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The Festival of Lights is just around the corner, which means lots of festive food, sweets and spending time with family. However, it also brings with it a severe deterioration in air quality as celebrations may include setting off fireworks and other pyrotechnics. For many people, it symbolizes respiratory problems that have increased due to pollution. A travel trend being seen this year is that many people are planning to take their celebrations outside the city limits to areas where the air is clean and fresh.
Sahiba Bhojwani, a campaigner from Surat, is exchanging the city smog for the fresh air of Uttarakhand’s Jim Corbett National Park. “While Surat usually shines as one of the cleanest cities in India during Diwali, it is a bit like the pollution gods hosting their own party! So, I and my family, along with the elders, are running towards the forest; Trade crackers for bird sounds and jeeps for safari rides,” she says, “We plan to slow down, enjoy the culinary delights of Kumaon and embrace the peace – because when When there’s a lot of noise in the city, nothing beats a bonfire under the stars. to handle.”
She is not the first or the last guest to inquire about their packages, says Ajay Sharma, general manager, Taj Corbett Resort & Spa, Uttarakhand. “We are welcoming guests from the Delhi NCR region, as we truly understand their need to escape the heavy smog and find peace in nature. With the Kosi River flowing nearby and surrounded by forests, our guests can breathe easy and enjoy the festival with their loved ones,” he says. As people choose to celebrate a pollution-free Diwali, they are working to create special moments that match the festive spirit and natural surroundings – from a serene evening by the river bank to a peaceful walk in the forest.
With this year’s Diwali celebrations lasting a long weekend, people are taking full advantage and turning the festivities into a mini holiday. Devendra Parulekar, Founder, SaffronStays, says, “With Mumbai’s compact apartments, the focus is not on the space but on the people you are making memories with. This is one possible reason why we are seeing a rise in bookings for bungalows and villas across the city. Many people are also taking their time, leading to an increase in bookings throughout the Diwali week. We are seeing about 40-45% increase in people traveling this festive period compared to last year’s Diwali.
At Oleander Farms in Karjat, Maharashtra, founder Alia Ahuja has seen a growing trend in families and individuals looking for tranquil escapes where they can reconnect with nature and loved ones. “I believe people are looking for more meaningful and relaxing Diwali celebrations, beyond the chaos of the city. As Diwali approaches, we have transformed our venue into a beautiful setting of fairy lights and curated Diwali sweets and menu, perfect for festive celebrations,” she says.
With areas like Matheran, Lonavala and Mahabaleshwar within driving distance of both Mumbai and Pune, many people want to stay away from polluted air and loud noises, instead opting for a quieter Diwali. “What attracts people to us is the convenience of proximity to Karjat, combined with the freedom to relax in vast open spaces,” says Ahuja.
Northern parts of India are battling smog and suffocating air, so people are heading to nearby areas like Haridwar for some quiet time. “At Pilibhit House, Haridwar, we are seeing a large number of travelers coming from Delhi NCR, especially for the Diwali weekend who wish to celebrate the festivities with their loved ones in a better environment than in the past few years,” Vikas Nagar explains. Hotel Manager, Pilibhit House, Haridwar.
Located in the foothills of the Shivalik Hills, Haridwar, “has provided respite to Delhi NCR residents for many years. On such an auspicious festival, many spiritual and luxury travelers prefer to stay in the city to celebrate the occasion with an auspicious bath in the Ganga and experience the soul-stirring Ganga Aarti,” he further said.
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