Have you ever wondered which are the best places to celebrate Diwali in India or how is Diwali in Jaipur? Jaipur Diwali celebrations are one of the best Diwali celebrations in India; it is one of the few places in India where Diwali is celebrated with enthusiasm & zeal. Among all the festivals celebrated in Jaipur, perhaps Diwali is the only festival that transforms the city into a glitzy avatar. This is the reason why Jaipur Diwali Celebrations ranks high among the best places to visit in India during Diwali. Diwali in Jaipur attracts travelers from across the world and not just from India.
Jaipur Diwali | A Complete Guide for Travelers
Perhaps Diwali in Jaipur is one of the most unique among all the cities in India. While almost all cities in India celebrate Diwali, the one in Jaipur offers something unique, especially Jaipur Diwali decoration.
Read: Will Diwali shine for people this year?

Fancy lighting can be seen everywhere – dwelling units, markets, malls, buildings, and monuments. People flock to markets hunting for gifts and deals. Everyone is in a festive spirit. Read: Diwali Gifting: Mithai Vs Chocolates


Diwali marks the start of the festive season. As soon as Diwali ends, the wedding season starts, therefore there are many wedding-oriented exhibitions & shows during this period. Diwali parties, especially card parties and get-together catches on around two weeks before Diwali. Most of these Diwali parties in Jaipur run well past midnight. Although this is completely an urban phenomenon, the festive mood is everywhere.
Diwali in Jaipur History
For a long time, Jaipur has followed a tradition of observing a 5 day Diwali celebration. Here is information on the historical celebration of 5 days of Diwali in Jaipur.
- Dhanteras on day 1
- Roop Chaudas on day 2
- Diwali or Lakshmi Puja on day 3
- Govardhan Puja on day 4
- Bhai Duj on day 5.
So for the first 3 days of Diwali, markets and establishments are all decked up with lights.

Read this post in continuation of Will Diwali shine this year?

Historically, Diyas made of clay were used to light up the houses on Diwali in Jaipur. This was later replaced by candles. Imported Chinese LED lights in the last few years have kind of taken over all the buildings. While Diya or Deepak is no match for these LED lights when it comes to illumination & light effect, traditional Diya evokes a festive feeling of connection. Diwali is synonymous with Diya; it is not the case with cheap LED lights that we see all around. However, this year saw a big comeback of the Diya made by the potters, locally.

This is how these Diyas end up for the Diwali decoration!

Where is Diwali celebrated in Jaipur
Many tourists visit Jaipur to witness & experience the Diwali celebrations, both from abroad as well as India. Jaipur is a popular destination among Gujarati and Bengali tourists during the Diwali vacations. Diwali celebrations in Jaipur take place throughout the city, however, some of the popular landmarks are specially decorated for the festival. You will find many monuments and buildings in Jaipur all lit up for Diwali. These two pictures were shot at Statue Circle Jaipur which has a statue of Maharaja Sawai Jai Singh II, founder of Jaipur.
Read the post on Statue Circle: Maharajah Sawai Jai Singh II | The Founder Of Jaipur

Following are the pictures of the beautifully lit-up Albert Hall Museum built in Indo-Saracenic architectural style by Samuel Swinton Jacob in 1887 AD. Albert Hall Museum is a very popular tourist attraction in Jaipur and features an Egyptian mummy as one of its key attractions. The foundation of this building was laid by the Prince of Wales, Albert Edward in 1876 AD during his Jaipur Visit.





Diwali Market in Jaipur
People often wonder where to see Jaipur Diwali market. The quick answer is in the Jaipur walled city for most people. For the rest, all local markets in Jaipur also get decorated in a nice way. You can visit the old city bazaars. If you want to see how the markets adapt to Diwali, scroll down and see the pictures of Jaipur Diwali market.
Diwali in Jaipur | Cultural Celebrations & Religious Rituals
While a lot of Diwali traditions and rituals are common across the country, only a few are specific to the city. What makes them even more unique is the context and the place. Here are scenes from the Bazaars in Jaipur on Diwali selling items for the Lakshmi Puja.
- Buying sugarcane for Diwali Lakshmi Puja
Sugarcane sellers can be spotted everywhere in Johari Bazaar, Jaipur. People well conversant with traditions believe sugarcane is an offering made to the elephants associated with Goddess Lakshmi.

- Marigold Flowers For Decoration
Marigold flower sellers swarm all over the walled city markets in Jaipur on Lakshmi Puja day. A large number of them are from the nearby villages looking to make quick money since everyone buys these flowers for decoration. Due to huge demand, the prices for flowers go up.

- Idols of Lakshmiji and Ganeshji
People buy idols or printed images for Diwali Lakshmi Puja.

