Kolkata celebrates Diwali in its own unique ways. Unlike the rest of the states in India,Kolkata: Probably The Best City To Celebrate Diwali Articles celebrating Diwali in Kolkata is different. When the rest of the nation worships Goddess Lakshmi, the people in the city worship Goddess Kali – who is the more aggressive incarnation of Goddess Durga. She is generally a goddess who has to feared of rather than revered.
So, visiting the city during the festive season of Diwali is the probably best way that one can celebrate Diwali in not so usual way. Situated in the east bank of the river Hoogly, the city is the capital of West Bengal. It is the heart of the cultural, educational, and commercial domains of east India. The port in the city is the oldest operating port in India and dates backs to the times when Britishers were in control. The city is one of the top historic cities of the nation and is home to some of the iconic architectures in India. The city has a rich and diverse religious and ethnic culture and, it is the drama, art, literature and theatre that has attracted the national and international attention.
Diwali Celebration in Kolkata:
Celebrating Diwali in Kolkata is different in many ways from the Diwali celebrations around the world. The major difference is here, Diwali is associated with Maa Kali. On this day people worship Maa Kali. Lakshmi Puja is celebrated on the day that falls five days after Dussehra, that is on the full moon day. In Kolkata, a day prior to Kali Puja, the tradition called Choddo Baati is followed. On this day people lit up 14 lamps outside this doorways to avert bad luck and all misfortunes. The number 14 is so significant because it represents the years that Lord Rama spent in exile. Here, the Diwali festival stretches to three days and on the night of Amavasya, that is the final day, the celebrations are less. But that doesn’t impacts the excitement and the spirit of Diwali in the city. The first two festival nights are very important as most of the celebration is done in these days. People gather, drink, gamble, and light lamps and diyas in these two days. It is in these two days that people enjoy the most.
If one is on travel to this part of the country during Diwali season, then Diwali celebration in Kolkata is a thing that he can’t miss. Good thing is the being the capital of West Bengal and one of the major cities in India, the city is very connected to all major states of India. Besides that, the city now houses the finest hotels in India. There are both low-cost and sophisticated hotels in Kolkata, providing the travellers more options. The Oberoi Grand, Lytton Hotel, Hotel Taj Bengal, The Peerless Inn, and Hyatt Regency are a few top-rated hotels to name.
Places to visit in Kolkata:
While you are in the city, there are several enthralling and interesting places to visit in Kolkata. A few among them include: Howrah Bridge, Victoria Memorial, Dakshineswar Kali Temple, Marble Palace, Eden Garden, Birla Industrial & Tech Museum, Nicco Park, Fort William, Alipore Zoological Garden, Aquatica, Sundarban, and more.
