celebrate india – diwali with yatra.com

8/3/2019 Celebrate India Diwali with Yatra.com

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Celebrate India Diwali with Yatra.com

Travelling is not something I do for me it just happens. When you spend over 5 months in a year

travelling and that too most of the times without your parents permission, it is legitimate for them tobe annoyed. Yet they choose not to restrain me, for which I am extremely thankful. However, being

away from home during Diwali,is pushing my luck a little too far and stretching their patience too. If it

hadnt been for the excuse of visiting the Kota Dussherafestival, it wouldve been practically impossible

for me to get out of the town during the festive season. And once I was out, there was no coming back

before Diwalifrom Kota. I headed straight to the city of The Golden Temple, Amritsar (the experience

more than made up for the colossal amount of scolding I had to bear when I got back home).

The day, on which Lord Rama returned to his kingdom inAyodhya after spending 14 years in exile,

vanquishing the demon Lord Ravana and rescuing his wife Sitafrom the demons clutches, is the day

that has been celebrated

as Diwalifrom time immemorial.

Being a moonless night

(Amavas), allAyodhyan citizens

lit up lamps all over the city and

decorated it, to welcome them.

Till date the same tradition is

followed, although with major

improvements. Nowadays,

instead of just lamps, fancy

candles, lights and fire crackers

are used to light up the

moonless night. However, the

festival ofDiwalisymbolizes above all, the victory of good over evil.

Amritsar is predominantly a city with an overwhelming Sikh population, but that does not hinder them

from joining in the festivities. During the time ofDiwali, it is just like any other Indian city.In fact many

people might not know that the festival ofDiwalihas special significance for the Sikhsas well and is

known by the name ofBandi Chhorh Divas. Coincidently it was on the day ofDiwalithat the 6th

Sikh Guru

Hargobind Singh returned to Amritsar with another 52 kings who were imprisoned along with him by

the Mughal Emperor Jahangir. For this very reason the celebrations ofDiwaliare all the more delightful

in Amritsar and also because Punjabis have a very rich, colourful and loud culture. They let no festive

opportunity to go waste even if it is not one from their own culture. One extraordinary aspect of Sikh

male attire that cannot escape your notice is their colourful turban. It is amazing that a turban
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irrespective of its colour, if wore properly, will match clothes of any colour and shade. It seriously

messed up whatever little sense of fashion I had.forever. Returned to his kingdom inAyodhya after

spending 14 years in exile, vanquishing the demon Lord Ravana and rescuing his wife Sita from the

demons clutches, is the day that has been celebrated as Diwalifrom time immemorial. Being a

moonless night (Amavas), allAyodhyan citizens lit up lamps all over the city and decorated it, towelcome them. Till date the same tradition is followed, although with major improvements. Nowadays,

instead of just lamps, fancy candles, lights and fire crackers are used to light up the moonless night.

However, the festival ofDiwalisymbolizes above all, the victory of good over evil.

Its time for a serious question. What makes a happy

traveller truly happy? Is it the touristy spots, the markets,

the local people, the local festivals etc. etc.? I dont think

so. What really does the trick is.wait for itFOOD

and what better place than Amritsar to indulge your taste

buds to their limit.

However if you are a health conscious individual, Amritsari

food is definitely not for you. It seems as if almost each

and every recipe has either one of the following

ingredients..ghee or malaior makhhan. Undoubtedly,

Amritsar offers one of the most delectable cuisines in the

Indian subcontinent. The stuffed kulchas, the lassi, the

sweets, thepuri, the halwa are some of the few eatable

items that should not be missed at any cost. If you are not from Amritsar (like me) be ready to have the

worst stomach issues (still, totally worth it). Over eating is a way of life there and for that very reason,

every time I visited any local dhaba, being a foodie myself, I felt right at home. Its a paradise on earth

for all those who LOVE to eat.

Apart from the fancy turbans and finger-licking delicious fattening food, Amritsar has a lot more to offer.

Starting and ending your trip with a visit to the Golden temple is what I would suggest. It is the holiest

place for the Sikhs throughout the world. When we say the Golden Temple it is not merely symbolic

but literal in its implications because the entire central complex of the golden temple is covered with

solid gold. Trust me no image or picture can ever do justice to its grandeur, you have to see it to believe

it. Then there is the Wagah Border between India and Pakistan, where the most spectacular and

seemingly aggressive retreat ceremony called lowering the flags is held every evening. It will be very

difficult to not be overwhelmed by the patriotic fervor while witnessing that ceremony. Last but not the

least, there is the Jalianwala Bagh. It is the greatest memorial to all those innocent freedom fighters who

laid down their lives for their countrys independence.


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The scale ofDiwalicelebrations is unparalleled by any other festival in India. It is the most important

festival for Hindus throughout the world. The preparations begin almost a month in advance all across

the country, starting primarily with cleaning up of every nook and corner of the house. Excessive &

compulsive shopping for self-consumption & gifting purpose, during a time of heavy festive offers &

discounts, is a trademark feature ofDiwalicelebrations all across the country and Amritsar is nodifferent in this respect. Diwaliis an occasion to exchange gifts with friends and relatives. In the age of

call-centers,Diwaliprovides people with an opportunity to meet all those whom they havent met in a

very long time.

The most integral part of the Diwalicelebrations is the Pooja.Aarti(prayers) is offered to the goddess of

wealth & prosperity Laxmiand also to Lord Rama and Goddess Sita. I couldnt be a part of

the Poojasbecause as mentioned earlier I wasnt at home and as a punishment I received no Diwali.

It was certainly a very different Diwalithan the one I have been used to celebrating all my life. There

wasnt anypooja to be attended or friends and family to visit. There wasnt any house cleaning or

mindless shopping. I ate wherever I wanted to, whatever I wanted to and roamed around in the noisy

streets of an unknown city, all alone amongst strange people, no inhibitions, no bondages, just me with

myself and in those moments I found my little piece of heaven. I wouldnt suggest anyone to follow in

my footsteps and desert your family on such an important day, because I know I am a nutcase, but I

would encourage everyone to travel once in a while to absolute strange places for no reason at all.

Because I read somewhere a long time back To awaken quite alone in a strange town is one of the

pleasantest sensations in the world.

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celebrate india – diwali with yatra.com

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