Experience Diwali festivities in a market in Delhi - Nov '23

The colourful festival of Diwali is celebrated by people of different religions in India. The streets come alive with decorations and lamps and much fanfare over the 5 days that Diwali is celebrated. On this unique tour you will get to witness the vibrant spirit of Diwali in one of the oldest and best known markets of the Indian capital city – Chandini Chowk. Here, you will see the festivities transcend religions and communities.

Chandini Chowk was built in the 16^th century, by the Mughal Emperor Shahjahan on the request of his favourite daughter, Jahanara, for a place where the womenfolk could shop for all their needs. Although the shops and streets may have had makeovers over the centuries, most of the original Mughal architecture can be seen in the façade of most of the buildings around. Interestingly, apart from the intricate lattice work typical of the Indo-Islamic style, you’ll also find relatively newer buildings with Victorian columns or corbel arches from the colonial era.

As our tour begins at one end of the recently pedestrianised street at Chandini Chowk, we turn our backs to the mighty Red Fort – the icon of the walled city of Shahjahanabad, as the area was known – and begin walking the 1.3 km stretch that leads to the famed Jama Masjid.You will easily spot a Hindu temple, a Digambara Jain temple, a Baptist Church and a Sikh Gurudwara all on the same road, before arriving at the Islamic Jama Masjid.

While this highlights the harmonious co-existence of various religions, the market of Chandini Chowk is experienced in its true sense in many of its meandering bylanes. Pass by the famous ‘Jalebi Wala’ selling piping hot snacks like samosas and jalebis, or through the ‘Parathe wali gully’ as our host gives you a peek into some of Delhi’s popular street foods.

As you go further into the labyrinth of narrow lanes, you’ll see a riot of shops selling gold & silver, sarees, dress materials, bridal wear, colourful bangles and jewellery, stationery and the works! If that’s not all, you’ll occasionally find many residences amidst this hustle-bustle. As the tour ends, the grand Jama Masjid appears in our view.

On this tour, students will get a glimpse of  the diverse culture that is India’s identity, as we stroll through the bustling alleys of this shopper’s paradise and soak in the sights that it has to offer. 

This session accommodates up to 100 students at a time. Suitable for all age groups. Once you book this experience, we will send you a confirmation email with a link to join the session. Children and teachers can log in from their individual classes or congregate in one single class/hall and access the tour via the link provided.