Path to Heaven - Odisha: Are you reminiscing about your family's past? Of course, then Odisha's Diwali can be an ideal one for you. During Diwali, Odisha is filled with darkness with light. Outside the houses, tall bamboo poles are set up, and earthen pots are tied to those poles. Each pot has a glowing lamp, which adds its glow to the buds of those earthen pots. The meaning behind this custom is very important. Local people in Odisha believe that lighting the darkness will allow their ancestors' souls to find their way to heaven, and burning the wood will allow the ancestors to bestow their blessings on the family before they depart. Prayer for Maa Kali - West Bengal: Have you spent many years worshiping Goddess Lakshmi every year? However, devotees in West Bengal worship Goddess Kali. Spend 2 days here, worshiping this goddess of destruction. According to Bengalis, Maa Kali erases the past, so that you can move towards the future. He is also responsible for the destruction of evil and all the various elements of life. Most devotees observe fast during the day. Sometimes they do not drink even a drop of water during the day and then enjoy sweets and delicious dishes the next day. Mini Diwali with 21 lamps for Bihar: Do you want to organize a simple and fun Diwali festival? In Bihar, a day before the grand Diwali celebrations, local people organize Chhoti Diwali. The festival is smaller and less grand than the main Diwali celebrations, and involves fewer lights and firecrackers. Devotees observe a day-long fast, which can be broken only until the sun sets. Then the next day, before the beginning of the main festival and rituals, devotees take a bath in the Ganga. Sparkling Water Lake – Kashmir Desire to be mesmerized? So celebrate the festival of Diwali in Kashmir. Kashmiri Pandits celebrate Diwali with great emotion and enthusiasm. All the broken and unwanted items of the house are thrown out. Household lighting makes the house feel brighter. Goddess Lakshmi is worshipped. Sweets, dry fruits and traditional Diwali dishes are a household item. However, Diwali celebrations are considered incomplete without a visit to Dal Lake. Millions of lamps float on the surface of the lake, creating waves of fire and water. With snow capped mountains surrounding the sparkling lake, this is a trip that will be a unique experience for you. Burn evil, burn - Goa Are you looking for Diwali celebrations? Then head towards Goa. Things are a little different here. The story behind Diwali in Goa involves the victory of the demon king Narakasura by Krishna using the Sudarshan Chakra. इस घटना को समर्थन करते हुए, राक्षस राजा के मूर्तियाँ आग में डाली जाती हैं, जो एक बार फिर अंधकार पर प्रकाश और बुराई पर अच्छाई के इतिहास का प्रतीक है। अक्सर प्रतियोगिताएं आयोजित की जाती हैं ताकि देखा जा सके कि राक्षस का सबसे भयानक पुतला कौन बना सकता है, और उनमें से कई विशाल और बड़े पैमाने पर सजाए गए हैं। Bazaar Mania - Rajasthan It's time to throw out the old, and embrace the new. It is a festival of wealth and prosperity. So, why not honor the spirit of this festival and take a tour of a Rajasthan market? Jaipur also hosts a grand shopping festival, which includes small and big markets. In each market you will find household appliances as well as the best festive and traditional decorations. So, why not embrace a little of Jaipur's beauty this Diwali next year? Each market provides an opportunity to decorate oneself in detail to outwit the others, creating a special atmosphere of joy in the Jaipur markets during Diwali. Visit Jayanti Bazaar, Vaishali Nagar, Chowda Road, Raja Park, and other places, and let your shopping continue till you drop. You can also attend the Udaipur Light Festival, where you can enjoy performances by DJs, concerts, and get a chance to delight your soul in the night sky. Grandeur on the banks of Ganga - Varanasi Looking for both spirituality and entertainment? So Varanasi is that place. Here Diwali turns into a grand celebration with firecrackers and fireworks show throughout the night. The city displays grandeur on the occasion of Diwali when a huge aarti is organized on the banks of the Ganga. The ghats are illuminated by the glow of lamps and candles, some of which are carried by the ocean current in the Deep River. It is not limited by this. Two weeks after the Diwali celebrations, Dev Diwali is also celebrated. This festival is also very big in which grand processions of Hindu Gods come out on the streets and the ghats are decorated with lamps. To witness the grandeur and pomp of all these events, you should book a hotel along the river bank. Cleaning, Celebration, Crackers - Tamil Nadu Thinking of reaching Tamil Nadu a day before Diwali? Well, then you need to start preparing for your celebration right then. When it comes to Diwali, Tamil Nadu is probably a step ahead of other parts of the country – this is what we believe. In Tamil Nadu, the festival is celebrated a day before Diwali due to the Tamil calendar, making the festival associated with the month of Aipasi. However, before the beginning of the festivities, local people clean their houses and prepare containers for the next day's oil bath. This bath usually takes place before sunrise. The traditional belief of this ritual is that bathing with oil is equivalent to bathing in the Ganga. Elder members of the family apply gingelly oil on the head of the younger member. Some locals also apply a medicinal Ayurvedic paste, called Diwali Lehiyum, after bathing. After these sacred rituals, a grand feast is organized and there is an atmosphere of fun and frolic. This day echoes with the bang, crackle and sparkle of firecrackers. From sweet to wonderful - Maharashtra You might be expecting cities like Mumbai and Pune to be bustling during Diwali. While it is certainly an element of Diwali celebrations in the state, Maharashtra really kicks off Diwali celebrations in a joyful and spiritual way. The festival begins with the ritual of Vasubaras. Here the Aarti of mother cow and her calf is performed, symbolizing the love between mother and child. Local people observe a fast for the whole day, which is broken only by eating once. Diwali is considered a dynamic time in the state and this ritual is performed to balance some of the instability. Once this ritual is complete, the city comes alive. If you are near Marine Drive in Mumbai, do not miss the opportunity to watch the spectacular fireworks show. One of the most popular railway stations – Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus (CST) is lit up in Diwali colors and is magical to behold. Every part of India is diverse, however lights unite us all during this festival. No matter where you go, you will find Indians celebrating this beloved and sacred festival. If you are in the spirit of festive cheer and making the most of the holiday season, book a trip to any part of the country with Thomas Cook and enjoy a different side of Diwali this year.