Diwali in Rajasthan is much more than a festival of lights. It is a time when homes are cleaned and decorated, traditional rituals bring families together, markets glow with festive decorations, and generations-old customs become part of everyday life.
In Udaipur, Diwali carries a special charm, reflecting the cultural traditions and heritage of Mewar. Along with Lakshmi Puja and the lighting of diyas, the festival is marked by traditional floor decorations, the worship of Govardhan, distinctive cattle-related customs, family gatherings and the festive atmosphere that spreads across the city.
Growing up in Udaipur, I have watched these traditions being followed in my own home and around the city. Some of my favourite memories are connected with preparing the rangoli, decorating the entrance and making the footprints of Goddess Lakshmi with my own hands.
As Rajasthan continues to embrace modern lifestyles, many families still carry these traditions forward. This is how Diwali is celebrated in the world I have grown up seeing in Udaipur, where many traditions of Mewar continue to thrive.
Why Is Diwali Celebrated?
Diwali, also known as Deepawali, is one of the most important festivals in Hindu tradition. The word Deepawali refers to a row of lamps, symbolising the victory of light over darkness and good over evil.
According to the Ramayana tradition, Diwali commemorates the return of Lord Rama, Goddess Sita and Lakshmana to Ayodhya after fourteen years of exile and the defeat of Ravana. The people of Ayodhya welcomed them by lighting lamps, and this story remains one of the most widely recognised explanations for the celebration of Diwali.
Diwali is also associated with Goddess Lakshmi, who represents prosperity and abundance. On this occasion, families worship Goddess Lakshmi for well-being and prosperity, along with Lord Ganesha for wisdom and auspicious beginnings. Goddess Saraswati is also worshipped in many homes, particularly in connection with knowledge and learning.
In Mewar, these religious beliefs are accompanied by local customs that give the festival its own regional character.
Dhanteras: Auspicious Purchases and Preparations at Home
Dhanteras marks the beginning of the main Diwali festivities. In 2026, it falls on Friday, 6 November, according to the Udaipur festival calendar.
Buying something new on Dhanteras is a familiar tradition in many Indian households. People purchase gold, silver, utensils, vehicles, electronic gadgets and other items according to their needs and budgets. Buying a new broom and salt is also considered auspicious in some households as part of local beliefs about cleanliness, prosperity and welcoming good fortune.
Dhanteras is associated with the worship of Lord Dhanvantari and Lord Kubera, while many families also worship Goddess Lakshmi. The rituals reflect hopes for good health, financial stability and prosperity in the coming year.
For many families, the preparations begin well before the puja. Homes are cleaned, decorative items are arranged and the shopping areas become busy with people purchasing gifts and festive essentials.
Roop Chaudas: A Day for Personal Care and Festive Preparation
Roop Chaudas, commonly associated with Narak Chaturdashi and Kali Chaudas in regional observances, falls on Saturday, 7 November, in Udaipur in 2026.
One of the traditions I have grown up seeing is the importance given to personal care on this day. Women and girls prepare themselves for Diwali by bathing, applying ubtan, getting ready and sometimes visiting beauty parlours.
Ubtan, traditionally prepared using ingredients such as gram flour and other household ingredients, has long been associated with skincare and festive preparation. Today, some women follow traditional routines at home, while others choose modern beauty treatments.
I find this part of the celebration interesting because it reflects how traditions evolve with time. The preparation may look different from one household to another, but the excitement of getting ready for Diwali remains.
Diwali Rangoli in Udaipur: A Tradition I Have Grown Up With
One of the traditions I particularly love is preparing the decorations at home.
In my household, the work begins before Diwali itself. We use geru, a traditional red earth pigment, and aaras, a white decorative material used in our local practice, to draw lines and create traditional patterns across parts of the house.
Rangoli is prepared at the main entrance, along the threshold and in the area where Goddess Lakshmi will be worshipped. These decorations are not simply about making the house look beautiful. They are part of welcoming the festival and preparing the home for the puja.
On Roop Chaudas, we fill the prepared rangoli patterns with colours. On Diwali, flowers are added to decorate the designs further, making the entrance and puja area look especially festive.
My favourite part is making the footprints of Goddess Lakshmi with my own hands.
Using alta, or the red ceremonial colour referred to as kanku in our household tradition, I create small footprints leading towards the place where Mataji is to be welcomed. For me, this is one of the most personal and meaningful parts of Diwali preparation.
It is a small ritual, but it connects the decorations of our home with the devotion behind the festival. Every year, it reminds me that some of the most beautiful celebrations are created through simple things we do ourselves.
Lakshmi Puja: The Heart of Diwali Celebrations
Diwali evening is the time for Lakshmi Puja in homes, offices and shops. Businesses also perform puja to seek prosperity and success in the coming year.
