The air is filled with excitement and fervor as Diwali, the festival of lights, is around the corner, and Indians are waiting to celebrate it with all its charm and festivity. Symbolizing the triumph of light over darkness, which means the victory of good over evil, Diwali is the most dazzling festival of India. It is an auspicious event that brings happiness and love and spreads the divine light of Diwali everywhere, thus eliminating all sorts of evilness, harshness, cruelty, and hatred between one another. The Festival of Lights, Diwali or Deepavali, is a festival of spreading love and happiness. Make this Diwali special for you and your loved ones by exploring some of the incredible destinations in South India
About Diwali:
The festival of lights, colours and sweets, Diwali is an enthusiastic festival celebrated for five days with shimmering diyas(oil lamps), Rangolis and bright lights as well as sharing gifts and sweets with the near and dear ones. Diwali is observed on the darkest night (the first night of the new moon), the 15th day of the month of Kartika as per the Hindu calendar. It often corresponds to mid-October and mid-November. Diwali, also known as Deepavali in the Sanskrit language, literally means “row of lights”. Hence the most memorable part of this festival is the illumination of houses and streets with dozens of diyas(oil lamps or candles) which symbolizes the inner light that protects from spiritual darkness.
Diwali commemorates the victorious return of Lord Rama, the seventh incarnation of Lord Vishnu, to Ayodhya – his hometown after 14 years of exile and winning the battle against the demon king Ravana. Followers of Hinduism, Buddhism, Jainism and Sikhism throughout India and abroad celebrate Diwali with great splendor and impressiveness.
How Diwali is Celebrated in India?
The fun and jollification of Diwali continue for five days. Diwali is widely celebrated across all of India and each day of the festival is known by different names and have different meanings in various parts of the country. Even though each day of the festival has special significance, the grand celebrations take place on the third day. Goddess Lakshmi is the primary deity that’s worshiped(the deity of wealth) during this festival. The festival of lights continues for five long days, although each day has a special significance.
What you experience during Diwali?
Diwali, known as the “Festival of Lights“, is the biggest festival of the year in India. This five-day festival commemorates the victory of good over evil and in particular honors the return of Lord Ram and his wife Sita to Ayodhya (after the defeat of demon Ravan and rescue of Sita from his evil clutches on Dussehra).
Things To Try During Diwali Festival
- Crackers are available for everyone to buy and use in India. Try bursting some crackers along with the locals.
- Get invited to a home lunch by any local. The best way is to choose homestay accommodation or visit any village regions where serving a feast to others is a common activity during Diwali. Some of the traditional dishes are not usually served at restaurants.
- While at the village or rural regions, try to take part in local games. Locals love it when foreigners take more interest in their culture. This goes for rituals and traditions too. You will never feel like an outsider.
- Oil bathing is an important auspicious activity of the day. Many parlors and spas offer traditional oil massage during Diwali. If you want the complete feel of Diwali, it would be a good choice.
Top 10 Temples In India To Visit During Diwali
- Golden Temple of Amritsar
- Kanak Bhavan temple of Ayodhya
- Madurai Meenakshi Amman Temple in Tamil Nadu
- Mahalaxmi temple of Mumbai
- Srirangam Sri Ranganathaswamy Temple in Tamil Nadu
- Sitladevi temple of Mumbai
- Ramaswamy temple of Rameshwaram
- Ram Mandir of Odisha
- Kodandarama temple in Karnataka
- Annapurna Devi Mandir in Varanasi
Safety Information:
You cannot travel in India during Diwali without seeing diyas and firecrackers. As Diwali is a festival full of lights, fire and electricity, make sure to keep each other safe from any mishap during the festivity. So to ensure a safe and gladsome celebration, it is advisable to follow a few safety measures.
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Clothes:
Diwali is incomplete without crackers. Everyone, regardless of their age enjoy bursting firecrackers during this festival time. So while playing with fireworks make sure everyone including children and adults wears cotton clothes. Please do stay away from synthetic, silk and chiffon materials as it can catch fire very easily. It is also advisable to wear well-fitted clothes because flowing and trailing garments can easily catch fire.
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Area of bursting crackers:
Look for an open space before bursting firecrackers and also ensure there are no combustible and inflammatory things around. It is very important to note that you must never burst firecrackers in a closed area as it can lead to a massive hazard in case of a fire break out.
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Quality of crackers
The quality of crackers does matter. Please ensure you buy crackers from licensed and reliable sellers and also go through the instructions before bursting them. It is always safe to use good quality crackers as it reduces the risk of mishaps.
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Supervise and instruct children
It is highly important to ensure that children play with crackers under adult supervision. Instruct them about the usage of firecrackers and educate them about the proper ways to do so. Never allow small kids to play with crackers alone.
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Candle and Diya safety
Decorating homes with candles and diyas are a non-avoidable part of the Diwali festival. But while placing them, make sure that there aren’t any curtains or inflammable materials close to them and also make your children stay away from the candles and diyas.
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First Aid Kit & Fire extinguisher:
Keep a first aid kit handy for any emergency. You can treat immediately at home in case of a minor injury. It is very essential to keep a fire extinguisher close to the area where you are bursting firecrackers. A bucket of water or sand can also be useful in tackling a minor fire mishap.
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Discarding used fireworks:
Used crackers must be discarded immediately and safely. Discard them by either putting in a bucket of water or by covering them with sand to dissipate the heat.
Eco-Friendly Diwali:
Besides all these fun and festivity, it’s our duty to make sure that our celebrations do not harm our environment. Let’s say no to crackers and go green on this Diwali and spread awareness to save our planet Earth.
- Decorate your home with eco-friendly diyas and candles instead of illumination lights which save electricity.
- Celebrate Diwali by planting trees in place of bursting crackers.
- While making Rangoli, use natural colors rather than chemical colors.
- Stay away from synthetic room fresheners and opt for organic incense sticks.
- Make eco-friendly gifts.
- Avoid using plastic for packaging gifts or food.
- Dispose of waste properly after the celebration.
Diwali is not just celebrated in India, but various other parts of the world. Every year the White House observes the significance of this occasion, often cited as the “Indian’s Christmas”. Australia, Canada and New Zealand embrace the festival with a carnival including fairs, exorbitant performances and cultural shows. The festival is also celebrated in other corners of the world like Nepal, Sri Lanka, Malaysia, Indonesia, Fiji, Japan, Thailand, Singapore and Europe.
