Diwali special: Visit Odisha, West Bengal to experience new way of celebrating festival of lights

If you are a globetrotter and wish to travel amazing places on festivities, this is what you need to be reading.

With Diwali just a few days away, make sure you know which are the places to pay a visit during the festival.

There are plenty of places which you need to explore, some which have different rituals and unique way of celebrations than what you are aware of.

So, it is for this reason, we bring to you a list of places to visit this Diwali in the eastern India.

Odisha: One special ritual in Diwali which is unique in Eastern India state Orissa is the calling of ancestors' souls on the day and praying for their souls to find the peaceful path. The souls are attracted by keeping a diya inside an earthen pot.

Popularly known as 'Deepabali,' Diwali is celebrated with much fun and fare and is considered to be an auspicious day.

People get dressed up in new clothes, distribute sweets and dry fruits to neighbours and relatives. In the evening, a special rangoli is made which is of the shape of a sail boat. Just near this rangoli a plough, some mortar and pestle are placed and worshipped. The sail boat has seven chambers and each chamber has a special item like asparagus root, salt, turmeric etc. In the central chamber the 'prasad' is kept, on top of which a jute stem is placed and this is used as a diya.

Diwali is marked by homes being lit with illuminations and attractive decorations. People usually gather outside their homes in the evening, whether or not they burst crackers.

West Bengal – If you are visiting West Bengal during Diwali, do not miss to be a part of Kali Puja.

Kali puja precedes Diwali in West Bengal and is a grandiose affair marked by dazzling lights, diyas, colourful attires. Homes are painted and beautiful decorations are what makes this festival special in West Bengal.

You can also hop pandals which are specially made in this festival and usually the capital - Kolkata - can be roamed during late nights as the city comes to life at night during festivals.