Diwali Festival in India: The “Festival of Lights” is the largest festival in India, celebrated mainly by Hindus, Sikhs, and Jains around the world. Commemorating the victory of good over evil, it is also an opportunity for people to move on, abandon the grudges of the past, and have fun.
This little guide will help you understand the meaning of the celebration of Deepavali in India and how Diwali is celebrated in India.
Importance of Diwali celebration in India:
A five-day festival, Diwali is celebrated as the return of Lord Rama with Sita and Laxmana after a 14-year long exile. Literally translated from Sanskrit, Diwali means a row of lights; The diyas were first lit by the Ayodhya people to welcome their King, Rama, after defeating Ravana. Some people in India also believe that it is the celebration of the marriage of Lord Vishnu and Lakshmi. In most regions, Lord Ganesha, who is the god of wisdom and auspiciousness, is worshiped on Diwali day. Diwali marks the anniversary of Nirvana or the liberation of the soul of Mahavira in Jainism. In West Bengal, Diwali is celebrated to worship the goddess Kali, who is the goddess of Shakti, meaning power and energy.
Reasons for Diwali celebration in India:
Diwali Diwali is not only celebrated as Lord Ram’s return to Ayodhya after he killed Ravana.
Here are other reasons why Diwali is celebrated:
Krishna killed Narakaasur: Narakaasure, who invaded all three worlds, was defeated by Lord Krishna a day before Diwali. The day after Diwali is celebrated as Naraka Chaturdasi.
Goddess Laxmi’s Birthday: Goddess Laxmi is one of the main diets of the Hindu religion and also the ‘Goddess of Wealth’. On this day. Goddess Laxmi is worshiped for wealth and prosperity.
The return of the Pandavas: As mentioned in Mahabharata, Pandavas defeated the Kauravas and returned from 12 years of exile on the day of the Amavasya Kartik, ie Diwali.
How is Diwali Festival in India is celebrated in different parts of the country?
a collage of diwali rituals Diwali is traditionally celebrated on the third day of the festival, and Deepavali 2019 falls on October 27. Like other famous festivals in India, the celebration of Diwali throughout India is carried out with great enthusiasm and greatness uniting the entire country. People usually wear new clothes on Diwali night, share gifts, and those who can pay can also buy silver or gold jewelry.
In North India: A woman wearing bracelets with a diya in her hands Image source (Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Rajasthan, Srinagar, Delhi and Punjab), the Deepavali festival is celebrated with fireworks, lights and sweets. Lord Ganesha and the goddess Lakshmi are also worshiped in Hindu homes on this day. If you are in the capital, you should not miss the Diwali mela in Delhi which allows you to buy decoration items and food for the festival and for the best Diwali celebration in India.
In East India: (West Bengal, Bihar, Jharkhand, Assam and Odisha), the Diwali celebration in East India is mainly the night of the ancestors, and ground oil lamps are lit on poles to guide the souls of loved ones to heaven in Odisha. The people of West Bengal and Assam worship the goddess Kali on the night of the festival of Diwali and offer prayers to their ancestors. The people of Bihar and Jharkhand perform Lakshmi pooja at night and the women make rangolis on the terrace of their houses and temples. To witness Diwali in India, visit any of these places.
In western India : (Gujarat and Maharashtra), rangoli is an important part of your Diwali decoration. While the Gujaratis draw footprints of the goddess Laxmi on the threshold of the house, light their homes with candles, rice lights, and diyas on the night of Diwali, the Maharashtrians perform Lakshmi pooja in their homes and organize a party known as “Faral” for families and families. friends, where sweets like karanji, ladoo and sandwiches like chakli and sev are served.
In south india: (Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka and Tamil Nadu), while Andhrites and Tamilians worship the victory of Lord Krishna and his wife Satyambha over the demonic King Narkasura, Kannadigas bathes in oil and builds forts with cow dung in their homes.
Diwali celebration around the world: Diwali is an occasion of joy, gladness and union for Indians around the world. While the festival is celebrated on a large scale throughout the country, it is also celebrated in other countries with large Hindu populations including Nepal, Sri Lanka, Mauritius, Singapore, Myanmar, Indonesia, Great Britain, Malaysia, Thailand, Guyana, Japan, Fiji, Trinidad and Tobago, Africa and Australia. Suggested Reading: Delhi Festivals: Must attend a Food, Shopping and Great Cultural Show!
Diwali Food Delights Across India A collage of food prepared on diwali
One thing that comes to mind when we think of Diwali food is sweets; A lot of that. In addition to Diwali home décor, all of these delicious snacks add color and flavor to the spirit of the festival. From tantalizing sticky barfis to spicy mathris, each state in India has its own way of making Diwali tasty.
Gulab Jamun: Gulab jamun Made with powdered/condensed milk, clarified butter and flour, you will find this brownish-red sweet in every home during the festival and the Diwali celebration in North India is not complete without it. A ball of dough will be enough to satisfy your cravings, unless, of course, you have a sweet tooth.
