8 Popular Places To Celebrate Diwali In India
Diwali is one of the most anticipated festivals in India. People of all ages await this festival throughout the year. Wondering which is the best place to celebrate Diwali in India?
Varanasi, Ayodhya, Delhi, and Kolkata are among the best cities to celebrate Diwali in India with the best mix of authentic food, décor, and culture.
Diwali is the one festival that is celebrated in every region, religion, and state of the country. This is the time when people from all over the country celebrate eradicating evil from the face of the earth.
It is a five-day celebration landing on the 15th day of Kartika (October/ November). The festival of lights is perfectly justified by its name – Deep = light and avail = a row i.e., a row of lights. In a nutshell, it is five days of celebration, illuminating the country with its dazzling waves of joy.
If you want to make the most of this festival, we got you covered. This blog will walk you through 8 famous places to celebrate Diwali in India. Fire your excitement and be a part of the biggest festival in India.
Places to Celebrate Diwali in India
Varanasi
As India’s prime pilgrimage site, many Hindu festivals are celebrated extravagantly in Varanasi annually. This sacred city observes Diwali with a constant stream of firecrackers and fireworks going off all night on the festival’s primary day. The city is adorned with clay lanterns (Diyas) during the 5 days.
The Ganga Aarti on Diwali is one of the prime attractions of Varanasi, which takes place on the Ganges every night. During the holiday, you can watch people lighting small diyas and then placing them on the river, which itself is surrounded by lanterns. The diyas float throughout the full span of the river, which makes for a beautiful display of the victory of light over darkness.
Dev Deepavali: This festival is commemorated on the 15th day after the celebration of Diwali. On the day of the celebration, you will see thousands of small earthen lamps lit up across Varanasi. This festival marks a tribute to the river Ganga by the devotees and citizens of the city. Observed in the month of Kartik on a full moon night, this festival is one of the most anticipated in the city.
Jaipur
This pink city is truly the best place to celebrate Diwali in India. The streets, homes, and markets are lit during the festival, making the city more colourful and vibrant. Jaipur’s markets are perfect for during this time as they come alive with excited shoppers and succulent street food.
- The Johari Bazaar is an ideal place to purchase colourful lights and diyas
- The Nahargarh Fort is a great spot to enjoy the celebrations due to its location on a hilltop overlooking the city below. From this fort, you can enjoy the amazing views of the city, which is adorned with lights and decorations. It is also an ideal place to view the holiday fireworks.
- Many prominent and heritage hotels in Jaipur arrange Diwali celebrations for their guests. Festivities include lighting the diyas and watching the holiday rituals.
Kolkata
Throughout India, goddess Lakshmi is worshipped on Diwali, but in Kolkata, goddess Kali is worshipped on the prime day of this 5-day celebration. The famous Kali temples in Dakshineswar, Kalighat, and Tarapeeth attract a lot of devotees during this festive time.
Splendidly decorated idols of the fearsome Goddess Kali are also displayed across the city for people to visit. Goddess Kali is worshipped to conquer the power of evil.
Apart from Kali Puja, the locals of Kolkata celebrate his day by adorning every corner with beautiful oil lamps, candles, string lights, and bursting cheerful fireworks.
Amritsar
The Diwali festival is also acknowledged in the Sikh religion. In Amritsar, it is celebrated along with the Sikh celebrations of Bandi Chhor Divas. It is believed that this is the day when the sixth Sikh guru, Guru Hargobind Sahib, returned from prison in 1619.
During the Bandi Chhor Divas festival, all Sikh temples and homes are adorned with lights and diyas. It’s the time when people give gifts to their loved ones and spend family time together.
Diwali is an ideal time to visit the Golden Temple as the sacred temple is draped in lights and surrounded by countless oil lamps.
Mysore
Diwali is also celebrated in the Southern part of India, making Mysore a great place to be during Diwali. The city’s prime attraction and UNESCO World Heritage Site, the Mysore Palace, is beautifully decorated with lights during the festival, attracting thousands of visitors annually.
To minimize air and sound pollution, sky lanterns have replaced conventional firecrackers in the city. People of all age groups participate in the Diwali celebration and release lanterns (different sizes and shapes) beautifying the night sky.
Delhi
The nation’s capital is not far behind when it comes to the Diwali celebration in India. The city is ideal if you want to explore special markets and fairs. The Diwali Bazaar at Dilli Haat is a famous holiday market where you can find handicrafts, jewellery pieces, clothes, bags, floating candles, and diyas.
If you are passionate about exclusive or unusual handicrafts, don’t forget to visit the annual Dastkar Festival of Lights Diwali Mela. The Matka Market in South Delhi is an ideal place to find clay diyas, lanterns, candles, and religious items.
Goa
In Goa and Maharashtra, Diwali is observed to celebrate the destruction of the demon Narakasura by Lord Krishna. Several competitions are organized to encourage people to make the biggest and scariest figurine of the demon, which are then burned at dawn on Narakasura Chaturdashi, the day before the main day of Diwali.
Gambling also plays a pivotal part during the Diwali celebrations in Goa. Travellers can try their luck at various popular casinos in Goa.
Ayodhya
As one of the sacred cities of India, Ayodhya celebrates Diwali with the utmost grandiosity. Every year, this holy place celebrates Diwali with a plethora of earthen lamps. In 2018, the city got its name inscribed in the Guinness Book of World Records for lighting more than 300,000 earthen lamps along the banks of the glistening Saryu River.
If you visit the city around the time of Diwali, Ayodhya will take you to a sacred realm with an air of festive fervour.
There are multiple amazing places in India to celebrate Diwali with the utmost grandiosity, culture, and authenticity. Most people take a week-long holiday around this time, which encourages the growth of domestic tourism.
Want to visit the best place to celebrate Diwali in India without emptying your pockets? Get special Diwali discounts on flights and hotels for travellers like yourself and have a splendid time with your close ones.
Book your flights and accommodations with Bookit N Go now!