Diwali is celebrated across India, but the experience can be very different from one destination to another.
Some places are known for illuminated ghats and spiritual rituals, while others bring lively markets, regional traditions, spectacular decorations or a quieter festive escape.
If you’re wondering where to celebrate Diwali in India, this guide brings together 10 destinations that offer distinctly different ways to experience the festival.
From Varanasi’s glowing riverfront and Jaipur’s vibrant celebrations to Goa’s Narakasura tradition and Amritsar’s Bandi Chhor Divas, each destination has its own character.
Whether you want a deeply traditional celebration, a lively city experience, a regional festival or a peaceful break away from the crowds, you’ll find an option to suit your style of travel.
Here’s where to experience Diwali in India and what makes each destination worth considering.
Varanasi — Diwali on the Ghats
If you want a Diwali that feels deeply spiritual, Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh offers a celebration shaped by the Ganges, illuminated ghats and centuries-old rituals.
As evening falls, diyas glow along the riverfront while prayers and ceremonies create a festive atmosphere.
This feels distinctly different from a typical city celebration. A boat ride on the Ganges offers another way to take in the illuminated ghats and temples from the water.
Varanasi is a good choice if you want your Diwali to focus on spirituality, tradition and the visual spectacle of the riverfront rather than parties or large-scale entertainment.
What to Experience in Varanasi During Diwali:
✅ See the ghats illuminated after sunset: Head to the riverfront to see rows of diyas lighting up the steps, temples and buildings along the Ganges.
✅ Experience the Ganga Aarti: Watch the evening ceremony at the ghats and experience the prayers, lamps and rituals that take on an added festive atmosphere during Diwali.
✅ Take a boat ride after dark: See the illuminated riverfront from the Ganges and get a different perspective of the city’s Diwali celebrations.
✅ Light or float a diya on the Ganges: Take part in a traditional Diwali ritual and watch the small lamps drift across the water.
✅ Extend your trip for Dev Deepawali: If your schedule allows, stay in Varanasi for Dev Deepawali on Kartik Purnima, when the ghats are illuminated with thousands of diyas for a separate and particularly striking festival celebration.
Jaipur — Diwali in the Pink City
Jaipur in Rajasthan turns Diwali into a dazzling citywide celebration, with streets, markets and heritage buildings.
The Pink City feels especially lively during the festival, as locals shop for gifts, sweets, decorations and traditional items while markets come alive with festive lights.
If you enjoy colourful celebrations, busy bazaars and plenty of Diwali energy, Jaipur offers a very different experience from the spiritual atmosphere of Varanasi.
And if shopping is part of your Diwali plans, our guide to Diwali shopping in Jaipur can help you explore the city’s festive markets.
What to Experience in Jaipur During Diwali:
✅ See the Pink City illuminated after dark: Walk through the decorated streets and markets to experience Jaipur’s festive transformation after sunset.
✅ Explore the Diwali markets: Visit Jaipur’s bustling bazaars as locals shop for diyas, decorations, gifts, sweets and traditional items before the festival.
✅ Admire the festive light displays: Look out for the elaborate decorations and illuminated heritage buildings that give Jaipur its distinctive Diwali atmosphere.
✅ Enjoy traditional Diwali sweets: Try festive favourites such as ghewar, laddoo and other sweets prepared for the celebration.
Udaipur — Diwali by the Lakes
Udaipur takes on a magical glow during Diwali, when palaces, ghats and streets around its lakes shimmer with festive lights and diyas.
The city’s heritage architecture provides a beautiful backdrop, but it is the lakes that make the celebration feel special.
As evening falls, illuminated palaces and buildings reflect across Lake Pichola, creating a more atmospheric Diwali experience than the bustling energy of Jaipur.
Choose Udaipur if you want your festival celebration to combine traditional festivities with lakeside beauty and a touch of old-world grandeur.
If you’re planning to stay overnight, our guide to the best hotels in Udaipur can help you choose the right base for your Diwali trip.
What to Experience in Udaipur During Diwali:
✅ See the City Palace illuminated: Admire the palace glowing after dark as part of Udaipur’s festive atmosphere.
✅ Take an evening boat ride on Lake Pichola: See illuminated palaces, ghats and buildings reflected across the water after sunset.
✅ Explore the city’s Diwali markets: Shop at Udaipur’s local markets and malls for diyas, decorations, gifts, sweets and traditional Rajasthani items.
✅ Enjoy festive sweets and local treats: Sample Diwali favourites while exploring Udaipur’s illuminated streets and lakeside areas.
Kolkata — Diwali as Kali Puja
Kolkata experiences Diwali differently, with Kali Puja taking centre stage on the same night as the festival of lights.
As darkness falls, neighbourhood pandals, temples and homes come alive with illuminated decorations, devotional rituals and celebrations dedicated to Goddess Kali.
The midnight worship and distinctive atmosphere make Kolkata particularly interesting for travellers who want to experience a regional Diwali tradition rather than a conventional celebration of lights and Lakshmi Puja.
