Diwali, or Deepawali, is the biggest Hindu festival in India. Diwali and Deepavali or Deepawali are the same terms used for the festival of lights, fraternity, and love. The festival is celebrated almost everywhere in India, and every celebration has its unique style. Hindus and people of other religions, such as Sikhs, Jains, Buddhists, and more, celebrate this festival of good over evil. Diwali is also celebrated outside India, especially in countries where Indians have migrated or where The Indian diaspora is experiencing its highest density. This article has compiled a list of the 13 best ways to celebrate the Diwali festival.
Over the years, the festival has evolved with many unique ways of celebrating, such as organizing light shows, fairs, competitions, and more soul-soothing activities. This is the beauty of Indian festivals: they keep evolving with time without losing their authenticity and uniqueness. In this blog post, the team zingbus has prepared a list of the 13 best ways to celebrate Deepawali 2024.
The List of the 13 Best Ways to Celebrate the Diwali Festival or the Best Things to Do on Deepawali 2024:
#1. Making Rangoli, creating intricate designs on the floor using coloured powders, rice, or flower petals, is a cherished tradition that symbolizes joy and prosperity.
#2. Decorating the house with colourful lights and dias/diyas.
#3. Lighting diyas and candles at night symbolizes the triumph of light over darkness and good over evil. The flames eliminate negativity and welcome positive energies into homes for the purification ritual.
#4. Bursting environment-friendly / eco-friendly firecrackers with kids for Diwali’s celebratory aspect.
#5. Read out loud the legends of Deepawali, especially the Lord Ram, his brother Laxman, and Hanumana.
#6. Organise Goddess Lakshmi and Lord Ganesha puja/pooja for the prosperity and well-being of everyone in the family and the society.
#7. Investing in new clothes, utensils, and other home items.
#8. Make gift cards and exchange gifts with family, friends, and colleagues.
#9. Praying and performing religious rituals at the temple or a home altar.
#10. Playing games and attending community events, many communities organize fairs and cultural programs featuring music, dance, and food stalls, fostering a sense of togetherness.
#11. Cooking and eating many Indian snacks and sweets and preparing unique, savoury dishes are essential for Diwali every year. Popular items that are everyone’s favourite include Gulab Jamun, Laddus, and various other regional specialities.
#12. Applying henna designs on hands and feet is common during Diwali, symbolizing good luck and joy.
#13. Learning the meaning of Diwali’s significance: Elders often share stories about the festival’s origins and significance, helping younger generations understand its cultural roots.
Let’s check things to do on Diwali festival in detail:
1. Making Rangoli and colourful drawings and designs on the floor of your home or its entrance
Rangoli making is an old tradition in Indian history. Many other festivals and events, such as Ram Navami, Navratri or Vijayadashami or Dussehra, Durga Puja, Onam and Pongal, Raksha Bandhan and Janmashtami, and other major festivals of India, like Holi, also include this activity. Every year, people decorate their houses with lights, various kinds of rangolis and different artistic expressions, such as using Diwali stickers on the floors, hanging “Happy Diwali” or “Happy Deepawali” cards on the doors, etc.
The art of making rangoli requires some experience and a little talent. However, these days, one can learn anything and everything by watching online YouTube videos, and the art of making rangoli is no different.
You can get help from online video platforms like YouTube, Twitch, or Vimeo, where thousands of videos can help you learn to make rangoli. If you live in a society, you can organize a rangoli-making competition or such a competition can also be organized amongst family members during the Diwali festival. You can keep a reward for the winner to make the competition more exciting and enjoyable.
One can post pictures and videos of these rangolis on social media platforms and share them with friends. This activity brings family members closer and helps establish new social or neighbourhood relationships.
2. Decorating the house with lights and dias
There are many ways to celebrate the Diwali festival, but the most fun part is decorating every corner of your house with lights and earthen lamps or Diyas and Candles. Ensure you avoid buying low-grade or Chinese LED lights, as they may stop working midway, and you might have to throw them away next year or immediately. As much as possible, buy and use local made-in-India or branded lights and diyas.
During Diwali preparation, it’s a good idea to support the local small businesses and street vendors who sell earthen lamps (diyas), decorations, and other items related to the Deepawali festival. By purchasing from them, you will not only contribute to their livelihood but also promote the idea of sustainability by using eco-friendly materials.
3. Giving gifts and gift cards to your loved ones, neighbours, and colleagues
Who doesn’t love getting gifts or gift cards? Many people celebrate Diwali by distributing gifts, food, and sweets to poor people. Thus, the festival of Diwali also teaches us to be selfless and to share whatever we have with our loved ones and those in extreme need. During Diwali, you, too, can plan on giving something to everybody in your family so that they remember this celebration throughout their lives, and you earn the joy of giving and sharing and how good you feel by giving something to those who need it the most.
