Every year in the nights of Amavasya, Firecrackers amidst announce the celebration of India’s favorite festival Diwali. Diwali marks its presence in the country with the decorations, gifts, sweets and the lighting of the lamps throughout the country
Watching the onset of winters, Diwali is celebrated in November or October depending upon moon cycle. Mostly it fall on the 15th day of Kartik one of the holiest month of the Hindu Lunar Calendar.
November 7, 2018, is said to hosting Diwali in North India, while in the Southern part of the festival is celebrated a day earlier on 6th November.
Diwali festival is celebrated fully for five days with the grand celebrations on the third day in most of the places in India.
- Festival season will start from November 5, 2018, and the day is known as Dhanteras. Here “Dhan” refers to wealth and “teras” depicts the 13th day of the lunar fortnight as per the Hindu calendar. Dhanteras is celebrated as a day of prosperity. The Goddess Lakshmi is worshipped and people purchases gold. The day proceeds with the people gatherings to gamble and play cards. Many Ayurvedic doctors dedicate the day for the honor of Dhanvantari, as an incarnation of God Vishnu, for bring Ayurveda to humanity. Tamil Nadu and Kerala also have many temples dedicated to Ayurveda and Dhanvantri.
- The second day, November 6,2018 will be celebrated as Choti Diwali or Naraka Chaturdasi. Lord Krishna and Goddess Kali are believed to have been destroying the demon Narakasura, on the day. Goa celebrations are comprised of burning demon effigies.
- The third day, November 7, 2018, is known for being the new moon day also called as Amavasya. The day is celebrated as a Diwali festival in the west and north India. God Ganesha and Goddess Lakshmi are worshipped, and every family performs a special puja for prosperity and peace in their family around the year in the evening. In West Bengal, Assam and Odisha, people usually worship Goddess Kali.
- The fourth day, November 8, 2018, is celebrated with different meanings as per the places across India. North India celebrates the day as Govardhan Puja, for the Lord Krishna Defeating Indra, known as the god of rain and thunder. Gujarat celebrates the day as the starting of a new year. Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, and Maharashtra commemorate the victory of God Vishnu over the ferocious demon King Bali and teh day is called as Bali Padyami or Bali Pratipada in these states.
- The fifth day, November 9, 2018, will be celebrated as Bhaiya Duj. The day is dedicated to the bond of brothers and sisters and is similar to Raksha Bandhan accept the ceremony. Brother and sisters meet and greet each other with gifts and sweets to honor the strong bond ties between them.
Diwali celebrations start with the witnessing prayers and preparation of Aarti at a local temple in Agra with fireworks and local meal preparations for dinner.
Visitors coming to India to experience the festivities of Diwali can club the festival with various destinations like Pushkar fair, Varanasi fireworks, and nearby cities. We have arranged a set up in Agra to help you with the exposure of Diwali with a local family. The itinerary and pricing details will be discussed on finalization of destinations and the amenities.
Feel free to contact, Travelastu for making lightning Diwali tour to India in 2018.