Patisha : Seen mainly in North India, Patisha or soan papdi is a flaky sweet garnished with pistachio to add some nuts. If you love cotton candy, you will also love Patisha.
Samosa : Samosa needs no introduction. Whether dealing with the celebration of the Diwali in India 2019 or any other festival, Samosa is always there, this is probably the best pie filling ever had in his life. From chicken and lamb to potato peas and paneer, there are many ways to fill and prepare it.
Malpua : Mainly prepared in Bihar, Jharkhand, Maharashtra and Uttarakhand, Malpua is a sweet pancake dipped in sugar syrup.
Anarsa : An authentic Maharashtrian sweet dish, Anarsa is a pastry-type snack specially prepared in Diwali. Karanjis – A sweet and savory snack, Karanjis is a Maharashtrian dessert filled with dried fruit, suji, and khoya.
Cholafali: A spicy and fluffy Gujarati snack prepared on the occasion of Diwali, Cholafali is made with mixed flours and authentic Gujarati spices.
Murukku : The Diwali celebration in South India, especially Kerala and Tamil Nadu, is incomplete without preparing Murukku. It is a spicy fried snack made from lentils and rice flour.
Ukkarai: a special Diwali sweet, is mainly prepared by Chettinad Brahmins. It is prepared with gram flour and brown sugar.
Tips for Celebrating Diwali Festival in India Safely
- Stay away from synthetic fabrics, only wear cotton clothing. Have a fire extinguisher and have a first aid kit ready in your home.
- Do not burn cookies in closed areas.
- Do not allow children to burn aerial fireworks like rockets alone.
- Never light a cookie while holding it in your hand.
- The celebration of Diwali in India is a truly unforgettable experience. Plan a trip to an Indian destination where you will love taking part in the festival of lights and enjoying the traditions and warmth of the locals.
Frequently asked questions related to the celebration of Diwali in India
Q. How is Diwali celebrated in India?
A. Diwali is celebrated across India with great enthusiasm uniting the entire country. In North India, it is celebrated as the return of Lord Rama with Sita and Laxmana after a 14-year long exile. In East India, it is mainly the night of the ancestors and the mud oil lamps. For people in Western India, rangoli is an important part of their Diwali decoration, while in South India, Andhrites and Tamilian worship the victory of Lord Krishna and his wife Satyambha.
Q. Where is Diwali celebrated in India?
A. Diwali is celebrated throughout India with great enthusiasm. People wear new clothes on this day and exchange gifts. It is one of the famous festivals in India.
Q. What are the 5 days of Diwali?
A. The 5 days of Diwali are as follows: Day OneDhanteras (Fortune Day ) 2. Day TwoNaraka Chaturdasi (Day of Knowledge) Day ThreeDiwali (Day of Light) Day FourAnnakut (New Year) Day FiveBhai Duj (Day of Sibling Love)
Q. What food do you eat on Diwali?
A. Diwali is mainly about eating sweets. Tempting snacks include gooey barfis to spicy mathris. Each state in India has its own style of adding flavors to make Diwali amazing.
Q. What special dish is prepared in Diwali?
A. The special dish prepared on Diwali includes Shankarpale, Kheer, Jalebis, Gulab Jamun, Gajar Ka Halwa, Kajoo Barfi, and Karanji. All of these are among the most popular dishes.
Q. Is Diwali a national holiday in India?
A. No. Diwali is not a national holiday, but in most states of India it is a religious holiday and one of the most famous festivals in India .
Q. What is Diwali’s specialty?
A. Diwali is celebrated to welcome Lord Ram, Sita, and Laxman, who returned to Ayodhya after their 14 years of exile. Diwali means the spiritual victory of light over darkness, of good over evil, and of knowledge over ignorance.
Q. Where is the best place to celebrate Diwali in India?
A. Some of the most popular places to celebrate Diwali in India are Amritsar, Varanasi, Udaipur, Kolkata, Jaipur, Goa, and Delhi.
Q. What city is famous for Diwali?
A. Varanasi is one of the most famous places where Diwali is celebrated with great pomp and spectacle. During sunset, large numbers of devotees crowd the Ghats at this important Hindu festival to light diyas before letting them float on the river.
Q. Where can I go to buy Diwali in Delhi?
A. The most popular places in Delhi that you can go shopping for Diwali are Chandni Chowk, Dariba Kalan, Paharganj Market, Atta Market, Tibetan Market, and Dilli Haat.
Q. What do you buy for Diwali?
A. Diwali is the best time to buy for everyone. You can buy gifts like chocolates, candy, gold coins, idols of gods or goddesses, traditional clothing, dried fruit, candy, Diwali gift baskets, household items, diya or candle, greeting card, and more!
Q. What do you wear for Diwali?
A. Diwali is a festival of great joy and people love to wear new clothes on this day. Traditional Indian clothing is considered the best for this occasion: for men, it is Kurta, while for women it is sari or suit.