The gifting idea is not new in Indian traditions, as even in ancient times, relatives visited each other’s houses during festivals and carried gifts for one another. These days, gifts are also exchanged amongst colleagues at the workplace, and employees get Diwali bonuses from their bosses. You are not alone if you are confused about what to get as a gift. Most people have no idea what to give to their loved ones. Therefore, knowing the other person’s tastes and interests is crucial. Some everyday gifting items include sweets, jewellery, clothes, Lakshmi Ganesh idols, wall hangings, and more. This is one of the ways to celebrate the Diwali festival.
4. Preparing unique dishes
The Diwali festival is undoubtedly incomplete without great food! It brings people together at the table and makes them forget everything, at least for a day. During Diwali preparation, unique cuisines such as Halwa Puri, Chola bhatura, and Shahi Paneer, and sweets such as Gulab jamun, motichoor laddu, besan laddu, etc., are prepared at home. You, too, can prepare something new and unique by getting the recipes online or learning from the Top Indian Food YouTubers‘ videos.
5. Bursting eco-friendly firecrackers
The best way to celebrate the Diwali festival is to enjoy the day with your loved ones and take care of the environment. These days a lot of campaign is going on about the pollution that is created by the celebration of Diwali and the bursting of crackers. However, one can go for green and noiseless crackers available in the market and enjoy the day of Diwali without missing the fun part. Also, to curb pollution, you don’t have to give up on bursting crackers, but you can reduce the quantity and, wherever possible, use eco-friendly fireworks.
6. Read out loud the legends of Deepawali festival
To truly celebrate Diwali, one must understand the meaning and significance of every festival and try to teach those teachings via these festivals. Diwali signifies the victory of good over evil and teaches about a path from darkness to light. During Diwali, discuss the significance of Diwali with your family members and read about the various stories related to this festival. A few legends about Diwali include the return of Lord Rama to Ayodhya, the coming back of Pandavas to Hastinapur, the release of Guru Hargobind Jehangir, the birth of Goddess Lakshmi after Samudra Manthan, etc.
7. Organise Goddess Lakshmi puja and worship the Lord Ganesha for prosperity and well-being
In most of the houses in northern parts of India, Goddess Lakshmi, along with Lord Ganesh, are worshipped together for the prosperity and the well-being of the family members. Being part of the Pooja / Puja makes you forget your tensions and provides peace. It is also a way of carrying on the traditions and customs of our ancestors and being grateful to gods and goddesses for their blessings. The best way to celebrate Deepawali is by embracing the true essence of the festival, which is spreading joy, love, and positivity.
8. Invest in new clothes, utensils, and other home items
Diwali festival is when the market offers excellent discounts on items such as clothes, televisions, fridges, mobile phones, utensils, etc. Deepawali is also celebrated as a new beginning; therefore, buying new items creates a fresh start vibe. These days, online e-commerce websites such as Amazon and Flipkart come with their festive season sales that offer amazing discounts during Diwali.
9. Make gifting cards
We all love giving and getting greeting cards on birthdays or during the New Year celebration. However, how about creating a gift card for your family members on the day of the Diwali festival? As this is the most important day of the Hindu festival of lights when people forget their past and are ready for a new beginning, this must be a perfect time to show your love and concern for them.
You can get ideas from YouTube videos or buy ready-made cards from the shops and write about your feelings about them. When you look back after five or ten years, these memories and experiences will fill you with emotions and love.
10. Playing games like Poker and Rummy and attending community events
During this time, relatives, and friends gather at one particular place to celebrate the Diwali festival, it is also a great time to try your hands with cards and other games. But not many people may know how to play Poker and Teen Patti or Rummy. Thus, you can organize different games, such as musical chairs, guessing movie names, singing competitions, and more.
11. Plan a Diwali Party, In-Person or Virtually
As Diwali 2024 approaches, consider hosting a party to celebrate Diwali with your dear ones. If you can’t meet in person, hosting a virtual Diwali party would make an incredible alternative. Virtual gatherings still help everyone connect with one another and celebrate the festival together, irrespective of the distance.
12. Contribute to the Community
Deepawali isn’t only about family celebrations and an occasion to give back to the community. Many people prefer donating to charities, offering meals to the indigent ones, or supporting a cause that matches the festival’s virtues of prosperity and kindness.
You can consider donating money, food, or clothes to the local enterprises that help the less fortunate. You can also volunteer at a social centre. Contributing to society during the auspicious festival of Diwali can add more value to the celebration and spread happiness beyond your close circle.
