Diwali 2027
Five nights of light, ending in the loudest one.
Countdown to Diwali 2027
Dates
When is Diwali?
Diwali 2027 falls from Wednesday, 27 October 2027 to Sunday, 31 October 2027 (expected; it can move by a day). In 2028 it falls on Tuesday, 17 October 2028 (expected; it can move by a day).
Dhanteras 27 October and Lakshmi Puja (main Diwali night) 29 October; Govardhan Puja and Bhai Dooj follow over the next two days.
Date checked against timeanddate.com
| Year | Dates | Length | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 6 – 11 November 2026Fri – Wed | 6 days | Past |
| 2027 | 27 – 31 October 2027Wed – Sun | 5 days | Expected |
| 2028 | 17 October 2028Tue | 1 day | Expected |
See every festival by date in the 2026 festival calendar and 2027 festival calendar.
The story
What it is, and why it matters
- Type
- Festival of Lights
- Tradition
- Hindu
- Where
- Jaipur, Rajasthan
- Crowd
- A billion observers
- UNESCO
- Not inscribed
Jaipur's bazaars compete on illumination for a month. Johari Bazaar does not so much light up as turn into a lantern.
The name comes from the Sanskrit deepavali — a row of lamps. The five nights move from Dhanteras, when households buy metal, to Bhai Dooj, when siblings are obliged to feed each other.
In the north the story is Rama's return to Ayodhya after fourteen years of exile. In the south it is Krishna's defeat of Narakasura. In Gujarat and much of the merchant world it is Lakshmi, and therefore the accounting year.
Culture
Traditions, food and music of Diwali
Traditions
What actually happens
- Dhanteras — new kitchenware, new ledgers, the year's accounts closed.
- Rangoli — floor designs in rice flour and pigment, redone every morning.
- Lakshmi Puja — the third night, doors left open and every lamp lit at once.
- Fireworks — legal on the third night almost nowhere, and set off everywhere anyway.
Food
The table, widened
- Mithai boxes: kaju katli, gulab jamun, barfi, stacked in tins and given to neighbours.
- Samosa, chakli and a full Gujarati farsan platter for anyone who drops in.
Music
Sound of the crowd
Bhajans in the morning, then a wholesale switch to Bollywood party playback by evening. In Punjab the calendar point coincides with Bandi Chhor Divas, and gurdwaras light up in parallel.
Religion
Why this date
Diwali is observed by Hindus, Jains, Sikhs and some Buddhists, each with a different reason and the same date — an unusual example of one night doing several kinds of theological work at once.
History
How it survived
Deepavali is referenced in early Sanskrit texts and in the travel accounts of the Persian scholar Al-Biruni in the 11th century. It became a fixed national holiday in India in 1947 and a public holiday in a dozen other countries.
History
How it got here
Deepavali is referenced in early Sanskrit texts and in the travel accounts of the Persian scholar Al-Biruni in the 11th century. It became a fixed national holiday in India in 1947 and a public holiday in a dozen other countries.
c. 1000 BCE
Deepavali
Row-of-lamps rite referenced in early Sanskrit ritual literature.
1030
Al-Biruni
The Persian scholar documents the new-moon lamp festival in detail.
1947
National holiday
Diwali becomes one of independent India's three official national festivals.
Today
Diaspora calendar
Diwali is now marked by official civic events in London, Toronto and Singapore.
Travel & practical
Visiting Jaipur for Diwali
Getting there
Jaipur (JAI) has direct flights from Delhi, Mumbai, Dubai and Singapore.
Best vantage
Amer Fort's illuminated ramparts, and the rooftop cafés off Hawa Mahal Road for the bazaar glow.
Practical notes
Air quality in north India collapses in November. Bring an N95 if you are sensitive.
Plan the trip with free AltFTool tools
FAQ
Diwali: common questions
Straight answers to what people ask most about Diwali.
Which night is the main one?
The third night, Lakshmi Puja, when every lamp in the house is lit simultaneously.
Is Diwali a public holiday?
Yes — in India, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Malaysia, Singapore, Mauritius, Fiji, Trinidad and Guyana.
What does the row of lamps mean?
Guidance. Lamps are placed at thresholds to show Lakshmi, and the returning hero, the way in.
Also in October 2027
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