival of love and joy celebrated across five days during the Hindu calendar month of Kartik. From feasting to fireworks, Diwali returns delight to everyone irrespective of age and gender.
As one moves from state to state one can easily observe the stark differences in ways of celebrations and the rationale behind the grandiose celebrations too rotates and alternates. Book affordable flight tickets from Canada to India with none but Flyopedia to fly to India for the occasion of Diwali.
Here is how Diwali is uniquely celebrated from region to region and state to state
Varanasi
Varanasi celebrates the Diwali of gods also called the dev Deepawali. People are of belief that gods and goddesses descend down to earth to take a dip in the holy water of the river Ganga. Diyas are lit and prayers are offered in the name of the river Ganga. The ghats are painted with colourful rangolis which look splendid and hypnotizing. While the preparations start well in advance, the dev Deepawali is celebrated 15 days after Diwali. Book last minute flights with Flyopedia to India to attend this beautiful display of festivity at the ghats of Varanasi
Bengal
Diwali in Bengal is a mesmerizing affair and falls on the same day as Durga or Shyama puja. Goddess kali is adorned with hibiscus flowers and worshipped throughout cities and villages. Devotees throng in numbers and offer sweets, lentils, rice, and fish to goddess kali. Dakshineswer and kali ghat temples in Kolkata are adorned with spectacular lights as they are famous for kali puja. Bengalis also celebrate Bhoot Chaturdashi prior to the night of Diwali. 14 diyas are lit in order to overcome the evil powers. Pandals are erected in open settings and Melas are organised in the name of the goddess kali. Flyopedia now offers affordable flight tickets from Canada to India for a short time so as to make you testify to the pandals and grandiose kali puja in Bengal.
Maharashtra
Diwali in Maharashtra begins with the ritual of Vasu Baras to honour the cows. Here in Maharashtra Dhanteras is celebrated to honour the ancient doctor Dhanwantri before Diwali. On the occasion of Diwali, Marathas observe Diwali cha padva, celebrating the love between husband and wife. The celebrations conclude with bhav bij and tulsi vivah.
Punjab
In Punjab, Diwali coincides with Bandi chor diwas. Bandi chor diwas is a Sikh festival often celebrated with the lighting up of gurudwaras and households, exchanging gifts and bursting crackers. Diwali celebrations in Punjab also indicate the arrival of winter. For luxurious travel before you land in India, check business class deals from Flyopedia.
Goa
Goans have a very unique legend about celebrating Diwali. Here it is celebrated in honour of lord Krishna destroying the demon Narkasur. On the occasion of Narkasura Chaturdashi, the effigies of the demon are burnt down.
One day prior to Diwali, people of goa anoint their skins with coconut oil to free themselves of bad omens and sins.
Gujarat
Diwali indicates the end of the year in gujarat. Gujaratis celebrate the 1st day of the new year on the next day of Diwali. The celebrations commence with Vaag Baras followed by kali Chaudash, Dhanteras, Diwali, Bestu varas and Bhai Vij. people exchange gifts on the occasion and children burst firecrackers.
Odisha
People of Odisha perform kauriya kathi on the occasion of Diwali. It is a ritual in which ancestors are worshipped in heaven. Long jute sticks are burnt down to invite the spirits of their ancestors and seek their blessings. Goddess Lakshmi, lord Ganesha and Mata kali are being worshipped on the occasion of Diwali.
These were some of the unique rituals associated with the festival of lights from different parts of India. Amidst the diversity, a lot has been common in the ways of celebrating Diwali. It is generally held in every region that the prime reason for celebrating it is the homecoming of lord Rama from exile after 14 years. Checkout Flyopedia.com for best deals for next international adventures.
Markets everywhere are adorned with lights of various bright colours. Sweets are ornamental metals are sold in abundance. It is generally held that shopping near the festival brings good luck to the owner.
The festival is equally delighting for the children for whom the bursting of crackers takes the prime seat. The atmosphere and ambience around Diwali are jubilant therefore any tourist or traveller should be a testimony to the scene at least once in his or her life.
