Celebrating Diwali Across India
By 24X7Cineworld - Saturday, 10 November 2012
Did you know that there are actually different significances and ways of celebrating the festival in different parts of India?
Also known as the Festival of Lights, Diwali, or Deepavali is celebrated
by Hindus across the world to mark the triumph of good over evil. While
lighting oil lamps and bursting firecrackers are the norm during this
occasion, did you know that there are actually different significances
and ways of celebrating the festival in different parts of India?
It
is a great time for culture-hungry travellers to travel around India
during this auspicious time – with communities from North to South India
celebrating Deepavali in different ways. The vastness and diversity of
India and the richness of its history truly come to life during this
sacred festival.
Get ready to eat, pray, love as Hotels.com sheds some light on the different ways this festival is celebrated in our country.
Hyderabad, Andhra Pradesh
While Deepavali
commemorates Lord Rama’s homecoming in the North, during this festival
Hindus in the South pay homage to Lord Krishna’s defeat of the demon
Naraka, a powerful king of Assam who controlled all the kingdoms on
earth and imprisoned thousands of people. This day was henceforth known
as NarakaChaturdashi – the first day of Deepavali and the beginning of
four days of festivities in South India.
With its rich history as
the capital of Andhra Pradesh, the oldest state in India, Hyderabad
celebrates Deepavali with much pomp and splendour. In commemoration of
the victory of good over evil, the local community makes effigies of the
infamous demon Nakara and burns them on the outskirts of the city.
Travellers to the Silicon Valley of India can expect to see lots of
lights, fireworks and traditional Hindu rituals. Better yet, why not
immerse yourself in a time-honoured South Indian Diwali celebration by
lighting some diyas yourself and sharing some traditional sweets with
the locals?
Where to stay: Get a breather from the full-day
Deepavali celebrations with the locals at the luxurious The Park
Hyderabad, a contemporary hotel boasting a façade reminiscent of the
Nizam’s legendary jewellery collection. Inspired by the Jalis of ancient
Indian palaces, this five-star hotel offers guests the opportunity to
live like royalty, if only for a night, for a truly inspired and
relaxing vacation. Rooms start from Rs. 5,286 a night on Hotels.com.
Haridwar, Uttarakhand
Deepavali, or
Diwali in North India is believed to be the time when Lord Rama, an
incarnation of the God Vishnu, defeated and killed the evil King Ravana,
returning to his home after fourteen years in exile according to the
great Hindu epic ‘Ramayana’. Lord Rama’s homecoming was celebrated with
lights, fireworks and the bursting of crackers, a tradition that is
continued to this day in many northern Indian states.
For
travellers looking to experience a traditional Diwali celebration, there
is no other place like Haridwar in Uttarakhand in northern India, home
to a fascinating bevy of sadhus (holy men), pundits (Hindu priests),
pilgrims, guides, and beggars. Considered one of the seven holiest
places in India and one of the oldest cities in the subcontinent,
Haridwar is drenched in the rich aromas of incense sticks during Diwali
as devotees make offerings to their gods. Diyas (clay lamps) and flowers
adorn the temples and the River Ganges comes to life as priests from
the temples lead the local community in a worship procession, chanting
ancient Sanskrit prayers and floating the diyas down the river in a
devotional ritual to Maa Ganga, goddess of the most holy river in India.
Where
to stay: Located near the sacred Har-ki-PauriGhat (steps leading down
to the river), which is lit up with diyas and adorned with flowers
during Diwali, the Haveli Hari Ganga provides travellers with a great
base for exploring this important pilgrimage city. The3-star hotel is
just minutes away from the popular Mansa Devi Temple and enables guests
to easily take in historical sights and immerse themselves in
traditional Diwali celebrations at the same time. Rooms start from Rs,
5,517 a night on Hotels.com.
Amritsar, Punjab
As
the spiritual home of Sikhism, the city of Amritsar in the northwestern
state of Punjab is the epicentre for the celebration of BandiChhorh
Divas, a Sikh festival that coincides with the third day of Diwali.
Known as the Day of Liberation in English, the festival celebrates the
release of Guru HargobindJi and 52 princes in 1619. The Guru’s
subsequent arrival in Amritsar several days later in the midst of Diwali
celebrations has since associated his liberation with the Festival of
Lights, and hundreds of years later, this momentous occasion is still
commemorated with thousands of candles and lamps, literally lighting up
the whole city.
Travellers will be hard pressed to find a
better-lit city than Amritsar during Diwali, in particular the Sri
Harmandir Sahib (Golden Temple), a Sikh Gurdwara surrounded by a large
lake. The temple is a sight to behold during Diwali, as the entire
building is literally set aglow by the lights on and around it. Devotees
set oil lamps and candles floating in the water surrounding it and
rounding off the celebrations with a spectacular fireworks display and
endless rounds of bursting firecrackers.
Where to stay: Located
less than 100 metres the Golden Temple, the Hotel CJ International is
your best bet for a front row view of the Diwali extravaganza in
Amritsar. Other nearby points of interest include the Jallianwala Bagh
public garden, home to the memorial that commemorates the massacre of
more than 1,500 peaceful celebrators on the Punjabi New Year in 1919, as
well as the Durgiana Temple, also known as the Silver Temple for its
carved silver doors. Rooms start from Rs. 1,672 a night on Hotels.com.
Mumbai, Maharashtra
Travellers
looking for something different to the North should head to Mumbai in
the state of Maharashtra, where Diwali celebrations typically last for
four days.Comprising rituals that honour the bond between mother and
child, husbands and wives as well as brothers and sisters, Diwali
celebrations in Mumbai tend to carry a more sacred and holy aura to it
compared to the North.
Lucky enough to be in Mumbai during
Diwali? If you don’t mind the crowds, head to the colourfully decorated
markets and shops, where you can find Indian handicrafts, jewellery and
souvenirs at fabulous festival discounts. Step into a sweetshop and
sample various Indian sweets, or simply admire the houses decorated with
Rangolis – colourful designs drawn on the entrances with powder. At
night, take part in the celebrations by lighting a diya and try your
hand at bursting crackers, or simply sit back and enjoy the atmosphere
as the entire city lights up.
Where to stay: One of the most
fashionable places for Diwali celebrations in Mumbai is Marine Drive, a
3km long boulevard along the coast that’s also known as the Queen’s
Necklace for the street lamps that resemble a string of pearls at night.
Just a stone’s throw away is the Intercontinental Marine Drive Mumbai,
the perfect base that not only provides travellers respite from the
bustling city but also keeps you close to the action. Rooms start from
Rs. 10,641 per night on Hotels.com.
Follow our blog on Twitter, become a fan on Facebook. Stay updated via RSS
0 comments for "Celebrating Diwali Across India"