Delhi (2 nights) - Jaipur (2 nights) - Galta - Abhaneri - Agra (2 nights) - Gwalior - Orchha (1 night) - Khajuraho (2 nights) - Raneh Fall - Delhi
A unique program that runs through the states of northern and central India introduces not only historical and architectural monuments, but also the culture, traditions, holidays and spiritual life of Great India.
As well as a visit to the unique temple complex “KAJURAHO”. Khajuraho is one of the few places in India included in the UNESCO World Heritage List. This village has become famous throughout the world for the erotic sculptures that decorate local temples. It is perhaps impossible to find another place on earth where life in all its manifestations is celebrated with such joy and talent.
A special highlight of this program is the holiday of Diwali or Deepavali, which in Sanskrit means “bunch of fire” - a festival of lights celebrated everywhere in India and symbolizing the victory of light over darkness, good over evil. The main theme of the festival decorations is glowing lanterns, lights, fireworks and lit candles decorating statues of animals and gods.
Duration of the tour: 9 days / 8 nights
Tour dates:Tour program:
Day 00. Delhi
Meeting at the airport, transfer to the hotel, accommodation, rest.
Delhi the capital of India is the third largest city in the world with a population of about 15 million people. Its strategic location at the crossroads played a key role in the country's history; Many empires arose here. Monuments of the past are found throughout the city and are often adjacent to skyscraper towers.
Night in Delhi.
Day 01. Delhi
Tour of the Indian capital
Overview: Red Fort, Friday Jama Masjid, Chandni Chowk and Mahatma Gandhi Memorial Park, India Gate, Parliament Building and Presidential Palace. Visit: the unique step wells of Agrasen, which supplied the city with water in ancient times, as well as the Dhobi Ghat laundry, where they still wash according to the old method, the Hindu temple of Lakshmi Narayan, Sika Gurudwara Bangla Sahib.
Visit to a tea shop where a wide range of teas are available High Quality from all over India.
Night in Delhi.
Day 02. Delhi - Jaipur
Continuation of the excursion around Delhi: Visiting: Akshardham Temple - the largest and richest Hindu temple in India, the snow-white Lotus Temple - which under its dome gathers believers of different religions, the Qutub Minar minaret and the famous stainless column.
Transfer to the city of “One Thousand and One Nights” Jaipur (275 km), here the flavor of the Middle Ages has been preserved to this day, palaces, colorful bazaars, ancient temples recreate a vivid picture of the rich historical past, and the architectural ensemble of buildings Pink colour The old city is emphasized by its second name as the “pink city”.
Colorful in the evening dinner with national dances.
Night in Jaipur.
Day 03. Jaipur
Visit the majestic Amber Fort, rising on a high hill, which for a long time served as a citadel and palace of the literary dynasty of the Maharajas. Here the rulers lived in the luxury of palaces among mirrored halls, lush gardens and spent their time in pleasures and entertainment. The rulers rode elephants and carried colorful palanquins to the fort. The elephant is the symbol of princely India; everyone who arrives here will have the opportunity to climb to the fort riding an elephant, feeling like a great ruler for some time.
A visit to the luxurious Kanak Garden park complex, now a favorite place for filming music and dance numbers for Bollywood, where you can try on National costumes and take a photo for memory.
Sightseeing tour of the Pink City: the “water palace” Jal Mahal, Hawa Mahal (Palace of the Winds) which was intended for the women of the princely harem, the white marble temple of Lakshmi Narayan, a visit to the pompous halls and museums of the City Palace, in which the princely wife lives to this day family of maharajas.
Textile, souvenir and jewelry stores.
Diwali Night: This evening the sky will be lit up with thousands of lights and fireworks. The air will be shaken by the explosions of rockets, firecrackers and firecrackers.
Night in Jaipur.
Day 04. Jaipur – Galta – Abhaneri – Agra
Visit to the picturesque Galta temple complex, where there are sacred, healing springs located in the gorge of the mountains and ancient temples that are famous for their frescoes. These places have become a haven for monkeys, who are very friendly towards parishioners and can be fed directly from your hands.
Moving to Abhaneri(80 km) Visit the village of Abhaneri, which houses the world famous step well, which was built in the 9th century by a local ruler. Chand Baori is an incredibly beautiful square stone structure with 13 floors connected by symmetrical steps that lead to the bottom of a 20-meter well.
