If you are spending the first week of November 2018 in Jaipur, you will, fortunately, be experiencing the biggest Hindu festival of the year - Diwali.
Diwali celebrates the return of Lord Ram after 14 years of exile and victory over the demon king - Ravana. This celebration of victory of good over evil continues till date with people lighting up their homes with earthen lamps, decorating them with colourful Rangoli and bursting crackers through the night. The festival also became synonymous with the worship of Lakshmi, the goddess of wealth, and even today, a lot of business houses start the new page of the accounting books on this auspicious day.
And this year, you can join in the celebrations, and party in style with us!
We bring to you the most traditional yet luxurious Diwali celebrations of Jaipur and invite you to be part of the rich culture and traditions of the Pink City.
#DidYouKnow Diwali is a five day long celebration across the country!
The evening begins with a drive to a gorgeous fort, 25 kms from Jaipur, thus, also away from the bustle of the city - to unwind and enjoy the festivities in a beautiful traditional setup. The fort belongs to one the noble families of the erstwhile Jaipur state, and they invite you to celebrate Diwali with them and be part of the family ceremonies, customs and rituals at the fort. Arrive at the venue to a traditional welcome complete with a vermillion tika (dot on your forehead) and flower garlands. Walk up to the gorgeous entry gates flanked by elephants, beautifully decorated for the festival, waiting to give you a royal welcome to the party!
Fulfil the festive ritual of lighting earthen lamps mounted on an ornate heirloom stand and walk into a courtyard decorated with beautiful fairy-lights, Horse Carriages, old artefacts and colourful rangoli - elaborate patterns painted on the courtyard floor using organic dry colours.
#Don'tForget to try your hand at painting one!
As you take a seat, and take in the beautiful views, the stage across is setup for cultural performances by local musician and dancers.
The evening will see performances by maestros of Rajasthani folk music and dances and we highly recommend getting up, joining in and shaking a leg once the programme starts!
Once the performances are over, the stage will be set up for the puja, or the traditional religious rituals, to be performed by your host family. Interact with the family and the priest and participate to get a closer understanding of what the festival means in the Hindu culture.
#DidYouKnow Hindus worship Laxmi, the goddess of wealth, on Diwali.
No festivities are complete without food and do we have a spread for you!
The lawns of the fort will be set up for a elaborately laid out, traditional Indian, sumptuous buffet. Enjoy a spread of Indian and Rajasthani delicacies prepared by top chefs exclusively for you.
With you belly and heart full, head back to the courtyard, which is now set up for the real celebrations - The Firecrackers! Bring back the child in you and burst away!
We, in the meanwhile, will prepare for the grand finale. A gorgeous display of colourful fireworks lighting up the night sky! Capture these memories in your heart and your camera, to take back home and remind you of the celebration and joy of Diwali!
For more information, write to us at info@thethingstodoinindia.com