- Pujan Samagri
Pre-packed Pujan Samagri for Lakshmi Puja is also in high demand. Traditionally, people would buy them individually going as per the Pujan Samagri list from the shops but owing to lack of time, these packets are the preferred choice.

- Special Diwali Rangoli
Rangoli art is an important part of Diwali decoration and celebration. Rangoli is a colorful pattern made on the floor that is very popular and can be seen in almost every household. Women make beautiful designs of Rangoli for Diwali. Colored powder and fresh flower petals are often used for making new Rangoli designs.

Some people use a Rangoli Stencil instead of a free hand to create Rangoli patterns on the floor. Stencils enable easy Rangoli designs for Diwali.
Here is a Rangoli pattern created with a stencil.

How to make Rangoli for Diwali?
Simple Diwali Rangoli, step-by-step pictures.



Where to Witness the Diwali Celebration in Jaipur?
Diwali decoration is something that everyone loves to witness in Jaipur. Apart from this, there is a special Diwali Puja in temples. In some temples, it is held on Dhanteras Day whereas in others it is on Diwali or Kartik Amavasya.
- Diwali Aarti in Jaipur
Before anything else, one should experience a special Diwali Puja. The Diwali celebrations and Aarti at Sri Ramchandra Temple in Jaipur are famous as the temple is dedicated to Lord Rama.



- Diwali Decoration in Jaipur
The Diwali decorations in Jaipur attracts many travelers and tourists. Jaipur is one of the few cities where the city decks up for the Diwali celebrations. Read on to know about places for Diwali decoration in Jaipur.
Diwali Lights & Decorations in Jaipur | Where to see?
The following are the places to visit and see Diwali decorations & lighting in Jaipur. These are popular places for people to visit for Diwali decoration & lighting.
Johari Bazaar

Albert Hall Museum

Chaura Rasta

Tripolia Bazaar 
Jal Mahal

MI Road

Statue Circle, C Scheme 
Jaipur View From Nahargarh Fort
The Jaipur view from Nahargarh Fort on Diwali is spellbinding. Do note that many times the police block the road leading to the fort because of the drink and drive menace. Your best bet is to visit Nahargarh for sunset and enjoy the sunset view along with Diwali lighting. Nahargarh Fort restaurant Padao is the preferred choice for Jaipur views.