Moving to Agra(160 km). The legendary city, the capital of the Mughals, which gained worldwide fame thanks to the architectural masterpiece of the mausoleum Taj Mahal. Arrival in Agra. Hotel accommodation. Rest.
Night in Agra.
Day 05. Agra
Visit to the legendary Red Fort, which for a long time served as the residence of the Great Emperors, the tomb of Bibi - Taj and the tomb of the Great Emperor Akbar in Sikandra.
In the evening, if desired, attend a theatrical performance, this is a spectacular story about the creation of the Taj Mahal, with traditional songs and dances.
Night in Agra.
Day 06. Agra – Gwalior – Orchha
Early morning visit to the eighth wonder of the world, the white marble mausoleum Taj Mahal, one of the most famous buildings in the world, dedicated to the great power of love that lives forever through the centuries.
Transfer to Gwalior (110 km). Inspection of the majestic Gwalior fort Situated on top of a hundred-meter-high hill of sandstone and basalt, its imposing walls with bastions shelter remarkable palace and temple buildings. A special decoration of the fort are the Jain caves with giant sculptures.
Transfer to Orchha (120 km). A small town on the banks of a picturesque river with a rich historical past. After all, once upon a time, here was the capital of the principality of Bundelkhand, centuries-old history has preserved to this day the memory of the times of greatness and splendor. Arrival in Orchha. Hotel accommodation.
Night in Orchha.
Day 07. Orchha – Khajuraho
Inspection of the palace and temple sights of Orchha. Orchha has a medieval atmosphere. The Betwa River flows peacefully past 16th-century palaces and temples that appear frozen in time. Visit Orchha Fort, Jahangir Mahal, Raj Mahal and Ram Raj Temple.
Moving to Khajuraho(175 km). A world-famous village where there are Kama Sutra temples depicting sexual poses and erotic scenes from human life. Khajuraho is a symbol of erotic sculpture, which is presented here in a variety of forms and graceful execution.
Hotel accommodation.
In the evening, optional visit to the cultural program Dances of India.
Night in Khajuraho.
Day 08. Khajuraho - Panna National Park
Safari to Panna National Park (50 km), where you will touch the world of Indian wildlife: herds of deer, leopards, crocodiles, peacocks, monkeys and the spectacular Pandav waterfall. Return to Khajuraho.
Inspection of ancient temple complexes, famous for their erotic sculptural compositions from the treatise on love Kama Sutra, scenes on the walls of temples reflect sensitive moments of sexual life and are a visual guide to the world of eroticism and love relationships.
In the evening, optional visit to the light and music show of the temples of Khajuraho.
Night in Khajuraho.
Day 09. Khajuraho – Raneh Fall – Delhi
Excursion to Raneh Fal Canyon(20 km), amazing waterfalls and a canyon in the crater of an extinct volcano, which are located in pristine wild jungle, this is where the world famous film Kama Sutra was filmed.
Transfer to Jhansi railway station and transfer by train to Delhi, in an air-conditioned carriage. Arrival in Delhi at 23.30
Completion of the program and transfer to the airport.
Departure from Delhi in the morning of November 14, 2018.
Cost per person in US dollars:
Hotels according to the program:
Delhi: sk pemium, park hotel anila
Agra: taj vilas, howard plaza - the fern
Jaipur: paradise
Orchha: amar mahal palace - palace, raj mahal - palace
Khajuraho: clarks khajuraho
* or equivalent
Included in cost
- Transfers along the entire route in comfortable air-conditioned vehicles.
- Mineral water in the car, 1 bottle per person per day.
- Accommodation in hotels with breakfast and dinner for double occupancy.
- A Russian-speaking guide will accompany you along the entire route.
- Dinner with national dances in Jaipur.
- A set of sparklers for the DIWALI holiday.
- Gift from the company.
- Jhansi-Delhi train tickets (air-conditioned coach class).
- All taxes and fees.
Not included in price
- International air travel
- Honey. insurance ($1 per day per person)
- Lunches.
- Entrance fees to museums, elephant rides in Jaipur, monuments, parks, safaris, show programs.
- The right to take photos and videos, mandatory tips for porters, guides, and drivers.
