Places to Visit in Diwali Vacation in India

1. Varanasi

Varanasi, also known as Banaras is considered as one of the holiest cities in India. It is one of the Best Places to Celebrate Diwali in India. Varanasi witnesses true-blue Diwali celebrations, with millions of lights and millions of people. Varanasi is a crazy place at any time of year, but it becomes even more so during Diwali with a constant stream of firecrackers and fireworks going off all night long. Begin your day with the Ganga Snan (bath in the Ganga) ritual, followed by exploring the bustling street markets selling Diwali sweets and brightly coloured clothes. The festivities culminate in loud and colorful firecrackers being set off in every little lane of the city. Stay a week longer to witness the even more festive ‘Dev Deepawali’, ‘the Diwali of Gods’, celebrated as part of the Ganga Mahotsav festival to showcase Varanasi’s cultural heritage. There’s a procession of Hindu deities through the streets and the ghats are lined with more than a million clay lamps. It coincides with the Ganga Mahotsav cultural festival.

2. Jaipur

One of the best places to experience this is in the “pink city” of Jaipur, in Rajasthan, where not just the buildings and homes are illuminated but the local markets as well. Celebrations in Jaipur start on Dhanteras, the first of the five-day Diwali celebrations. To understand the celebrations of Diwali in Jaipur, one has to experience it.Much of the beauty of Diwali comes from the warm glow of lights and lamps which adorn streets, homes, and shops. One of the best places to experience this is in the “Pink City” of Jaipur, in Rajasthan, where not just buildings but whole markets are illuminated. Each year, there’s a competition for the best decorated and most brilliantly lit up market, and the government foots the electricity bill. It’s a dazzling display that attracts visitors from all over India.

3. Goa

In Goa, the focus of Diwali celebrations is on the destruction of demon Narakasura by Lord Krishna. Competitions are held in every village and city to see who can make the biggest and scariest effigy of the demon. Some are really huge! They’re burned at dawn on Narakasura Chaturdashi, the day before the main day of Diwali. As gambling is also a popular activity during Diwali, you might want to try your luck at one of Goa’s top casinos as well. However, make sure you book well in advance for the floating casinos, as they are very popular at this time of year. While you can observe the traditions in Goa, you can also enjoy a vacation by visiting the beaches and casinos in Goa.

4. New Delhi

Diwali celebration in Delhi is an entire amalgamation of North India. Entire markets and street are beautifully adorned and lighted. Musical shows, dance programs, theatre there are many for art lovers and enthusiast. Street foods are a special thing to grab on Diwali night. The Parliament house, Rastrapatti Bhawan, Lotus Temple and in old Delhi the forts and monuments holds special lighting effect.

5. Amritsar

Experiencing Diwali in Amritsar is one of the most magical feelings ever. Diwali in Amritsar is one of the Famous places to celebrate Diwali in India. A Punjabi adage goes ‘Dal Roti Ghar Di Diwali Amritsar Di. (There’s nothing like homemade food and Diwali in Amritsar)The city of the Golden Temple is a treat at any time of the year, but particularly so on Diwali, which coincides with the Sikh celebrations of Bandi Chhor Divas. It is celebrated to mark the return of the Sixth Sikh Guru, Guru Hargobind Ji, from Mughal imprisonment. Special kirtans (prayers) echo through the city and the Golden Temple is bathed in light – a feast for any photography enthusiast. Club that with the infectious spirit of the people of Punjab, the culinary delights of a typical Amritsari dhaba (eating joint), the cool November weather, and the majestic fields of sarson (mustard) in the countryside, and you’ve got yourself a winner. The Temple complex is also draped in lights, and the edge of the lake fringed with countless oil lamps and candles, lit by devotees.

6. Kolkata

The Cultural Capital of India is unarguably one of the best places to visit in Diwali to experience a distinct flair and charm of Diwali – the Bengali style. Kolkata is quite unique compared to other cities when it comes to celebrating Diwali. While most people in India worship Goddess Lakshmi on Diwali, the main day of the festival is celebrated as Kali Puja in Kolkata and West Bengal (as well as Odisha, Tripura and Assam). It coincides with Lakshmi Puja. This place has its own version of Diwali which occurs somewhere around the same time as the Kali Puja, the celebration of the goddess Kali, the Hindu goddess usually associated with the creative power. Just the day before the Puja, the entire city is lightened with candles, colorful electric bulbs and diyas in order to celebrate the beginning of the important day at midnight.

7. Purushwadi (Maharashtra)

For a quiet Diwali, away from street fairs and firecrackers, visit Purushwadi, A small village located on a hill along the Mumbai-Nashik highway. Families in this little hamlet light a bonfire on Diwali night and cook local food, while children move from door to door, singing traditional songs, inviting each household to pour oil into their oil lamps, mounted atop a handmade bundle of sticks. Immerse in village life by helping the local women make Rangolis, assisting in the rice harvest, going for a dip in the river and chopping wood for the bonfire.

8. Agra

One of the Best Places to Celebrate Diwali in India Agra is replete with jubilant celebrations on the occasion of Diwali. Agra Fort is lit up and firecrackers against the backdrop of the legendary Taj Mahal look solely out of the world. A trip to the Mahadev Temple where you can witness the rituals of Diwali is worth visiting.