Chances are, when you think of India, vivid colours come to mind. If that’s the case, just wait until you go there during Diwali, the country’s famous Festival of Lights.
Taking place across India, Diwali is a multiple-day festival that represents the triumph of good over evil, light over darkness. In fact, it actually gets its name from the word ‘Deepavali’, which translates into ‘row of lamps’, as Indians light lamps and candles during this time to rid themselves of any spiritual darkness. Diwali takes place at some point in October or November (the date changes, determined by the Hindu lunar calendar) and marks the beginning of the Hindu New Year.
Diwali is one of the few Indian festivals that almost all people celebrate, regardless of their faith. Interestingly though, while it may be a universal national holiday, not everyone agrees on the particulars of exactly what is being celebrated; people in different regions of India believe different things and celebrate in slightly different ways.
In the north, for example, some say that the holiday is about King Rama’s defeat of Ravana and they light the clay lamps to honour his return to the city. Meanwhile, those in south India believe Diwali is about a different triumph of good over evil: Lord Krishna’s defeat of the evil Narakasura. And in western India, the story is different again, this time to celebrate the day that Lord Vishnu sent King Bali to rule in another land. But all the while, no matter the details, the common belief is that good triumphs over evil – and light is most important of all.
Since the festival is celebrated all over the country, travellers can take part no matter where they visit. Whether you start a trip in Delhi or cap on a few extra days at the end of a tour in Goa, you can get in on the celebration.
So, what happens during the actual Diwali festivities? Again, it depends on what part of India you visit, but no matter where you go, the celebrations are magical. Here are the common, basic rituals that you can experience all over the country.
Read more: Explore India on an Intrepid small-group adventure
1. Make a rangoli
Perhaps the most photogenic moment of Diwali, the rangoli – which is derived from a Sanskrit word meaning colour – is a design pattern that you make on the floor using coloured sand, rice, powders or flower petals. And it is not to go undocumented. People spend hours crafting intricate rangolis, which they light up with tea candles at night. On Intrepid’s Women’s Expedition to India, you can learn the art of rangoli making in Chandelao Garh – a heritage hotel owned by a noble family. Rangolis are thought to bring good luck to those around them, and making one can be quite a meditative and zen experience.
2. Take in all of the lights (and watch out for firecrackers)
Another incredible moment is simply taking in all of the lights that are up during Diwali. Most Indians decorate the front of their houses with strands of coloured lights and fairy lights, as well as garlands of marigolds, making it a true sight to be seen. And at night, everyone sets off firecrackers in the streets, and not the occasional cracker, either – we’re talking loads of firecrackers, which you can buy at most shops in the days and weeks leading up to Diwali.
Read more: My Diwali experience with a family in India
3. Get mehndi (henna) on your hands
You’ve probably seen mehndi, the paste made from dried henna leaves that people apply on their skin in intricate patterns. But while you may associate it with Indian weddings, women often get mehndi on their skin during festivals too, as a sign of celebration and symbol of health, luck and positive energy. And Diwali is no exception; there are many mehndi artists on the street during Diwali offering up their services. If you haven’t gotten mehndi before, know that you have to leave the paste on for a couple hours before you take it off to reveal the pattern, and the longer you leave it on your skin, the darker the pattern will be. Also, it can smell a bit strong if you’re not used to it. And a pro tip: If you hold your hands over something warm – like the flames on an oven – it will make the pattern even darker.
4. Give gifts to your close crew
One of the biggest Diwali traditions is that locals open up their homes to their family and friends, who, in turn, bring them gifts. This means that the majority of Indians spend the day both visiting their friends and family, and hosting them at their own house – basically, it’s one big hangout. Important note: while it’s customary in many cultures to give alcohol as a gift, this isn’t appropriate on Diwali. The gift of choice is usually new clothes, which represent prosperity, or mithai (Indian sweets). Most Indian sweets are milk based, made with a mix of sugar and spices, and they are absolutely delicious. It can be tricky as a solo traveller to get to know locals or spend time in a family’s home, but that’s a perk of travelling with a local leader who can give you an insider experience.
5. Perform a Lakshmi Puja
A puja is the Hindu word for ‘prayer ritual’ and a Lakshmi Puja is the specific prayer ritual that Indians do on Diwali. The idea behind this puja is to invite Lakshmi, the goddess of wealth, peace and prosperity, into the home so that the year ahead is filled with those auspicious things. Again, like many of these Diwali traditions, the actual ceremony may vary depending on where you’re doing it and who you’re doing it with – these basic instructions are a good start.
6. Clean the house
Okay, so this totally sounds like a ritual parents invented to try to trick their kids into cleaning the house, but cleaning is a big part of Diwali. Indians believe that Diwali is a lucky time to declutter because good spirits are more likely to waft in and flow around when there isn’t as much stuff to block them. As a visitor, you probably won’t have to do any cleaning yourself, but it’s good to know that most of the places you visit will look extra clean and magical, thanks to the Diwali touch.
And that’s just it: the Diwali touch is seemingly everywhere in India during this time of year. And trust us when we say it’s a spirit definitely worth travelling for.
Experience the lights, magic and mystery of Diwali on your own adventure in India.
