Diwali

Henry_Weston

Hi, can anyone tell me whether Diwali is celebrated in Kolkata, or is it called something else. Also is it celebrated on the same day as everywhere else. I've tried googling but its all very confusing to a novice.

Thanks

Dale

baba420

Diwali, the festival of lights is celebrated all across the globe the same day, although the dates change every year, in some countries its a official holiday as well

Henry_Weston

Sorry but please don't reply unless you have any usefull information.

Thanks

baba420

what information do you need

Henry_Weston

From what I can gather in Kolkata something called Kali Puja is celebrated. Not neccesarily at the exact same time as Diwali, which I don't think is celebrated at the same time all over the world anyway.

jyotirmoy

Diwali & Kali Puja are often one day apart. Diwali is actually Lakhsmi Puja where as Kali Puja is worshiping of Shakti.
On the eve of Kali Puja Kolkata is wonderfully decorated by light & illumination shows. This is one thing which is unique in its technology & creativity.

Henry_Weston

Thanks for the info, that kind of makes sense of some of the things Ive read. But what about about dates? I've read that early November is when this happens but a friend told me that Diwali was in October this year, or at least in England.

Basically what I'm asking is if I wanted to spend 4 days in Kolkata which would be the best dates to catch all the action.

P.S. Sorry if I was a bit terse yesterday, I was at work and night shifts are my version of hell.

namaste_cat

Dale, Diwali a.k.a. Deepavali, is the same all over the India and also called the same thing. Some people celebrate a "Chhoti Diwali" the day before, in other words, a smaller scale operation as "chhoti" means small.

As for dates, it's based on a lunar calendar, so it doesn't fall on a fixed calendar date. Here's a listing of festivals:
http://www.theholidayspot.com/diwali/calendar.htm
This yr Diwali's on Oct 17. Along w/ Ganesh, his sister Laxmi (Shiva and Parvati's son) is front and center during this time.

In Bengal and some other parts of the country, Kali pooja is also performed either in lieu or or in addition to that for Lakshmi. Houses are decorated and beautiful rangoli is drawn at the entrance of the house in order to welcome the goddess.

From your question it sounds like you're looking perhaps for more public celebrations? If so, Durga Puja which is also early this yr - Sept 25 is the way to go. If you want to see both Diwali and Kali Puja, then go around Oct 17.

Diwali is incredibly noisy and in some places downright obnoxious, in my opinion, In the U.S. for instance on Independence Day, there are fireworks displays but in India as with a lot of things, anything goes so celebrations run the gamut from pretty displays to rockets coming into my parents home (they live in a high-rise bldg). My parents' dogs are nervous wrecks on Diwali, I don't envy them!

Typically Kali pooja begins at midnight, so one option if you want to see this is to visit Kalighat and/or Dakshineswar for this. Unlike Durga Pooja and/or Diwali, it's not a people out on the streets celebration, or at least not to the same extent.

samikbanerjee69

in kolkata it is Kali puja or Shyama puja. Its the puja of the devi shakti(strength). Lighting n CRackers r the main issues here. puja is held at midnight. u can visit hindu burning ghat(Swoshan ghat) at night of the puja to take the fullest essence.
This year it is on 17th oct. kalighat or dakhineshwar will be overcrowded. Avoid them. Visit local places then.

Bengalis have this puja but due to mix cultures spreading throughout u can find people celebrating diwali here also.

The lakshmi puja celebrated on the day is the puja for household people who dedicate their happiness to the goddess 4 showing light to them.


try visiting during the durga puja. it will be more fun than Diwali.

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Henry_Weston

Thanks for all the info. I'm not being rude by not ackowledging your posts, i just havn't decided what I'm doing yet. I'm planning the end of the holiday (Puri) first and will come back to planning Kolkata later.

samikbanerjee69

Nvr mind Enjoy the beaches at Puri... U Can enjoy a Lot there also.. IF u want any Info on Puri Surely tell me.