Add Bengali sweets and festive food to the experience, and Kolkata offers a Diwali night with a character all its own.
If you’re planning to stay for the celebrations, our guide to the best hotels in Kolkata can help you find a convenient base for exploring the city.
What to Experience in Kolkata During Diwali:
✅ Visit Kali Puja pandals: Explore elaborately decorated neighbourhood pandals and see distinctive artistic displays and devotional atmosphere surrounding Kali Puja.
✅ Experience the midnight worship: Kali Puja is traditionally observed around midnight, giving Kolkata’s Diwali celebrations a distinctly different rhythm.
✅ Visit a Kali temple: Experience the devotional side of the festival at a temple such as Dakshineswar Kali Temple or Kalighat Temple.
✅ Taste Bengali festive sweets: Try favourites such as sandesh, mishti doi and other Bengali sweets while exploring the city during the festival.
✅ See Kolkata illuminated after dark: Take in the diyas, lights and festive decorations as Kali Puja and Diwali celebrations unfold across the city.
Ahmedabad — Diwali & Bestu Varas
Ahmedabad celebrates Diwali with glowing streets, intricate rangoli, illuminated homes and the warmth of Gujarati traditions.
The festivities take on added significance here because Diwali marks the end of the Gujarati year, followed by Bestu Varas, the Gujarati New Year.
Markets become lively with festive shopping, homes are decorated with diyas and sweets are exchanged, while the celebrations continue into the New Year.
Choose Ahmedabad if you want to experience Diwali alongside the distinctive customs and cheerful atmosphere of a Gujarati New Year.
What to Experience in Ahmedabad During Diwali:
✅ Admire Diwali lights and rangoli: See homes, neighbourhoods and streets decorated with diyas, lanterns and colourful rangoli during the festival.
✅ Explore the Diwali markets: Shop for festive decorations, diyas, gifts, sweets and traditional items as Ahmedabad’s markets take on a lively pre-Diwali atmosphere.
✅ Taste Gujarati festive favourites: Enjoy treats such as fafda, jalebi and other sweets and snacks associated with the Diwali and New Year celebrations.
✅ Celebrate Bestu Varas: Experience Gujarat’s New Year the day after Diwali, when families traditionally welcome the new year with celebrations, visits and festive greetings.
Pune — A Traditional Maharashtrian Diwali
Pune offers a distinctly Maharashtrian Diwali, with homes and streets decorated with colourful akash kandil lanterns and the aroma of homemade faral filling the air.
Traditional rituals remain an important part of the celebration, while markets such as Laxmi Road and Tulsi Baug become especially lively with festive shopping.
Choose Pune if you want to experience Diwali through Maharashtrian food, decorations, family traditions and the energy of a city celebrating one of its biggest festivals.
What to Experience in Pune During Diwali:
✅ See the akash kandil decorations: Admire the colourful lanterns displayed outside homes, shops and neighbourhoods across Pune during Diwali.
✅ Taste traditional Diwali faral: Try Maharashtrian festive favourites such as chakli, karanji, chivda and ladoo prepared for the festival.
✅ Explore the Diwali markets: Visit Laxmi Road and Tulsi Baug for festive shopping, decorations, sweets, gifts and traditional items.
✅ Experience traditional Diwali rituals: Observe Lakshmi Puja and other customs that form an important part of Diwali celebrations in Maharashtrian homes.
Goa — Diwali and the Narakasura Tradition
Diwali in Goa begins with one of the festival’s most distinctive traditions: the creation and burning of Narakasura effigies on the eve of Diwali.
Across towns and villages, elaborate figures are displayed before being paraded and burned as part of Naraka Chaturdashi celebrations.
Homes and streets are decorated with lamps and lanterns, while families prepare traditional sweets and savouries for the festival.
Choose Goa if you want to experience a distinctly Goan Diwali tradition alongside the relaxed atmosphere of a coastal holiday.
If you’re turning your Diwali trip into a longer Goa holiday, our guide to the best hotels in Goa can help you choose where to stay.
What to Experience in Goa During Diwali:
✅ See the Narakasura effigies: Look out for the elaborate figures created for Naraka Chaturdashi and displayed across Goa before the evening celebrations.
✅ Watch the Narakasura effigy burning: Experience the traditional ritual on the eve of Diwali, marking the victory of good over evil.
✅ See Goa’s festive decorations: Explore towns and neighbourhoods decorated with lamps, lanterns and colourful displays during the festival.
✅ Taste traditional Goan Diwali treats: Try festive sweets and savouries prepared in Goan homes as families celebrate the festival.
Mysuru — A Traditional South Indian Diwali
Mysuru offers a quieter take on Diwali, with homes and neighbourhoods decorated with lamps and rangoli as families celebrate with traditional food, sweets and rituals.
The festival brings a distinctly South Indian flavour to the city, with Mysuru Pak among the treats worth trying during the celebrations.
