Diwali
Also known as: Deepavali, Festival of Lights
India's best-known festival of lights, marked by lamps, sweets, family gatherings, temple visits, markets, fireworks, and regional traditions.
Location
India-wide
Duration
5 days
Month (AD)
October/November
Next celebration
Nov 8, 2026
In 192 days
Highlights
Diyas, rangoli, sweets, markets, family rituals, temple visits, illuminated streets, and regional new-year observances.
Tips for Visitors
Book transport early, expect heavy shopping crowds, protect ears and lungs if sensitive to fireworks, and ask local hosts how the festival is observed in that region.
Diwali, or Deepavali, is the most widely recognized Indian festival for travelers. It is celebrated across communities and regions with oil lamps, rangoli, sweets, family visits, prayers, illuminated markets, and local variations tied to Rama, Lakshmi, Krishna, Mahavira, Guru Hargobind, or regional harvest and new-year traditions. The best travel experiences are place-specific: Varanasi for riverside lamps, Jaipur for markets, Amritsar for Bandi Chhor Divas, Ayodhya for Rama traditions, and family contexts wherever invitations are possible.