In my household, the puja preparations include arranging fruits, sugarcane, ber fruit, betel leaves, flowers, camphor, lacha (sacred thread), coins and other offerings. Gold and silver items, along with money, may also be placed for worship according to family customs.
Goddess Lakshmi is worshipped alongside Lord Ganesha, while Goddess Saraswati is also included in many households' Diwali worship.
After the puja, lighting diyas is one of the most beautiful parts of the celebration. Lamps are placed throughout the home, including the rooftop, courtyard, entrance and mandir. The number of lamps varies from family to family; some households light 7, 21, 51 or even 101 diyas, alongside decorative lights.
Flowers are used to decorate the house, and a vandanwar or toran is hung at the entrance. These decorations create a welcoming atmosphere for family members and visitors.
What makes this evening special to me is the way devotion and decoration come together. The fragrance of flowers, the glow of the lamps and the familiar rituals make the home feel different from every other day of the year.
Govardhan Puja and Khekra: A Distinctive Mewar Tradition
Govardhan Puja is another important part of the Diwali festivities in Mewar. In the local tradition I have grown up seeing, the celebrations include making a small representation of Govardhan using cow dung outside the house.
The figure is worshipped with devotion, and offerings such as curd and rice are placed before it. This custom connects the festival with the importance of cows, rural life and the relationship between people and nature.
The following day, a calf is brought to step over and break the small Govardhan figure as part of the local ritual. The exact practices can vary between households and communities.
For me, this is one of the most distinctive customs associated with Diwali in our region. It is different from the familiar image of Diwali celebrations centred only on lights, sweets and Lakshmi Puja.
The Cattle Celebrations Associated with Nathdwara
One of the most memorable aspects of the wider Mewar celebrations is the attention given to cows and calves, particularly in traditions associated with Nathdwara and Shreenathji.
The cows are beautifully decorated for the occasion. Their horns are painted, cloth and peacock feathers are used as adornments, and intricate designs may be created on their bodies with mehndi and other traditional decorative materials. Some of these designs depict Shreenathji Thakur.
In the celebrations associated with this regional tradition, calves are dressed for the occasion, while the cowherds also arrive in festive attire. The calves are brought out and led around with the cowherds, and the decorated cattle are taken towards the temple as part of the celebrations.
These scenes attract local residents as well as visitors from other parts of India and abroad. People come to witness the colourful procession, the decorated animals and the distinctive traditions associated with the festival.
What makes these customs meaningful is the place cattle have traditionally held in the cultural and rural life of Rajasthan. The celebrations reflect reverence for cows and the connection between faith, agriculture and community life.
Udaipur During Diwali: A City Illuminated by Lights
Diwali brings a different kind of beauty to Udaipur. The city's well-known landmarks, busy markets, roads and neighbourhoods take on a festive appearance.
Areas such as Fateh Sagar, Rani Road, the Old City, Doodh Talai, Padal Puliya, Ashwini Bazaar and Bapu Bazaar are among the places where people can experience the city's festive atmosphere. Decorations and lighting vary from location to location, but the overall feeling is one of celebration and excitement.
Markets become especially lively as families shop for clothes, gifts, sweets, decorations and puja essentials. Shopfronts are decorated, homes are illuminated and people step out to enjoy the festive surroundings.
The lakes and historic areas give Udaipur's celebrations their own character. The combination of traditional architecture, lights and the city's familiar landscape makes this time of year particularly appealing to residents and visitors.
For someone who has grown up here, Diwali is not only about the main festival evening. It is also about watching the city gradually transform as the celebrations approach.
Udaipur's Town Hall Diwali Mela: Shopping, Culture and Entertainment
The Town Hall Diwali Mela is another familiar attraction during the festive season in Udaipur.
The fair brings together shopping, food, entertainment and cultural performances in one place. Visitors can explore stalls selling handicrafts, clothing, household and grocery items, festive goods and food. There are also rides and swings for children and adults.
The mela is especially enjoyable because it brings people from different neighbourhoods together. Families can spend time shopping, trying food and enjoying the festive atmosphere while discovering products from local vendors.
Cultural performances are an important part of the attraction. Depending on the programme, the evenings feature music, folk art, comedy, poetry and other performances. Local artists also receive opportunities to perform, helping bring the city's creative talent to a wider audience.
For the 2026 season, local reports announced cultural evenings at the Town Hall from 28 October to 3 November, with stalls and rides scheduled to continue until 11 November. The programme and individual performances should be checked against the latest local announcements before visiting.
For readers planning a visit, the mela offers a way to experience a more community-oriented side of Diwali beyond shopping in the regular markets.
Bhai Dooj: Celebrating the Bond Between Brothers and Sisters
Bhai Dooj brings the main Diwali festivities to a close for many families. In 2026, it falls on Wednesday, 11 November, according to the Udaipur festival calendar.