- Other personal expenses.
- Everything that is not listed in the “tour price included” section.
Diwali holiday
Diwali(Diwali, Deepavali) - the festival of lights, one of the most important holidays in India, symbolizing the triumph of good, the victory of all that is bright and kind over the dark and cruel. Celebrated at the beginning of the month of Kartik (October-November) for five days.
Diwali- this is the dispersal of the forces of ignorance through the invocation of the forces of light, the blessings of the goddess Lakshmi. On the day of Diwali goes all out a large number of mandalas made of oil lamps, candles, light bulbs.
In a day Diwali In Divya Loka, a large offering and Havan are held, dedicated to invoking the energies of the goddess Lakshmi and Dattatreya.
The meaning of Diwali associated with the Indian epic, thanks to which this holiday arose.
On this day, Prince Rama returned to his hometown of Ayodhya after 14 years of exile. All the residents of the city lit ghee lamps as a sign of this joyful event, so the festival was called Deepavali or Diwali, which means “a row of lit lamps.”
Another legend says that two months before this holiday, the gates of hell and heaven open, and the souls of ancestors come to earth to see their relatives. To calm the souls of ancestors, one should keep a strict fast for a month. During this month, various rituals are performed and donations are given out.
People remember their deceased relatives and donate to the poor things that the deceased cared about: food, clothing, jewelry, books and more. This is done so that the souls of the deceased find peace. These days are called "Sharadh" in Hindi.
The tenth day of Navratri is called Dashera or Vijyadashmi. On this day, the victory of Rama over the demon Ravana is celebrated, and ceremonies of veneration of weapons are held. In India, throughout the ten days of Navratri celebrations, theatrical performances based on the plot of the Ramayana are held. On the last day, huge effigies of Ravana are burned (they can be 60 to 100 meters high). Inside they are firecrackers, which explode when the effigy is burned, which symbolizes the victory of good over evil.
Diwali begins 20 days after Dussehra. People wait for this holiday throughout the year. Preparations for Diwali celebrations begin immediately after Dussehra ends. Temporary stalls are set up at the bazaar to sell sweets, firecrackers, decorative fabrics and tableware. On the eve of Diwali, it is necessary to carry out general cleaning of the house, wash clothes, and make repairs. These days, repairs cost two or three times more than usual. All the streets are brightly decorated, large shops selling figurines of God Ganesha and Goddess Lakshmi are crowded with customers.
The two days before Diwali are also considered holidays, the first day being called Dhanteras. At this time, Ganesha destroyed the demon Dhanasura, who was robbing people. On these days, you should wash and clean the places where food is stored and remove garbage.
The next day is the festival of Narak Chodas. On this day, god Shiva defeated Narkasur (a demon who encouraged people to commit sins). This day is also known as Chhoti Diwali or Small Diwali. On this day, people decorate their doors with mango leaves and flowers. A “rangoli” (an ornament made with colored powder or paints) is painted above the entrance.
In the evening, after a short religious ceremony, statues of Lord Ganesh and Goddess Lakshmi are installed in the house. Sweets, flowers, and incense are offered to the gods. After this, lamps are lit throughout the house. They do this so that Goddess Lakshmi can visit any place in the house. Metal utensils (a symbol of prosperity) are also purchased on this day. Offering gifts to friends and relatives is an integral feature of this day.
The next day is the long-awaited one Diwali. During Diwali, traders and businessmen usually start new books of accounts so that Goddess Lakshmi bless their business. In the evening, they perform puja, after which they play “kodi” (fortune telling using a conch). The elders bless the younger ones, and the whole family gathers for a festive dinner.
Late in the evening, when it is completely dark, fireworks are displayed. Candles and lamps burn in the houses all night. It is believed that the light from fireworks helps the souls of ancestors find their way to heaven.
