When we think of Diwali, Lakshmi Puja, diyas and fire crackers come to our mind. But India celebrates Diwali in ways that are far more fascinating than the usual rituals. Here are the most unique, offbeat and truly different Diwali celebrations across India that you probably didn't know about.

Unique Diwali Celebrations Across India

Know about these Diwali rituals across India that are unique and intriguing also go beyond diyas and crackers.

1. Maharashtra's Mud Fort Ritual

In Maharashtra, there is a tradition where people build miniature mud forts, called Diwali Killa, during Diwali festivities. This is done to recreate miniature clay fortresses as a tribute to the 17th-century Maratha king, Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj. People also place diyas at the ramparts of the mud fort to showcase the triumph of good over evil.

2. Goa's Naraka Chaturdashi

In Goa, Diwali looks a little different, as Naraka Chaturdashi is celebrated instead. Goans construct and burn tall effigies of the demon king Narkasur at dawn on Diwali. Naraka Chaturdashi is also called Kali Chaudas, where Kali means dark, and Chaudas means fourteenth. The 3 AM burning of Narkasur is not just a spectacle of 50-foot effigies, drums, DJs, and fire; it is an ancient tradition that has survived many changes in the state.

3. Varanasi's Dev Deepavali

Dev Deepavali is celebrated fifteen days after Diwali, during which the steps of all the ghats on the riverfront of the Ganges River, from Ravidas Ghat at the southern end to Rajghat, are lit with more than a million diya to honour the holy river. The tradition first began in 1991 at the Dashashwamedh Ghat by Pandit Kishori Raman Dubey.

4. West Bengal's Kali Puja

Kali Puja in West Bengal is celebrated on the same day as Diwali. While most of the country worships Goddess Lakshmi on the occasion of Diwali, West Bengal dedicates the night to Goddess Kali.

While the rest of India worships Lord Rama's return to Ayodhya, some states and culture have their own intriguing way of celebrating this day. 
(Image Credits: Pinterest)
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