In the tradition I have grown up seeing, sisters invite their brothers to their homes for a meal. The occasion may include applying tilak, offering prayers for a brother's well-being and sharing food together.
Like many family festivals, Bhai Dooj can be celebrated differently depending on household customs. For some families, it involves a formal ritual, while for others, the most important part is simply spending time together.
After several days of puja, decorations and celebrations, the day offers another opportunity to strengthen family bonds.
How Diwali Traditions in Mewar Are Changing With Time
Rajasthan is embracing modernisation in many aspects of daily life, and Diwali celebrations are changing along with it. Decorative electric lights, ready-made rangoli designs, online shopping, modern home décor and beauty treatments have become part of the festive season for many families.
Yet traditional customs continue to hold their place. Families still prepare rangoli, light diyas, perform Lakshmi Puja, decorate their entrances and observe regional rituals passed down through generations.
In some homes, traditional preparations are combined with modern conveniences. In others, particular customs are preserved much as elders remember them.
I believe this balance is an important part of Rajasthan's cultural identity. Modernisation does not have to mean leaving old traditions behind. It is possible to welcome new ways of celebrating while continuing the practices that connect us with our families, our hometowns and our cultural roots.
For me, making Mataji's footprints, preparing the rangoli and seeing the home illuminated with diyas are reminders that the meaning of Diwali goes beyond the decorations themselves.
These rituals carry memories, devotion and a sense of belonging.
As Udaipur celebrates another Diwali, I hope these traditions continue to be shared with younger generations—not only as customs to follow, but as meaningful parts of Mewar's living cultural heritage.
Frequently Asked Questions About Diwali in Udaipur
1. Why is Diwali celebrated?
Diwali is celebrated as a festival of light, prosperity and the victory of good over evil. According to the Ramayana tradition, it commemorates the return of Lord Rama, Goddess Sita and Lakshmana to Ayodhya after fourteen years of exile.
2. How is Diwali celebrated in Udaipur?
Diwali in Udaipur is celebrated with Lakshmi-Ganesh Puja, traditional rangoli, diyas, decorated homes, festive shopping and illuminated markets. Families also observe regional customs associated with the cultural heritage of Mewar.
3. What is the significance of Dhanteras?
Dhanteras marks the beginning of the main Diwali festivities. Many families purchase gold, silver, utensils or other useful items and worship Goddess Lakshmi and Lord Kubera for prosperity and well-being.
4. What is Roop Chaudas, and how is it celebrated?
Roop Chaudas is associated with Narak Chaturdashi and traditional festive preparation. In many households, women and girls apply ubtan, follow personal-care routines and get ready for Diwali.
5. What is the Khekra tradition in Mewar?
In some local traditions, families create a small representation of Govardhan using cow dung and worship it with offerings such as curd and rice. A subsequent ritual involving a calf stepping over or breaking the figure is also observed in certain households.
6. What is special about the cattle celebrations associated with Nathdwara?
The celebrations feature beautifully decorated cows and calves, painted horns, traditional adornments and, in some cases, decorative designs depicting Shreenathji. These customs reflect the cultural and religious significance of cattle in the region.
7. Where can visitors enjoy Diwali festivities in Udaipur?
Visitors can explore the festive atmosphere around Fateh Sagar, Rani Road, the Old City, Doodh Talai and local markets such as Bapu Bazaar and Ashwini Bazaar. The Town Hall Diwali Mela is another seasonal attraction, subject to its announced dates and programme.
8. What is the traditional significance of rangoli during Diwali?
Rangoli is prepared at entrances and near the place of worship to welcome the festival and create an auspicious setting. In some Mewar households, traditional materials such as geru and aaras are used before colours and flowers are added.
9. When is Diwali celebrated in Udaipur in 2026?
Diwali falls on Sunday, 8 November 2026, according to the Udaipur festival calendar. Associated celebrations include Dhanteras on 6 November, Roop Chaudas on 7 November, Govardhan Puja on 9 November and Bhai Dooj on 11 November.
10. Are traditional Diwali customs still followed in Rajasthan?
Yes. Many families continue to observe traditional puja rituals, prepare rangoli, light diyas and celebrate regional festivals while also embracing modern decorations, shopping habits and ways of celebrating.
About the Author
Pragya Puri Goswami is an Educator and Rajasthan Travel Blogger, and the founder of LakeCity Blog. Through her writing, she explores Rajasthan's heritage, culture, traditions, local businesses, food and travel experiences.
Growing up in Udaipur, she has a special interest in documenting the customs, festivals and everyday cultural practices that make Mewar unique. Through LakeCity Blog, she aims to share authentic local stories and preserve the region's cultural heritage for readers and future generations.
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