Diwali also known as the festival of lights is the most amazing festival of the Hindus. This festival denotes the return of Hindu deity Lord Rama and his wife Sita after being exile for many years. It is indeed India’s greatest religious festival, when homes, institutions and whole neighborhoods are adorned with candles, earthen lamps and pixie lights on this propitious moonless night.
In urban India, Diwali has come to be related with long stretches of card parties that come full circle in a stupendous night of fireworks, on the main day of the celebration. A homogeneous culture has set in with the cutting edge youth that sees the celebration as a period for extravagance and utilization.
Customarily, notwithstanding, unique locales of India have different methods for celebrating this day. Distinctive parts of India observe Diwali in their own particular one of a kind ways.
But while Hindus all through India praise this festival consistently, their ceremonies and conventions vary. Thus, take a voyage through India with us this Diwali, and get a look at festivities the country over!
Let’ see how Diwali is celebrated in different regions across India!
1) Diwali in Uttar Pradesh
Uttar Pradesh celebrates this festival in a grand way, as Lord Rama’s house in Ayodhya is technically in UP. People enthusiastically celebrate this festival and if you visit Varanasi during this festive season you will see that the beautiful Ganga River is lit, during the Ganga Aarti where people light earthen lamps over the Ganga surface and they float.
2) Diwali in West Bengal
In Kolkata, this day is celebrated as ‘Kali Puja’. A symbol of goddess Durga, Kali is greatly adored among Bengalis for her impressive nearness. Fans and tantric professionals alike love her. On this day, people gather at neighborhood scenes late in the night, typically to devour a sacrificed goat. Homes are embellished with conventional ‘rangoli’ made with powdered rice and diyas. Sparklers are blasted to welcome the goddess who is an exemplification of a dull and dynamic feminine power.
3) Diwali in Maharashtra
According to the Ramayana, Lord Ram stayed for most of the time in a place called Panchvati during his 14-year exile. That place today is close to Nasik which is in Maharashtra. Maharashtrians celebrate Diwali with great excitement. On this day, they welcome Goddess Lakshmi into their homes where she brings prosperity and wealth. They also hang ‘Akash-dive’ outside their homes to lighten the day!
4) Diwali in Tamil Nadu
Many people burst crackers on the eve of Diwali but, in Tamil Nadu, this occurs by day. On this day, people wake up early in the morning to have a customary oil bath. Fragrant pepper, betel leaves and different fixings are implanted with hot oil for a pre-shower knead. Subsequent to washing, new garments are worn and a tonic called ‘Deepavali Lehiyam’ is had as an antecedent to the devour ahead. At that point, blasting of saltines and shines results. Most Tamilians commend this day as the passing of Narakasura, a dreaded evil spirit, because of Lord Krishna.
5) Diwali in Gujarat
Diwali marks the end of the year for the people in Gujarat. They usually celebrate this festival with great enthusiasm and Bestu Varas or as we call it the New Year is celebrated a day after Diwali. So, imagine the great excitement during this day.
6) Diwali in Andhra Pradesh
This festival has its own traditions and ways of celebrating it. In Andhra the killing of the evil spirit is re-established by heroes that play Satyabhama, the partner of Lord Krishna who slaughtered him. Wafer stuffed models portraying Narakasura are copied amid these plays. Legend has it that the monster’s diminishing wish was to live for one more day in the most stupendous way imaginable. Therefore firecrackers, and celebrations are carried out.