Diwali celebrations in the holy city of Varanasi are also very popular. It has religious importance due to the presence of many Hindu temples & the river Ganga. The Ganga Aarti and lighting at the ghats in Varanasi on Diwali is a mesmerizing experience. Jaipur is surely not in the same league.
Diwali in Jaipur, on the other hand, has a much more glitzy avatar. There’s a unique blend of culture & religion in Diwali celebrations in Jaipur. Where else can you experience the eclectic mix of modern and traditional ways of celebrating the Festival of Lights? People who have witnessed Diwali celebrations across various cities claim that the Diwali celebration in Jaipur is one of a kind. Therefore Jaipur is the best place to celebrate Diwali in India. The city surely knows how to celebrate Diwali and spread good vibes all around. You should experience the festival of lights in Jaipur, at least once in your lifetime. This is the reason why Jaipur is considered to be the best place to visit in India during Diwali
Also, read Will Diwali shine for people this year? Read more from similar posts here.
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I am convinced through your post that Jaipur seems to be the place to be at during Diwali period! I have not even been to Varanasi to see the celebrations.
Loved your pics, especially of Diyas. Happy to know that people are getting back to traditional ways of lighting.
Btw, have you seen that mummy in museum?
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Yes, I have although it’s been quite some years now! There are many tourist attractions in Jaipur which I have not visited in recent years. Probably 2017! 🙂
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Good luck 🙂
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Wonderful documentation!
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Thank You Indira! 🙂
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Land of colours I would say.Very informative. Enjoyed the read :))
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I’m happy that you enjoyed this post 🙂
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Colourful!!
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Indeed 🙂
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Once again Arv, your pictures amaze me! Along with your descriptions of Jaipur 🙂 I really love the Diyas they are so beautiful! I wish I could be in India during Diwali one day and if I do, I’ll go to Jaipur! 🙂
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Jennifer I feel the beauty of Diwali lies in these lit diyas and not in fancy lights or fireworks. The flickering of fire looks beautiful.
I hope you’ll experience Diwali in Jaipur someday Jennifer! 🙂
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Yes I completely agree with you Arv, Diyas are naturally beautiful 🙂 I hope for the same too one day 🙂
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Amen! 🙂
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Happy Diwali!
The colours are wonderful Arv! Even better then here at Christmas!!
I watched a documentary(2012) on Jaipur yesterday about the “Monkey Thieves” of Jaipur, and the man who makes Kites and catches the trouble making monkeys! It showed much of the city and I recognized many of the spots you have featured! So many people, over 3 million! wow! and we only have 17,500 in our city! Cheers! T.
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I’m glad you watched this program. I have only watched some pieces from it. I made a post on these monkey as well. I’ll share post with you. The population of the city exceeds that figure -around 4 million now! 🙂
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Wow! that’s a lot of people, I’d love to see the post…I’ll ad the facebook link to my site within a day or 2, I’m a bit under the weather…:( Cheers! T.
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here is the link – https://jaipurthrumylens.com/2015/06/03/rhesus-macaque-monkey-in-jaipur/
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Amazing images of one of the great festivals in Jaipur! Perhaps our neighbors are visiting your marvelous city as I am writing this comment. Thank you so much to produce such a high quality post on a slice of Indian culture!
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I’m happy you liked it. I’m sure you’ll get to hear more about the city from your neighbours. 🙂
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Beautiful! Happy Diwali
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Thank You. happy Diwali to you too!
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Such a delightful post, Arv, thank you for sharing your talents. My heart belongs to India, after my first trip earlier this year. As a photographer like me, India, Jaipur is like a candy for my eye
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Thank You. I get your point. It’s surely a photographer’s goldmine with so much to capture with varied topics. I would like to see your India pictures, can post a link to them?
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Very colourful Arv..the true Rajastani Rang with the lovely diyas..where are the lio smacking sweets…missing in the pics
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Ha Ha! There’s so much of Mithai/sweet overdose during Diwali that for next 5-6 days, you don’t even want to talk about it. Next time…surely! There are so many aspects involved related to Diwali that you don’t want to create post on same things. Last year I made a post on Ramchandra temple on Goverdhan Puja day! Did you check it out?
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Not yet but will…the hangover of sweets last only for a few days…
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🙂
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Good stuff. Full of brightness and colour.
Just one comment – Diwali in Varanasi is just like Diwali in any other Northern city. What you are talking about is probably what is called Dev Deepavali which falls on the Karthik Poornima (around 14-15 days post Diwali). This time its falling on 14th November 2016. (Easy way to find out when is Dev Deepavali – search for Guru Nanak’s Dev birthday in the calendar, its the same date). For people in Varanasi the celebrations are much bigger than Diwali – its the time when all the gods (devtas) come and celebrate the festival of lights with us mortals on the banks of the river Ganges.
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Well pointed. Dev Diwali is surely much grander and one of it’s kind. To be honest, having a holy dip during kartik poornima is popular at both Varanasi and Pushkar. Pushkar cattle fair takes place around Kartik Poornima as pointed by you.
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Amazing!
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Thank You Sanjeev! 🙂
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Thanks for sharing such a lovely post, Arv! I have been to Jaipur last December, and recall visiting quite a few of those places you’ve mentioned. I think they still light up the forts very beautifully or so my memory tells me, as they used to, years ago. Did I tell you I have been to the museum and we did see the mummy – the star attraction that you mentioned? I skipped the zoo though 😀 Having lived in Jaipur many years back, I recall some of the festive lights around Tilak Nagar and later, JawaharNagar, where we used to stay. Jaipur remains and will always be one of my most favourite cities in the world. 🙂
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Esha! It’s great to know that you spent some years in Jaipur. Yes, the forts are lit up beautifully for Diwali too, but it’s difficult and boring to post so many pictures. Perhaps some other time! Even otherwise, most monuments are lit up in the night. Btw, they have already started night tourism, so Amer Fort and Albert hall museum are open in night for tourists. I’m not surprised to find that Jaipur is one of your favorite city! Thanks for sharing yours thoughts here Esha! 🙂
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It does look quite a celebration there, Arv. Maybe, someday…
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🙂
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Great documentation!..Land of hues I would say.Very educational. Delighted in the read..
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I’m happy you liked it 🙂
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Wow, what stunning pictures. I love the lights of all kinds and the street art too. So colourful and bright and a real feast for the eyes!
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Thank You, Judy! Indeed there are myriad colors out here. Many tourists visit Rajasthan or Jaipur for the vivid colors! Thanks for sharing your thoughts here. 🙂
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Gorgeous pictures and sure looks like Diwali in Jaipur is grand. Happy Diwali to you and your family, Arvind.
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Thank you, Parul. Every festival is celebrated with zest and fervor out here. You should visit experience Diwali in Jaipur, someday! 🙂
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Reblogged this on Retired? No one told me! and commented:
Absolutely beautiful photos very nice post 🙂
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Thank you for reblogging my post. I’m sure your readers will enjoy it. 🙂
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which day of evening is much enjoyable as a diwali celebration with family in jaipur, dhanteras evening or diwali evening?
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Chirag, both are equally good. You will find lot more traffic on roads on Dhanteras. Any other perspective on Diwali?
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