Choose Mysuru if you want to experience Diwali through local traditions and festive food rather than the large-scale spectacle of cities such as Jaipur or Varanasi.
What to Experience in Mysuru During Diwali:
✅ See festive homes and neighbourhoods: Look for traditional lamps, rangoli and Diwali decorations as the city celebrates the festival.
✅ Taste Mysuru Pak and festive sweets: Try the city’s famous sweet alongside other treats prepared for Diwali.
✅ Explore Devaraja Market: Experience the market’s festive atmosphere while browsing sweets, flowers, decorations and seasonal items.
✅ Experience local Diwali traditions: Observe how families in Mysuru celebrate through prayers, festive food and traditional customs.
Kodaikanal — A Quiet Diwali in the Hills
If crowded markets, elaborate decorations and late-night celebrations aren’t your idea of a Diwali break, Kodaikanal offers a quieter alternative.
The hill station’s cool weather, misty valleys and peaceful surroundings.
This provides a chance to slow down during the festival and spend time away from the bustle of India’s larger Diwali celebrations.
Choose Kodaikanal for a relaxed holiday where the hills, scenic walks and unhurried pace become part of your Diwali experience.
If you’re planning a peaceful Diwali getaway, our guide to the best hotels near Kodaikanal Lake can help you choose a convenient place to stay.
What to Experience in Kodaikanal During Diwali:
✅ Enjoy a quieter Diwali: Spend the festival away from crowded city celebrations and enjoy Kodaikanal’s peaceful hill-station atmosphere.
✅ Take scenic walks: Explore the lakeside and surrounding trails when the weather is pleasant, enjoying the hills at an unhurried pace.
✅ Enjoy a festive meal: Settle into a relaxed Diwali meal and sample local sweets and treats during your stay.
Amritsar — Diwali and Bandi Chhor Divas
Diwali takes on a distinctive meaning in Amritsar, where the festival coincides with Bandi Chhor Divas, commemorating the return of Guru Hargobind Sahib to Amritsar after his release from Gwalior Fort.
The Golden Temple becomes the heart of the celebrations, illuminated with countless lamps as devotees gather for prayers and kirtan.
Choose Amritsar if you want to experience Diwali through Sikh history, devotion and the spectacular sight of the illuminated Harmandir Sahib rather than a conventional citywide festival of lights.
What to Experience in Amritsar During Diwali:
✅ See the Golden Temple illuminated: Visit Sri Harmandir Sahib after dark to see the temple and surrounding Amrit Sarovar illuminated with diyas during the festival.
✅ Experience Bandi Chhor Divas: Learn about the Sikh tradition commemorated alongside Diwali and experience the festival’s distinctive spiritual atmosphere in Amritsar.
✅ Listen to devotional kirtan: Spend time at the Golden Temple complex and experience the devotional hymns that form an important part of the celebrations.
✅ Experience the festive atmosphere around the Golden Temple: Take in the illuminated complex, the gathering of devotees and the distinctive atmosphere that makes Diwali in Amritsar different from celebrations elsewhere in India.
FAQs on Where to Celebrate Diwali in India
The best place depends on the kind of Diwali experience you want. Varanasi offers a spiritual celebration along the ghats, Jaipur brings vibrant lights and busy markets, while Udaipur combines festive traditions with lakeside beauty. Kolkata, Ahmedabad, Pune, Goa, Mysuru, Kodaikanal and Amritsar each offer a different regional experience, so choose a destination that matches the kind of celebration you want.
Several Indian cities are known for distinctive Diwali celebrations, including Varanasi, Jaipur, Udaipur, Kolkata and Amritsar. Each has its own character, from illuminated ghats and palaces to Kali Puja and Bandi Chhor Divas. Rather than one city being the definitive choice, the experience varies depending on what you want from your Diwali trip.
There is no single answer because Diwali is celebrated differently across India. Choose Varanasi for a spiritual experience, Jaipur for a lively city celebration, Goa for its Narakasura tradition, Ahmedabad for Diwali and Bestu Varas, or Amritsar for Diwali alongside Bandi Chhor Divas. The right destination depends on the kind of festival experience you want.
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Celebrate Diwali Your Way
Diwali is one of India’s most widely celebrated festivals, but there is no single way to experience it. From the illuminated ghats of Varanasi and the vibrant streets of Jaipur to the traditions of Goa and Amritsar, each destination brings its own character to the festival.
The best destination for your Diwali depends on what you want from the celebration. Choose a place that matches your interests, whether that means spirituality, regional traditions, festive food, lively streets or simply a peaceful break from the crowds.
Wherever you decide to celebrate, travelling during Diwali gives you a chance to experience one of India’s biggest festivals through the traditions and character of a different part of the country.
2 comments
The Golden Temple looks magical. These all seem like great ways to celebrate. Regardless of how you embrace the holiday, there seems to be a place to go.
Yeah, it surely does, Dan. It has a very holy serene vibe to it.