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The Diwali festival traditionally lasts for five days, and each day is dedicated to honoring a specific god or goddess. First day Diwali is called Dhanvantari Trayodashi. Diwali is a festival of not only lights, but also gifts. In India, no other day of the year gives as many gifts as Diwali. On this day, merchants organize sales, and store shelves are empty in the blink of an eye. They say the reason for this is that Diwali is dedicated to the goddess of prosperity Lakshmi and is therefore associated with wealth and prosperity. On this day it is customary to go on a spree and squander money. However, spending money on yourself is considered bad manners - so you need to buy gifts and give gifts to everyone you know. On Diwali, it is customary to treat each other (including neighbors, or even everyone you meet) with sweets and thus express your love and affection. Thus, Diwali becomes a festival of joy and loving exchange. Some special gifts that are popular during the festival are coins with images of Lakshmi and Ganesha, Deities and worship items |
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Diwali (or Deepavali) is the main and, perhaps, brightest holiday in India. “Deepa” is translated as “fire”, “lamp”. And "vali" means "a lot." Thus, the name of the holiday can be translated from Sanskrit as “bunch of fire.” It’s not for nothing that the holiday is also called the Festival of Lights. The history of Diwali celebrations dates back more than 7,000 years.
Now that Indian culture is loved by many far beyond the borders of India, it would be useful to learn about the history and traditions of the main Indian holiday, Diwali. So, let's plunge into the deep and colorful world of Indian culture.
Diwali 2016 – what date?
Did you know that India has its own calendar, which differs from the Gregorian calendar we are used to? It is used to calculate the date of Diwali celebration. However, this calendar is rarely used in social life. So, in the Indian calendar there is a month called Kartika, and it is at the beginning of this month (on the new moon) that Diwali is celebrated. The 2016 Indian Festival of Lights begins on October 30th. And in other years the holiday falls on a different date:
In 2017 - November 18
In 2018 - November 7
In 2019 - October 27
In 2020 - November 14
After you read about the spiritual traditions and boundless beauty of Diwali, you may need these dates to plan your trip to India and see it for yourself. By the way, you can enjoy the extravaganza of fire and light on Diwali for five whole days - that’s how long Indians celebrate their main holiday.
The meaning and history of Diwali
For all Indian peoples, the Festival of Lights is of great importance despite the fact that they explain the origin of Diwali in different ways.
Followers of Vaishnavism It is believed that the beginning of the holiday was marked by the return from exile and the ascension to the royal throne of Rama, the seventh incarnation of the god Vishnu. After the coronation, all the streets of the country were illuminated with lights as a sign of the beginning of a new, bright time.
For many parts of India, Diwali marks the beginning of the New Year. For example, traders from Western India Before this holiday, they sum up the results of their activities: they clean the shops and put the account books in order.
And on East of the country Diwali is dedicated to the dark and furious goddess Kali, who symbolizes the cult of strength and destruction. However, Kali also carries a lot of constructive things: she fights ignorance, maintains order in the world, and accompanies those who seek to know God.
On South of India The festival of lights celebrates Krishna's victory over the demon Narakasura. As a sign of the victory of good over evil, Indians rub their bodies with special oil, often coconut oil. This ceremony is equivalent to immersion in the sacred waters of the Ganges and cleanses people from sins.
However most Indians dedicates Diwali to the goddess of wealth and fertility Lakshmi - the wife of the god Vinshnu. Lakshmi is the goddess of purity and light, so before Diwali, Indians carefully clean their houses and light all the lamps.
Even Muslims in India celebrate Diwali: they (but not only them) play cards, dice and other games of chance, because the goddess Lakshmi brings good luck.
The Diwali holiday is very kind and colorful, with a rich history. It has spread far beyond India - to Sri Lanka, Thailand, Nepal, Myanmar, Japan and other countries. The Festival of Lights has become widespread even in Western countries. For example, the video below shows Diwali celebrations in Canada.
Traditions of the Indian holiday Diwali
Whatever history the origin of Diwali is associated with, hardly anyone will argue that the Festival of Lights is a celebration of the victory of good over evil, truth over lies and light over darkness. This is a celebration of the victory of enlightenment, which Indians have always associated with light.
Diwali traditions have a special, spiritual meaning. As mentioned above, Indian residents take care of the cleanliness of their home and body before the holiday. Thoughts must also be pure. Meditation practices help renew the body and mind.
During the Festival of Lights in India, it is customary to abstain from the five main vices: passion, anger, greed, attachment and selfishness. This is a time to cleanse not only the body and thoughts, but also actions. Diwali is also a time to pay bills, both financial and karmic.
