Diwali in India in 2024


  How long until Diwali?
Diwali
  Dates of Diwali in India
2025 Oct 21
Andhra PradeshTue, Oct 21Regional Holiday
Arunachal PradeshTue, Oct 21Regional Holiday
AssamTue, Oct 21Regional Holiday
BiharTue, Oct 21Regional Holiday
ChandigarhTue, Oct 21Regional Holiday
ChhattisgarhTue, Oct 21Regional Holiday
DelhiTue, Oct 21Regional Holiday
GoaTue, Oct 21Regional Holiday
GujaratTue, Oct 21Regional Holiday
HaryanaTue, Oct 21Regional Holiday
Himachal PradeshTue, Oct 21Regional Holiday
Jammu and KashmirTue, Oct 21Regional Holiday
JharkhandTue, Oct 21Regional Holiday
KarnatakaTue, Oct 21Regional Holiday
KeralaTue, Oct 21Regional Holiday
Madhya PradeshTue, Oct 21Regional Holiday
MaharashtraTue, Oct 21Regional Holiday
MaharashtraTue, Oct 21Regional Holiday
ManipurTue, Oct 21Regional Holiday
MeghalayaTue, Oct 21Regional Holiday
MizoramTue, Oct 21Regional Holiday
NagalandTue, Oct 21Regional Holiday
OdishaTue, Oct 21Regional Holiday
PunjabTue, Oct 21Regional Holiday
RajasthanTue, Oct 21Regional Holiday
SikkimTue, Oct 21Regional Holiday
Tamil NaduTue, Oct 21Regional Holiday
TelanganaTue, Oct 21Regional Holiday
TripuraTue, Oct 21Regional Holiday
Uttar PradeshTue, Oct 21Regional Holiday
UttarakhandTue, Oct 21Regional Holiday
2024 Oct 31, Nov 1, Nov 2
KarnatakaSat, Nov 2Regional Holiday (additional day)
MaharashtraSat, Nov 2Regional Holiday
HaryanaFri, Nov 1Regional Holiday
Jammu and KashmirFri, Nov 1Regional Holiday
MaharashtraFri, Nov 1Regional Holiday
ManipurFri, Nov 1Regional Holiday
MeghalayaFri, Nov 1Regional Holiday
TripuraFri, Nov 1Regional Holiday
Andhra PradeshThu, Oct 31Regional Holiday
Arunachal PradeshThu, Oct 31Regional Holiday
AssamThu, Oct 31Regional Holiday
BiharThu, Oct 31Regional Holiday
ChandigarhThu, Oct 31Regional Holiday
ChhattisgarhThu, Oct 31Regional Holiday
DelhiThu, Oct 31Regional Holiday
GoaThu, Oct 31Regional Holiday
GujaratThu, Oct 31Regional Holiday
Himachal PradeshThu, Oct 31Regional Holiday
JharkhandThu, Oct 31Regional Holiday
KarnatakaThu, Oct 31Regional Holiday
KeralaThu, Oct 31Regional Holiday
Madhya PradeshThu, Oct 31Regional Holiday
MaharashtraThu, Oct 31Regional Holiday
MizoramThu, Oct 31Regional Holiday
NagalandThu, Oct 31Regional Holiday
OdishaThu, Oct 31Regional Holiday
PuducherryThu, Oct 31Regional Holiday
PunjabThu, Oct 31Regional Holiday
RajasthanThu, Oct 31Regional Holiday
SikkimThu, Oct 31Regional Holiday
Tamil NaduThu, Oct 31Regional Holiday
TelanganaThu, Oct 31Regional Holiday
Uttar PradeshThu, Oct 31Regional Holiday
UttarakhandThu, Oct 31Regional Holiday
2023 Nov 12, Nov 13
Andhra PradeshMon, Nov 13Regional Holiday
ManipurMon, Nov 13Regional Holiday
Tamil NaduMon, Nov 13Regional Holiday (additional day)
TelanganaMon, Nov 13Regional Holiday (additional day)
TripuraMon, Nov 13Regional Holiday
Andhra PradeshSun, Nov 12Regional Holiday
Arunachal PradeshSun, Nov 12Regional Holiday
AssamSun, Nov 12Regional Holiday
BiharSun, Nov 12Regional Holiday
ChandigarhSun, Nov 12Regional Holiday
ChhattisgarhSun, Nov 12Regional Holiday
DelhiSun, Nov 12Regional Holiday
GoaSun, Nov 12Regional Holiday
GujaratSun, Nov 12Regional Holiday
HaryanaSun, Nov 12Regional Holiday
Himachal PradeshSun, Nov 12Regional Holiday
