Write a report, describing in detail your experience during this years' Diwali Celebrations'
and how it has fundamentally changed from what you remember of last year's celebrations
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EXPERIENCING DIWALI IN INDIA
If we had to pick two festivals that you must definitely experience in India, it would have to be either the festival of colours – Holi (in March) or Diwali (October or November). Both these festivals are a sight to behold, and joyous Indians in the mood to celebrate are super fun. So if you are travelling in India during Diwali, go for it as festivals are the best way to experience a place and learn about its culture. This blog will tell you all about experiencing Diwali in India and celebrating the festival of lights!
Travelling in India during Diwali will give you an insight into India’s rich cultural heritage and help you understand age old traditions. During this time, streets and homes are all lit up with lanterns and candles for the celebration of this Hindu festival. Experiencing Diwali in India is certainly surreal.
Diwali dates in 2020 – November 14th, in 2021 – November 4th, in 2022 – October 24th. Do note, three to four days before and after are all festive, so you have a week-long window to witness or partake in the festivities.
You can read these blogs to get an idea of what the weather in India is like in October and November.
Different types of lanterns hang in windows around Diwali (Photo Credit – Kenkrevarun)
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DIWALI IN INDIA- AN OVERVIEW
Diwali in India is as important to the Indians as Christmas celebrations in the West. Common traditions include buying new clothes and redecorating houses, lighting butter lamps, exchanging gifts, eating together as family and bursting firecrackers. The primary purpose of these traditions is to start afresh with the belief of good emerging victorious over all evil.
As a traveller, especially if you are anywhere in North India, you will certainly feel the festive vibe! Indians are friendly and curious people. Don’t be surprised if you are invited to someone’s house to join in the family celebrations.
If you intend on travelling to India during Diwali, here’s everything you need to know about the festival of Diwali. If experiencing Diwali in India is on your wishlist (something we highly recommend), plan your trip with us now, so you can properly experience the grandeur of the festival of lights.
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Time flies, and change kicks in. Nothing remains untouched by this law of nature, and so does the way we live, eat and even the way we celebrate festivals. From enjoying Diwali holidays as kids to being burdened with homework, from being excited about crackers to acting responsibly towards the environment, from lightening earthen diyas to using electric lamps and fairy lights, from visiting each other’s homes to being holed up at one’s own house, a lot has changed in the way we celebrate the festival of lights. Here are six reasons how I feel the Diwali celebration has changed over the years:
From Holidays To Homework
As a kid, I remember being excited about Diwali holidays as that meant unobstructed fun with family and friends and no school. Though we too had some homework, that never impeded our merriment. However, today I see kids so busy in their studies that none of them get to fully enjoy the festive season. That’s yet another reason why festivals do not feel like celebrations these days.
From enjoying Diwali holidays as kids to being burdened with homework, from being excited about crackers to acting responsibly towards the environment, a lot has changed in the way we celebrate Diwali.
We’re keeping to ourselves
I remember going out with my parents on Diwali to meet our neighbours. But today, we’re either too busy with our own stuff, or like keeping to ourselves. In fact, I’ve seen people appreciate the fact that one likes to stay at home and do nothing. We’re moving towards celebrating an isolated Diwali, the one which just involves our family.
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Too Busy To Celebrate It The Right Way
Do you witness the same chaos during Diwali today as you did previously? Hardly. In fact, I feel that the enthusiasm associated with festivals is depleating day by day. The chaos during festivals is associated with a frenzied feeling which has its own importance.
Soan Papdi Doesn’t Lure Us Anymore
We’ve become diet conscious these days. Though it is a good thing, to some extent, it has taken from us, the excitement associated with a festival. Since Diwali is a festival of sweets and lights, as a kid, I used to be so excited about having sweets and festive food. But time has changed. Though we have diet sweets, but they lack originality and the true sweetness of sugary laddoo and gujjiya.
We’ve become diet conscious these days. Though it is a good thing, to some extent, it has taken from us, the excitement associated with a festival.
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Clay Diyas Have Been Replaced With Electric Diyas
Why do we celebrate Diwali? More importantly, why is it named ‘Diwali’? Because on this day, Lord Ram returned to Ayodhya with his wife Sita and brother Laxman after 14 years of exile. People welcomed them by lightening diyas. And so the festival is named as ‘Diwali’. Now, what is the use of electric diyas? We’re digressing from the essence of Diwali by trading earthen oil lamps with their electric plastic versions.
People Have Become More Responsible
This is the one change in the way we celebrate Diwali which happened for good. With increasing pollution, people are becoming aware about the environment. Lesser people opt for bursting crackers and hence do their bid to keep the air breathable. You can also spot people giving shelter to the stray animals for a night, in order to save them from crackers. With every passing year, we’re moving one step closer to a complete eco-friendly Diwali and that is something that indeed calls for a celebration.