Lighting the diyas
October 6, 2026 - Diwali has always been about coming home. Celebrate the festival of lights at Six Senses Vana and Six Senses Fort Barwara, with customs that change from one home to another.
In northern India, one of Diwali’s most loved stories is the return of Lord Rama, Sita, and Lakshmana to Ayodhya after 14 years of exile in the forest and the victory over Ravana. The people of Ayodhya are said to have welcomed them by lighting rows of diyas, traditional oil lamps, filling the city with light.
Centuries later, the diya remains at the heart of Diwali. It sits at doorways and windows, beside rangoli and prayer spaces, carrying wishes for a bright beginning. Families offer prayers to Goddess Lakshmi for prosperity and to Lord Ganesha for wisdom and good fortune. Homes fill with familiar aromas, sweets make their annual appearance, new clothes come out of cupboards, and people find their way back to one another.
Lights and love at Six Senses Vana
At Six Senses Vana, familiar Diwali rituals find a home among the sal trees of Dehradun. Diyas are placed along pathways and candles begin to glow as dusk settles through the forest. There’s music in the evening and the rustle of guests gathering for celebrations as Indian traditions enter the retreat through food and rituals shared between hosts and guests.
For someone who has celebrated Diwali since childhood, a diya or a familiar flavor can bring back a whole collection of memories. For someone experiencing the festival for the first time, there’s plenty to be curious about and always someone nearby happy to share the story behind it.
And then, of course, there’s the table
Festive food is part of the pleasure of Diwali, and pleasure has a place in wellbeing too. Vana’s kitchens bubble with the same thoughtfulness that guides the menu throughout the year. The ingredients are considered and the sweets are still sweet, just with a healthier Eat With Six Senses touch.
That sense of care continues through the rest of the retreat as you spend time with a practitioner, walk beneath the cool sal canopy, or return to the treatments and practices that brought you to Six Senses Vana in the first place. Or simply sleep a little later after the previous evening’s celebrations. The retreat makes room for both.
Give yourself more time to gather with the people you love, while continuing the personal journey that brought you here. With the Extended Wellness Immersion offer, you can arrive early and ease into the rhythm, stay for the celebrations, and allow yourself a few days afterwards to return to your practices before heading home.
Rajasthani fort, full glow
Diwali arrives with extra sparkle this year at Six Senses Fort Barwara, as October also marks five years since the 14th-century royal fortress opened after a decade-long restoration.
Set beneath clear skies near Ranthambore National Park, the fort brings Diwali together with family adventure. Interconnecting suites give everyone room to spread out, while safari teepee beds can be arranged for younger guests who like their bedtime with a sense of occasion.
Safari stories and royal evenings
A private tiger safari can be arranged by your Guest Experience Maker, complete with transfers, a picnic, and hot masala tea in the jungle. Back at the fort, families can follow a heritage walk along the ramparts, join a treasure hunt within the walls, or learn local cooking methods in earthenware pots with one of the chefs. By evening, the mood turns royal, with private dining in one of the fort’s many atmospheric locations and a Rajasthani culinary journey with all the details taken care of.
A fort made for exploring
Our Family Connect offer is designed for families short on time but big on curiosity. Across three days, the fort becomes their playground. Begin by discovering its heritage on foot, then try chocolate-making before slowing the pace with a massage.
Day two is more hands-on. Make pizza from scratch, get moving with Zumba, then give old paper a new life through upcycling. On day three, unwind together with a fun foot mapping session and toothpaste making, before our Garden to Glass workshop turns fresh ingredients into a mocktail or smoothie. Take home a Young Explorer Certificate.
As the year turns toward its final months, there is something fitting about celebrating a festival centered on light and new beginnings, with people around you who feel like home.
We’ll light the diyas.