13. Set new goals
Deepawali isn’t just about celebrations. It is also a time to brood over the past and establish new goals for the coming year. Several people utilize this time to make positive changes in their lives. If you’re also thinking of taking a break from digital media or need a social media detox time to take control of your mental health, you are free to do so. So, as you celebrate the festival, take time out to concentrate on relationships, spirituality, and digital detox for mental health and personal growth. This little reflection can help bring perspective and balance into your life.
‘Diwali Things-To-Do’ For Kids
You can make Deepawali celebration fun for the kids by keeping them busy with arts & crafts, insightful books, and entertaining games. Below are some activities you can consider for the little ones coming to your home for the celebration.
#1. DIY Diya
Buy earthen clay glitter, sequins, paint, mirrors, and glue, and let children make DIY diyas themselves. When the diyas are ready, fill them with wicks and oil and torch them on the day of Deepawali. It’s among the most enjoyable activities that kids, as well as elders, can consider doing.
#2. Rangoli activity
Take a stencil and draw an easy rangoli design on the floor or paper. Next, ask the children to fill in the lines using the dry colour powder. You could also let them use their creativity to make their distinct rangoli pattern.
#3. Read children’s books
You can read the various children’s books on Deepawali and discuss its importance and how people and other kids celebrate it worldwide.
#4. Light Fireworks
Children also like to light and watch fireworks on the day of Deepawali. You can make them attend beautiful public fireworks displays held at community centres.
#5. For Adults or Grownups
Organize fun activities for adults and share competitive spirits.
Mentioned below are two of zingbus’ favourites:
#a. Dance competition
To cheer up the mood on Diwali, make a playlist comprising famous Bollywood dance numbers and host a dance competition.
#b. Antakshari
This is a famous sing-along game that both kids and adults love. Antakshari is played by creating two groups that compete by singing old and new Bollywood or American songs. However, the rule is to start a song using only the last sound of the competitor team’s previous song or music. This game can also be played virtually with guests who couldn’t attend your Diwali party in person.
Have a Memorable Diwali with the Perfect Diwali Vacation this 2024
The perfect Diwali vacation involves having laddus in one hand and a travel bag in the other. Diwali is undoubtedly among the most widely celebrated Indian festivals. This year, with the festival of lights coming around the weekend, working individuals can plan a fun vacation.
There are numerous places you can choose from; however, to celebrate Deepawali in its truest form, consider visiting Ayodhya.
Ayodhya is the first location that pops into the head for Diwali celebrations, as it is the birthplace of Lord Rama. It also represents Lord Rama, his brother Laxman, and his wife Sita’s fourteen-year exile. In Ayodhya, you will notice genuine delight and happiness. People of Uttar Pradesh burn lanterns and take them to River Sarayu. The city is decked up lavishly with bright-coloured lights and decorations. You will be surprised to be in Ayodhya and witness this scenic view. That is among the significant reasons the city is a famous Diwali vacation spot this year.
So, go ahead and plan a trip to Ayodhya today!
Here are the Top Bus Routes travelled by people to reach Ayodhya – the residence of Lord Rama:
- Delhi to Ayodhya Bus
- Agra to Ayodhya Bus
- Lucknow to Ayodhya Bus
- Gorakhpur to Ayodhya Bus
- Mehandipur Balaji to Ayodhya Bus
- Jaipur to Ayodhya Bus
Also, check out the Top Bus Routes from Ayodhya to elsewhere in India on your safe journey to home:
- Ayodhya to Delhi Bus
- Ayodhya to Mathura Bus
- Ayodhya to Agra Bus
- Ayodhya to Greater Noida Bus
- Ayodhya to Gorakhpur Bus
- Ayodhya to Jaipur Bus
- Ayodhya to Ludhiana Bus
- Ayodhya to Varanasi Bus
- Ayodhya to Jewar Bus
- Ayodhya to Mehandipur Balaji Bus
Let’s Make your travel Safe, Comfortable, and Easy with zingbus
While reading this blog post, have you considered where I would get a cab or taxi and how I would manage the budget for this trip? Well! A road trip can only be made via a car, but that isn’t the only way. India has come very far from that narrow thinking, and many affordable options are available today, like planning your Volvo bus trip and book bus tickets to Ayodhya or anywhere in India with ease.
Taking a bus will cost you far less than renting a car, along with total comfort and fun. zingbus offers you several discounts on your first booking. Also, you may install the zingbus app to take advantage of additional benefits.
Our clean buses offer complete luxury and comfort with free wifi, blankets, security cameras, water bottles, and entertainment/ TV. You can make your booking as per your requirements. Plan a road trip with zingbus. Book bus tickets online now and hop on a journey to celebrate your best Diwali in 2024!
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Frequently asked questions (FAQs) about the Best Ways to Celebrate Deepawali
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