Jammu and KashmirSun, Nov 12Regional Holiday
JharkhandSun, Nov 12Regional Holiday
KarnatakaSun, Nov 12Regional Holiday
KeralaSun, Nov 12Regional Holiday
Madhya PradeshSun, Nov 12Regional Holiday
MaharashtraSun, Nov 12Regional Holiday
MeghalayaSun, Nov 12Regional Holiday
MizoramSun, Nov 12Regional Holiday
NagalandSun, Nov 12Regional Holiday
OdishaSun, Nov 12Regional Holiday
PunjabSun, Nov 12Regional Holiday
RajasthanSun, Nov 12Regional Holiday
Tamil NaduSun, Nov 12Regional Holiday
TelanganaSun, Nov 12Regional Holiday
Uttar PradeshSun, Nov 12Regional Holiday
UttarakhandSun, Nov 12Regional Holiday
2022 Oct 24, Oct 25, Oct 26
KarnatakaWed, Oct 26Regional Holiday
MaharashtraWed, Oct 26Regional Holiday
ManipurTue, Oct 25Regional Holiday
Andhra PradeshMon, Oct 24Regional Holiday
Arunachal PradeshMon, Oct 24Regional Holiday
AssamMon, Oct 24Regional Holiday
BiharMon, Oct 24Regional Holiday
ChandigarhMon, Oct 24Regional Holiday
ChhattisgarhMon, Oct 24Regional Holiday
DelhiMon, Oct 24Regional Holiday
GoaMon, Oct 24Regional Holiday
GujaratMon, Oct 24Regional Holiday
HaryanaMon, Oct 24Regional Holiday
Himachal PradeshMon, Oct 24Regional Holiday
Jammu and KashmirMon, Oct 24Regional Holiday
JharkhandMon, Oct 24Regional Holiday
KeralaMon, Oct 24Regional Holiday
Madhya PradeshMon, Oct 24Regional Holiday
MaharashtraMon, Oct 24Regional Holiday
MeghalayaMon, Oct 24Regional Holiday
MizoramMon, Oct 24Regional Holiday
NagalandMon, Oct 24Regional Holiday
OdishaMon, Oct 24Regional Holiday
PuducherryMon, Oct 24Regional Holiday
PunjabMon, Oct 24Regional Holiday
RajasthanMon, Oct 24Regional Holiday
SikkimMon, Oct 24Regional Holiday
Tamil NaduMon, Oct 24Regional Holiday
TelanganaMon, Oct 24Regional Holiday
TripuraMon, Oct 24Regional Holiday
Uttar PradeshMon, Oct 24Regional Holiday
UttarakhandMon, Oct 24Regional Holiday
2021 Nov 4, Nov 5
KarnatakaFri, Nov 5Regional Holiday
MaharashtraFri, Nov 5Regional Holiday
Andhra PradeshThu, Nov 4Regional Holiday
Arunachal PradeshThu, Nov 4Regional Holiday
AssamThu, Nov 4Regional Holiday
BiharThu, Nov 4Regional Holiday
ChandigarhThu, Nov 4Regional Holiday
ChhattisgarhThu, Nov 4Regional Holiday
DelhiThu, Nov 4Regional Holiday
GoaThu, Nov 4Regional Holiday
GujaratThu, Nov 4Regional Holiday
HaryanaThu, Nov 4Regional Holiday
Himachal PradeshThu, Nov 4Regional Holiday
Jammu and KashmirThu, Nov 4Regional Holiday
JharkhandThu, Nov 4Regional Holiday
KeralaThu, Nov 4Regional Holiday
Madhya PradeshThu, Nov 4Regional Holiday
MaharashtraThu, Nov 4Regional Holiday
ManipurThu, Nov 4Regional Holiday
MeghalayaThu, Nov 4Regional Holiday
MizoramThu, Nov 4Regional Holiday
NagalandThu, Nov 4Regional Holiday
OdishaThu, Nov 4Regional Holiday
PuducherryThu, Nov 4Regional Holiday
PunjabThu, Nov 4Regional Holiday
RajasthanThu, Nov 4Regional Holiday
SikkimThu, Nov 4Regional Holiday
Tamil NaduThu, Nov 4Regional Holiday
TelanganaThu, Nov 4Regional Holiday
TripuraThu, Nov 4Regional Holiday
Uttar PradeshThu, Nov 4Regional Holiday
UttarakhandThu, Nov 4Regional Holiday
  Summary

Celebrations revolve around the triumph of good over evil, purity over impurity, light over darkness

  Diwali in other countries
Diwali internationally
  Which regions observe Diwali in 2024?

