Experience Diwali: Celebrate with a Local Indian Family in Jaipur

Diwali is considered one of the world's oldest religious festivals. It signifies victory of light over darkness and good over evil, when Lord Rama defeated the demon king Ravana, and Hindu residents illuminated their village to welcome him home on a moonless night. 

The day before, called Small Diwali, people decorate their homes with clay lamps, or 

diyas. For the Festival of Lights, which occurs on November 7, 2018, it is also considered auspicious to purchase new clothes, offer prayers and light firecrackers.

After hotel pickup in the late afternoon, your guide takes your small group to shop for Indian garments before the celebrations begin. Skip the overcrowded marketplace and head to a specialty shop known for clothing and other sustainable products made by rural artisans who use traditional skills and hand-based processes.

Women can have fun trying on silk cotton saris, skirts and 

dupattas (long scarves) while the men in the group can dress in 

kurtas (long tunics) and 

nehru jackets. Shop assistants can help you decide what to purchase, but you won’t have to bargain since everything has a fixed price.

After shopping, head to the home of a local family and experience a traditional welcome with a beverage. Slip off your shoes to enter their home, where you can learn about Diwali’s history and its associated festivities as you sip chai tea and enjoy light Indian snacks.

Powdered colors are poured on the floor to create intricate designs called 

rangoli, and women and girls can pay to have the palms of their hands decorated with henna in traditional Indian design patterns (see Additional Info for more details).

For dinner, your host family shares an authentic Indian feast of dishes accompanied by rice, Indian bread, salad, curd, pickle and desserts with your Private Trip. When darkness falls, watch a fireworks display illuminate

Jaipur’s skyline and join the celebration as locals light firecrackers in the streets.

Return to your Jaipur satisfied by Indian food and the memories of the joyous occasion.