Happy Diwali - The festival of lights

More than a billion people around the world celebrate Diwali, the Hindu ‘festival of lights’ that many consider to be the start of the new year. Typically, the festival is marked by celebrations both at home and in large community gatherings by people of many faiths in India and the diaspora. This year, Diwali festivities will likely revert back to more intimate family gatherings coupled with online observances. A new year brings new hope and with recent news of a vaccine the lights this year are the lights that lead the way to us travelling again from Spring 2021.

Whilst we all look at our own lives at this time we take a moment to wish a ‘Happy Diwali’ to our friends in India who are missing our guests and look forward to welcoming you all back in late 2021 and 2022 (dates will soon be available) when the world has healed somewhat. As part of One Travellers sustainability promise we support local communities that are as much part of the One Traveller family as our guests offering them true local experiences.

Local families

Pictured here are Jaydee and Divika in Jaipur who welcome our guests into their home for dinner and a cookery lesson and share family stories; the Ashok family in Mysore who provide lunch for our guests in their home and demonstrate sari draping whilst other family members entertain with traditional music in Mysore. 

Local guides, drivers and hotel staff

Joseph our Keralan village guide, fisherman and coconut farmer on the beautiful backwaters and our Kodova family in Mysore who offer dinner and indigenous dancing in their garden and plantation home.  Also let’s not forget our drivers, hotel staff and local guides, in particular our much-loved and popular Abhi and Rishi who are also pictured.

Project Ladli, Jaipur, India

One Traveller Supports offers equipment to Project Ladli in Jaipur. This centre houses and helps around 60 girls, teaching them various skills and also offering informal classes in Hindi, English and dance. There is an opportunity to visit and meet these charming pupils and their guardians and see at first-hand the practical support we continue to provide. This has included power generators, bedding for the children and graduation dresses for the girls.

When visitors stop it also means a wide range of people are affected, friends and people who leave us with cherished memories. It is quite fitting that this festival of light comes at a time of hope that we will see them and support them again next year.