The Festive Season

We are now about to enter the festive season in India. 

From the start of the Navratre until Diwali is our festive season. The dates for the Navratre, Dussehra, and Diwali differ every year, but by and large these festivals fall between September, October and November.  

This is the best time for shopping, for sales, discounts, deals, etc. This is also the season when people will be travelling to meet their families, so it's best to book in advance, as tickets for travel will be expensive. 

Some of these festivals are more popular in some parts of India as opposed to others, but they are all celebrated with vigor and joy across the country. The stories behind these celebrations, and indeed the manner of celebrations are different in different parts of the country, but the theme is the same- universal joy over the triumph of good over evil.

To give you an example on my point regarding the different manner of celebration across India – in the North of India, the Navratre are associated with fasting. However, in Bengal, the Navratre are associated with a feast!

The Navratre or the 9 nights are the prelude to Dussehra. This year they start on the 21st of September and end on the 29th of September.

Dussehra is on Saturday the 30th of September,

 Diwali is on the 19th of October. 

Dhanteras will be celebrated on the 17th of October this year, two days before Diwali. It is the day for cleaning up your house and getting ready for Diwali. So naturally there is shopping!!!

The markets are beautifully decorated and in some places may even stay open till late. Shopping on this day is focused on the home and specially on  buying anything made of metal. Many people buy new utensils for the home on this day. Some buy precious metals such as gold and silver, but the purchase of all metals is considered auspicious.

A word of caution for asthma sufferers, the air in Delhi tends to get quite thick with cracker smoke during this Diwali, so it’s best to be prepared for it with whatever medication you usually use.

Thank you for reading this week’s post. I wish you all a happy and prosperous festive season, and look forward to reading your comments.