The countless lights that decorate homes on Diwali symbolize the light of the mind. Special clay lamps (diyas) are placed in homes, which represent the five attributes of the Universe - fire and water, earth and air, and space. The fire of the lamp symbolizes the soul. The oil of the lamp signifies spiritual enlightenment. Keep the diya fire always burning – be always aware:
“I am the light, always connected with the Highest Light.”
Big cities glow with illumination lights. Everything shines: trees, statues of gods, walls of houses, and terraces. Electrical garlands are hung everywhere and clay lamps are placed. The noise of sparklers and fireworks can be heard all around. Small villages are illuminated by the flames of many candle wicks that float in ponds and flutter on the roofs of huts.
Not only lights are an integral part of Diwali, but flowers too. For example, garlands of calendula and other flowers are also a symbol of Diwali. Houses and streets are decorated with flower petals.
Colorful prayer drawings called rangoli are also an element of the Festival of Lights in India. They can be made of flowers or wood, but more often they are painted using special loose paints. Rangoli are placed on the external walls of houses and especially at the front door. Rangoli is a way to attract Goddess Lakshmi.
At sunrise, when men are still sleeping, women take powder paint in their hands and, passing it in streams between their fingers, with light, subtle movements, quickly and accurately create a subtle and complex ornament on the floor or ground. Sometimes the ornaments are one-color, but more often they are two or three colors.
Diwali is a festival of renewal. Before the Festival of Lights, people throw away old things and buy new ones. And on the holiday itself, people dress up in new clothes and new jewelry.
A sari with golden patterns symbolizes the Golden Age - an age of pure light and harmony. Old clothes should be thrown away as a reminder of the Iron Age, which must end and give way to renewal.
During the Festival of Lights in India, people give each other gifts, especially sweets. Gift exchange is an important part of Indian spiritual tradition. The Indian saint Srila Rupa Goswami wrote:
“Bringing gifts and accepting gifts, confiding in one’s thoughts and asking about the secret, accepting prasadam and treating oneself to prasadam—these are the six manifestations of the love that devotees feel for each other.”
Diwali is a celebration of goodness, light, purity, truth and consciousness. This is not just a bright Festival of Lights and a colorful spectacle, it is a holiday with deep spiritual traditions. During the celebration of Diwali, Indians can truly feel the warmth and devotion of loved ones, give and receive pleasant gifts, share wisdom and, of course, treat each other with prasad.
Best Diwali Photos
A little Indian girl is surrounded by garlands, the color of which resembles fire.
The girls are holding a tray with special lamps called earth lamps. On the eve of Diwali, they are installed on the ground so that the lights form a symbolic ornament or design.
The next photo shows the Hindu god of prosperity - Ganesha. The drawing was made using the same earthen lamps discussed above. The inscription below the god's image reads "Happy Diwali" in Hindi.
Elderly women gathered around oil lamps called diyas to celebrate Diwali.
Indians light candles during the Festival of Lights outside the New Delhi Temple.
To celebrate Diwali, a woman decorates the threshold of her home with colorful designs and earthen lamps.
A girl lights candles before the Festival of Lights in the northern Indian city of Allahabad.
A homeless elderly Indian man gets ready for bed right on the street, surrounded by candles that a local merchant lit in front of his shop on the eve of Diwali.
After all, we are planning a similar holiday soon :) By the way, in India, in 2011, the New Year’s Fire Festival is celebrated on October 26th.
Fire festival in India is called Diwali, or Deepavali. The main attribute, the symbol of the holiday, is the same everywhere - an ancient oil lamp made of clay, called “dia” or “dipa”. From him he got his name Diwali, or Deepavali (Dipa - fire), which translated from Sanskrit means “ fiery bunch», « row of lights" This day is also called the Holiday and Festival of Lights. By the way, we have already encountered one unusual Indian holiday - the elephant festival in India. But let's not get distracted and continue.
Diwali is one of the ancient holidays and has been celebrated for over 7,000 years. This vibrant holiday is known not only in India, but also abroad - in Japan, Sri Lanka, Mauritius, Thailand, Nepal, Myanmar (Burma). That is, more than a billion people in India and not only celebrate the Diwali festival with pleasure. With its special atmosphere of carefree fun and anticipation of desires coming true, it resembles our New Year. By tradition, Diwali is also a new year according to the Hindu calendar, tied to the lunar cycle (for some areas of the country).
