Diwali 2021: Different States, Different Versions

[{"selector":"#anim-3a358da3-79fe-4400-9a26-c6ae39ae7e20 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0, -4.954954681623367%, 0) translate(-2.8165657994094058e-15%, 4.954954954954954%) scale(0.9009009009009009)","translate3d(0, 0%, 0) translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.14,.34,.47,.9)","fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-b1e48b33-e5e5-4834-97f2-7b8a09843d7e","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-87573610-cb23-48c5-b22d-a2225c9a7e2a","keyframes":{"transform":["scale(0.3333333333333333)","scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] THE MANY VERSIONS OF DIWALI IN INDIA By Sushmita Srivastav Image: Shutterstock/StockImageFactory.com

[{"selector":"#anim-224c1c9f-e338-439e-8241-f781b6b53739 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0, -1.8057911464304324%, 0) translate(-0.1706251706251709%, 4.954954954954954%) scale(0.9009009009009009)","translate3d(0, 0%, 0) translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.14,.34,.47,.9)","fill":"forwards"}] From Vasu Baras in Maharashtra to Kauriya Kathi in Odisha, here are different versions of the festival of lights as celebrated in different parts of India. Image: Shutterstock/Chatnarong Rakchart

[{"selector":"#anim-be61b8f1-b965-4534-9163-0e2c9bd4a3e8 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0, -4.128440088625644%, 0) translate(-3.520119975325265e-15%, 4.128440366972475%) scale(0.9174311926605505)","translate3d(0, 0%, 0) translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.14,.34,.47,.9)","fill":"forwards"}] Kali puja Across Eastern India, especially in West Bengal, Diwali is celebrated to welcome Goddess Kali by fasting, lighting up homes, and animal sacrifices. Image: Shutterstcok/Rashbihari Dutta

[{"selector":"#anim-17df7cf8-59fe-4517-a45d-315de19e2294 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0, -4.128440088625644%, 0) translate(-3.520119975325265e-15%, 4.128440366972475%) scale(0.9174311926605505)","translate3d(0, 0%, 0) translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.14,.34,.47,.9)","fill":"forwards"}] Dev Deepawali Uttar Pradesh's Varanasi celebrates the 'Diwali of Gods' by offering prayers and diyas to Ganga River and adorning its banks with lamps and rangoli . Image: Shutterstcok/Petr Kopal Photography

[{"selector":"#anim-bb1f6b9f-105e-4b93-a267-f8df94d656c1 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0, -3.8023460995472442%, 0) translate(3.5493827160493816%, 3.7037037037037033%) scale(0.9259259259259259)","translate3d(0, 0%, 0) translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.14,.34,.47,.9)","fill":"forwards"}] Vasu baras In Maharashtra, Diwali commences with the Vasu Baras ritual that honours cows by bathing, worshipping, and feeding them wheat, gram and sprouts. Image: Shuterstock/neelsky

[{"selector":"#anim-5650ba16-b771-45bd-90d3-68e21d78fb06 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0, -3.703703422779571%, 0) translate(0%, 3.7037037037037033%) scale(0.9259259259259259)","translate3d(0, 0%, 0) translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.14,.34,.47,.9)","fill":"forwards"}] bandi chhor diwas Punjab marks the festival as Bandi Chhor Diwas, celebrating the liberation of sixth Sikh guru, Hargobind Singh in 1619 from the prison of Jahangir. Image: flickr/sikhexpo

[{"selector":"#anim-45cbafac-7413-47d1-bca6-4215dd0f2778 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0, -5.357142586251731%, 0) translate(2.283887364943178e-15%, 5.357142857142855%) scale(0.8928571428571429)","translate3d(0, 0%, 0) translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.14,.34,.47,.9)","fill":"forwards"}] budhi diwali Observed 30 days after the festival across Himachal Pradesh, Budhi (old) Diwali is celebrated by performing folk dances, distributing dry fruit, and lighting fires at midnight. Image: Shutterstock/Mubarak_Khan

[{"selector":"#anim-b0c0226b-09f9-4973-941a-657bb9a7e09a [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0, -9.909909909909906%, 0) translate(-2.8165657994094058e-15%, 4.954954954954954%) scale(0.9009009009009009)","translate3d(0, 0%, 0) translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.14,.34,.47,.9)","fill":"forwards"}] Narakasura chaturdashi In Goa, Tamil Nadu and Karnataka, the festival is dedicated to Lord Krishna killing the demon Narakasura, whose mammoth effigies are burnt at dawn to mark the occasion. Image: D'Source Design/Sunil Mahajan

[{"selector":"#anim-8cb2adea-c583-453a-8ca4-6c129672a39c [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0, -7.407407407407401%, 0) translate(0%, 3.7037037037037033%) scale(0.9259259259259259)","translate3d(0, 0%, 0) translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.14,.34,.47,.9)","fill":"forwards"}] bestu varas In Gujarat, the year ends with Diwali and Gujarati New Year is marked by opening new books of accounts, painting the auspicious Swastik on their covers, enjoying feasts, and dancing to traditional songs all evening. Image: Shutterstock/Akshay-PhotOvation

[{"selector":"#anim-870f5972-f4b7-4958-8e00-67af2eaa3277 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0, -7.2583944850631745%, 0) translate(4.7775047775047765%, 4.954954954954954%) scale(0.9009009009009009)","translate3d(0, 0%, 0) translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.14,.34,.47,.9)","fill":"forwards"}] Kauriya kathi In Odisha, people perform the Kauriya Kathi ritual by worshipping their ancestors and burning jute sticks to seek their blessings. Image: Courtesy of Lifeberry

[{"selector":"#anim-0e84ee81-061e-4606-bd6d-699e722f76be [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0, -3.703703422779571%, 0) translate(0%, 3.7037037037037033%) scale(0.9259259259259259)","translate3d(0, 0%, 0) translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.14,.34,.47,.9)","fill":"forwards"}] The traditions and celebrations may vary. But the festival of Diwali certainly brings the entire country together, illuminating our homes and filling our hearts with joy and a sense of unity. Image: Shutterstock/StockImageFactory.com