Traveling to India for Diwali?
Diwali (”The Festival of Lights”) is one of the most popular Hindu festivals celebrated throughout the globe. If you are planning to travel to India during Diwali, you will experience lots of fun and excitement. During Diwali, all of India is decorated with lights. People worship the Goddess Lakshmi (Hindu Goddess of wealth), light firecrackers, wear new clothes, and exchange gifts and sweets. Diwali is the time when families and friends meet, and if you are planning to visit India during Diwali, here are some tips for you.
What to expect while traveling: Since you are traveling during the festival time, try to book your tickets well in advance. In case you are traveling alone or sans trip companion, you need to be extra careful. Watch your carry-on luggage, and make sure you save your check-in luggage tags, so that you can claim the luggage in case something goes missing. Be patient as there will be long queues almost everywhere.
What can you expect in India: If this is your first time to India and you are going during Diwali, be prepared to be amazed and surprised. You will find the whole country decorated with lights, children and youngsters setting off fire crackers, people everywhere in very good spirits and having fun. It is that time of the year when families and friends travel far to meet up, exchange gifts, cook a variety of food and share their happiness and joy. This is also a good time to do some shopping because most of the shops will have great discounts. If you like gold jewelry then don’t forget to buy something gold as there will be very good offers. Do not forget to pack your suitcase with some gifts for your friends and relatives here in USA.
Story behind Diwali celebration: The main reason for celebrating Diwali is the victory of good over evil. However, the original stories of Diwali celebrations differ depending on the region. In the western parts of India during Diwali, Lakshmi is worshiped, and the city is decorated with lights. It is also believed that during Diwali, Ram and Sita (characters from the epic Ramayana) return to their hometown of Ayodhya after a 14-year exile. In the southern parts of India people worship Lakshmi and use fire crackers to ward off evil spirits from their homes. Interestingly, in the eastern part of India, people celebrate Kali Puja. It is also believed that the Goddess Kali fought to kill demons in order to save humanity and the Gods.
When is Diwali? In 2017 Diwali falls on October 19. In the Hindu calendar, Diwali is celebrated on the 15th day of Kartika. So book your tickets and pack your bags to experience Diwali celebration in India. If you are traveling with kids, here are some tips to help you. If you are anxious about travel and need some extra help then you can hire a travel companion to help you. Happy Diwali!
Fly Confident!