During the holiday, a number of traditions are observed everywhere - Hindus wear new clothes (previously, the owners threw away their old clothes and even decorations - so that beggars can pick them up and use them), tidy up their house, decorate its threshold with flower garlands of calendulas and other flowers, and place lit oil lamps at the entrance.
In addition, according to the ancient Vedic tradition, one must abstain from the five main vices - lust, anger, greed, attachment and the so-called ego, which generally means purifying one's thoughts, words and actions. By the way, calendula garland(blackbrews, marigolds) is one of the symbols of the fire festival in India. Probably not in vain - calendula flowers are too fiery.
Diwali marks the end of the harvest season, the end of the rainy season and the beginning of winter, and is therefore also dedicated to the Goddess of wealth and prosperity Lakshmi, the wife of God Vishnu. Diwali is also celebrated by Muslims who mark the arrival of Lakshmi with lights and playing cards and dice, - after all, Lakshmi brings good luck.
In other cases, houses are thoroughly cleaned, all the lights are turned on precisely because the Goddess does not like darkness, they turn to her in prayer, offer her milk in which coins are dipped, and leave the doors and windows open at night so that it is easier for her to enter the house . Garlands of flowers serve approximately the same purpose - after all, as you know, women love flowers :)
General external idea of the festival fire is like this: the air is shaken by the explosions of rockets, firecrackers and firecrackers. City streets and statues of gods are decorated with glowing lanterns and lit candles. General inner idea of the festival of lights: In mid-autumn, nature experiences a state of anticipation of winter. It becomes dark, damp, cold. And the longest night still lies ahead. But all this can be survived if you keep a particle in your soul sunlight and shine for others, help others, be sensitive and attentive.
On this day, it is customary to wear new clothes and jewelry, use new dishes, give gifts and go to visit. According to legend, the more light and fire on this holiday, the more grace, prosperity, success, happiness, prosperity, wealth and abundance there will be in next year in the house.
Diwali celebration is not just new year, it also means the triumph of truth over falsehood, the defeat of evil with good, the victory of light over darkness and symbolizes the spiritual path from ignorance to knowledge. In addition, Deepavali signifies the beginning of a new thing, so it is believed that all endeavors on this day will be successful.
The Festival of Lights in India is celebrated in the month of Kartik (October-November) and falls on the new moon of the month of Kartik (begins on the thirteenth lunar day) and is celebrated for five days. According to legend, the beginning of Diwali celebrations is associated with the return of Prince Rama to his homeland after a 14-year exile in the forest, and his victory over the demon Ravana. The inhabitants of Ayodhya (the capital of his kingdom) greeted Rama with the fire of lamps.
And now that is why the streets of both large cities and towns during Diwali are illuminated with thousands of lights at nightfall: many oil lamps are lit in front of houses and in temples; lanterns burn brightly on terraces, roofs, balconies and trees; Clay cups with lit lights are lowered into the water; all around numerous fireworks and sparklers.
In fact, the festival of lights itself is the third day of Diwali, actually the new moon, the darkest night. But nevertheless, the lights are on and people are having fun throughout the five days of the festival.
By the way, one should not think that Hindus are dense and superstitious people, buried in mossy traditions. Firstly, and to our New Year Firecrackers explode loudly. And secondly, no one said that Osama bin Laden firecrackers or Bush bombs should not be exploded in honor of the gods.
Thus, firecrackers periodically appear on the local market not only with images of Hindu gods appropriate for the occasion, but also with topical subjects. On one of the fire festivals, the most popular product turned out to be “international terrorist number one.” The average price of a pack of Usam was one thousand eight hundred Indian rupees. It burns in the air for almost seven minutes. "Bush Bombs" - a little cheaper. Next in popularity are “fiery” local politicians, and so on.
Be that as it may, passing through the streets of cities and capturing all segments of the population, the holiday erases the boundaries of inter-caste, inter-religious and inter-ethnic differences. This is what makes the holiday one of the important events of the year.
For example, the fire festival in autumn is typical not only for eastern residents, but also for western ones. For example, in Waldorf schools they celebrate Lantern Festival- an event similar in spirit, also taking place at a similar time, on one of the nights in late October - early November.
Thus, the fire festival in India is not only a beautiful external form, but also a deep, international internal content.
