In this blog, we will explore how Diwali is celebrated differently across India and uncover the historic significance behind these vibrant traditions. Additionally, it highlights various destinations to help you plan your perfect Diwali vacation. Each of these places offers unique ways to experience the festival, ensuring you enjoy a truly memorable holiday.

Best places to visit during Diwali

1. Varanasi - Dev Deepawali

The Diwali celebrations in Varanasi are something special. Here, the celebrations start fifteen [15] days after the rest of India celebrates Diwali. They call it ‘Dev Deepavali’, which means the ‘Diwali of Gods’.

Historic significance: It marks the victory of Lord Shiva over the demon Tripurasura. On that day, people light oil diyas [lamps] on the banks of the Ganges in the belief that all gods and goddesses descend to Earth.

Deepdaan: The devotees float the lit diyas on the Ganges to honour their ancestors, and this ritual is called ‘deepdaan’.

2. Amritsar - Illumination of the Golden Temple

The Golden Temple is adorned with golden light from the thousands of oil diya. The Golden Temple, shining in golden colour, and its reflection on the ‘sarovar’ [small lake] in front, is a perfect feast for the eyes.

Historic significance: In Amritsar, Diwali coincides with ‘Bandi Chor Diwas’, which means ‘Day of Liberation’. On this day, Guru Hargobind, the sixth Sikh Guru, was released from imprisonment by Jahangir. So his safe return to Amritsar was celebrated by lighting lamps at the Golden Temple and bursting crackers.

Fireworks: The fireworks at the Golden Temple used to be grand on this day. But in recent years, the use of fireworks has been restricted due to various reasons.

3. Ayodhya - Deepotsav

Ayodhya is considered to be the birthplace of Lord Ram. The entire city goes into a festive mood, especially centred around the newly constructed Ram Mandir. The Ayodhya Deepotsav is a government-recognised mega event, which features the lighting of diyas on the banks of the River Sarayu. The city has set two Guinness World Records for lighting the oil lamps. In 2024, Ayodhya created a new record by lighting over 2.5 million lamps.

Historical significance: This festival marks the victorious return of Lord Ram to Ayodhya after defeating Ravana. With the inauguration of the newly constructed Ram Mandir, the celebrations are made with more grandeur than in the past.

Aarti ceremony: On this day, a mass aarti is performed on the Sarayu Ghats. In 2024, they set another record for the most people rotating lit lamps simultaneously.

Shobha Yatra and other cultural programmes: The main highlight of the ‘shobha yatra’ procession is the tableaux, which feature the episodes from the epic Ramayana. The procession includes traditional dance and musical performances across India.
The procession ends with ‘rajyabhishek’ or coronation of Lord Ram, which will be performed by the Chief Minister of the state.

4. Jaipur

The Diwali celebration in Jaipur, the Pink City, is something special with competitions, lit markets, and a royal charm. With healthy competitions, Jaipur celebrates Diwali with both joy and thrill.

Competitions: In Jaipur, most renowned markets like Johari Bazaar and Tripolia Bazaar compete for specific theme-based lighting displays. Other competitions include diya and thali decoration, and rangoli competitions.

Illuminated fort buildings: The royal charm of the city overflows with lots of lights illuminating the marvellous, majestic fort structures. To get the stunning city view on Diwali, you can consider visiting Nahargarh Fort.

Sweets to taste: Sweets like ‘makhan beda’, ‘besan laddu’, and ‘balushahi’ are a must to be tried if you are in Jaipur to celebrate Diwali.

5. Udaipur

During Diwali, Udaipur becomes a paradise to enjoy romance. The ‘City of Lakes’, with beautiful, colourful, and powerful illuminations, and its serene lakes, makes it ideal for couples to visit.

Lakes and palaces: The clean waters of Lake Pichola, reflecting the surrounding colourful lights and fireworks, are a must to be witnessed. Even the palaces are adorned with thousands of strings of electric lights, lamps, and candles.

Culture: Beyond all these, witness the beautiful culture of Udaipur, which includes their traditional Rajastani dress, folk dance and music, and also celebrations hosted in various heritage buildings.

6. Goa - Narak Chaturdashi

The small, stunning state of Goa uniquely celebrates Diwali compared to many other parts of the country. Here, the festival is observed on the Narak Chaturdashi. So, the main highlight of the celebration is parading the effigies of the demon Narakasura and setting them ablaze a few hours before dawn.

Historical Significance: Diwali celebrations in Goa mark the victory of Lord Krishna against the demon Narakasura.

Main features: People decorate their homes with diyas and ‘akaashkandils’ [lantern]. On Diwali day, they offer special worship to Goddess Lakshmi. On the next day [of Diwali], they celebrate the marriage of Tulsi and Lord Vishnu.

Beach parties: How can anyone forget the beach while in Goa? You can enjoy the special Diwali parties hosted by the resorts and beach shacks. Also, witness the colourful fireworks over the ocean.

7. Maharashtra

In Maharashtra, Diwali is celebrated for five days. They celebrate it grandly by performing various rituals and taking delicious sweets and other dishes.

Five-day celebrations: On the first day, a special puja is offered to a cow and calf. On the second day, they celebrate by purchasing various precious items like jewels, utensils, etc., and the women lit flour lamps.

The third day is Narak Chaturdashi, and the significance of it is the same as in Goa. The celebrations on this day start with an oil bath. People enjoy wearing new clothes, having delicious snacks, and sharing more love.

On the main day of Diwali, people offer special pujas to Lakshmi and decorate their homes with lamps and colourful rangoli. The final day of the celebrations, ‘bhaubeej’, is observed. This is to celebrate and strengthen the bond between brothers and sisters.

Diwali Farals: It is a special combination of Maharashtra’s traditional sweets and savouries, served and enjoyed during the festival.

Diwali Pahat: This is a special concert held to welcome the dawn on Diwali day.

8. Himachal Pradesh - Budhi Diwali

In Himachal Pradesh, the festival is celebrated one month later than the rest of the country. Sounds interesting, right? Here, the celebrations are more focused on their ancestral traditions like torchlight procession, folk dance and other traditional performances.

Historical significance: Here, too, the celebration is for the victorious return of Lord Ram after defeating Ravana. But, it seems that this news reached a little late in the remote parts of Himachal Pradesh, maybe about a month later. So, even to this day, they celebrate Diwali one month later than other parts of the country.

Some also state that Diwali coincides with the busy agricultural season, so they had to postpone it by a month to celebrate.

Recommended reading: The Art of Gifting: Curated Diwali Gifts for Your Loved Ones

Conclusion

Now that you have explored the rich traditions of Diwali across India, you can truly appreciate the beauty of the country’s cultural diversity. It is wonderful to see how the same festival becomes even more special with unique local touches in every region. We hope this guide helps you plan an unforgettable Diwali vacation filled with vibrant celebrations and warm memories. Wishing you a joyous and bright Diwali!

Recommended reading: Top Destinations to Celebrate Dasara In A Unique Way