When is Diwali?

The Festival of Lights is known as Deepavali (deep - lamp, vali - array). This is the name of the festival in Southern India and is how the festival is referred to in other Asian countries such as Malaysia and Singapore. In Northern India, it is more commonly known as Diwali, but they are essentially the same celebration.

In these countries and for Hindus around the world, the celebration revolves around the triumph of good over evil, purity over impurity, light over darkness. It is one of the most important Hindu festivals.

Diwali is a five-day festival, starting with Dhanteras, then Hanuman Jayanti and Narak Chaturdashi, followed by Diwali, and then Govardhan Puja and Bhai Dooj celebrations.

Traditions of Diwali

Diwali marks the return of Lord Rama, who was the seventh incarnation of Vishnu, from a fourteen-year exile.

The Festival of Lights takes place on the darkest night (the first night of the new moon) in the month of Kartik in the Hindu calendar.

Across India streets and temples are decorated with spectacular light displays and colourful garlands.

In their homes, people light small oil lamps called diyas. It is believed that deceased relatives come back to visit their families on Earth during this festival and the lights are a way to guide the spirits home. The sound of firecrackers exploding is common as the noise is said to drive away evil spirits.

Over 70% of all firecrackers used during Diwali come from the town of Sivaski in Tamil Nadu.

Families, friends and business associates exchange gifts and sweets, settle old business deals and are encouraged to rid themselves of hate, anger and jealousy.

The festival is a time for rejoicing and renewal.

Diwali holds significance not only in Hinduism but also in Sikhism who celebrate the release of their sixth Guru (literal translation: teacher) Hargobind. To Sikhs, it is known as Bandi Chhor Divas. The Jains celebrate it as the day when Lord Mahaveer, the last Tirthankara, attained Nirvana or Moksha.

The Five Days of Diwali

Diwali is a five-day festival that straddles the new moon. Though widely celebrated across all of India, the days may have different names and have additional meanings in some parts of India, there is enough commonality to briefly describe each of the days:

Dhanteras

Dhanteras marks the beginning of the five-day festivities of Diwali.  On this day, it is customary for people to clean their houses, so they are ready to welcome in Lakshmi, the Goddess of Wealth and Prosperity, whose Puja is performed in the evening. This is an auspicious day and a lucky day for buying expensive goods, though it is also a day to consider charity for those less well off. Small clay lamps, called diyas are lit to drive away the shadows of evil spirits.

Naraka Chaturdashi

According to Hindu tradition, the demon Narakasura was killed by Lord Krishna on the second day. Marking the coming end of the year in some regions of India, customs on this day are about cleaning the slate before the start of a new year and getting rid of anything bad. People get up early and wash and put on clean or new clothes. In parts of Southern India, this day is celebrated as the main day of Deepavali.

Diwali

The third day is celebrated on the new moon in Kartik. In most parts of India, this is the most important day of the festival and is the last day of the year in many regions of India. On this day, Lord Rama rescued his wife, Sita, from the demon Ravana and returned home after a long exile. Candles are lit to celebrate his victory and to light his way home after the battle. In the evening, it may seem like the whole of India is lit by explosions as people set off many fireworks.

Balipadyami

The fourth day of Diwali is also the first day of the new year in the Vikram Samvat calendar and may also be known as Pratipada, Govardhan Puja or Annakut. Annakut means 'mountain of food', which is a giveaway that today is all about feasting. Tradition has it that on this day, Lord Krishna lifted Govardhan Hill to give shelter from torrential rains to local villagers. Today, Hindus prepare a great deal of food and take it to the temples to celebrate the beginning of the new year and give thanks to Krishna for his benevolence.

Bhai Bij

Bhaiya Dooj, also known as Bhau Beej, Bhatra Dwitiya, Bhai Dwitiya and Bhathru Dwithiya is the fifth and last day of Diwali festival. This day celebrates the relationship between brother and sister. Read more about Bhai Bij.


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