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Did you know Diwali is a public holiday in these 7 places outside India?
Diwali isn't just celebrated in India. Discover 7 countries where Deepavali is a public holiday, and the festivities and traditions you’ll find there.
Think Diwali is only celebrated in India? Think again.
Thousands of miles away, many countries with deep-rooted Indian diaspora communities honor the Festival of Lights with a public holiday.
Even in countries where it’s not an official day of observance, you can find huge celebrations, from lively street Diwali events in Australia to colorful Diwali parades in the UK.
Here are 7 countries beyond India where families pause to celebrate, light diyas, and share festive meals.
| Place | Signature celebration | 2026 Holiday |
|---|---|---|
| Singapore | Little India Street Light-Up | Mon Nov 9 |
| Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia | Brickfields Deepavali bazaar | Sun Nov 8, Mon Nov 9 in lieu |
| Kathmandu, Nepal | Tihar, five days | Nov 7 to Nov 11 |
| Trinidad and Tobago | Divali Nagar, Oct 30 to Nov 7 | Sun Nov 8 |
| Guyana | Diwali motorcade, Sat Nov 7 | Sun Nov 8, Mon Nov 9 in lieu |
| Fiji | Diyas and lights in every town | Mon Nov 9 |
| Mauritius | Clay lamps and shared sweets | Sun Nov 8 |
Singapore: Little India’s month of lights
Singapore’s Little India district lights up for the entire month leading up to Diwali.
Since October 3, street light-ups have illuminated Serangoon Road every evening, stretching over 2km. Campbell Lane has also had a Festival Village every evening since October 10.
Festive stalls and food trucks, paired with glowing arches and colorful decorations, make Little India one of the best places to visit in Singapore after dark. Expect some of the best Indian food in Singapore, along with traditional Diwali sweets like jalebi, laddu, and barfi.
As Deepavali falls on Sunday, November 8, Singapore will mark Monday, November 9, 2026, as an official public holiday. Just note that the Festival Village wraps up on Deepavali itself, so catch it before November 8.
Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia: The Brickfields bazaar
Kuala Lumpur’s Brickfields (also known as Little India) comes alive for Diwali with a month-long bazaar running from October 9 to November 7, 2026.
It’s open from 10 AM to midnight, with over 130 stalls selling Indian food, festive sweets, traditional clothing, and handcrafted decorations. To accommodate the vendors and visitors, a 120-meter stretch of Jalan Tun Sambanthan 1 is closed to traffic during this time.
Beyond the shopping, Malaysia’s open house tradition captures the festival’s inclusive spirit. Families welcome friends and neighbors of all backgrounds to share food and celebrate together.
Deepavali falls on Sunday, November 8, this year, so most of Malaysia gets Monday, November 9, off as a replacement holiday. The one exception is Sarawak, which doesn’t observe Deepavali as a public holiday.
Kathmandu, Nepal: Tihar, five days of honoring
Nepal celebrates Diwali in its own unique way with the five-day Tihar festival that extends its homage to animals and the bond we humans share with them.
- Day 1 (November 7): Kaag Tihar, honoring crows as messengers of Yamaraj (the God of Death).
- Day 2 (November 8): Kukur Tihar, when dogs receive marigold garlands, colorful tika, and treats. That evening, families celebrate Laxmi Puja, lighting oil lamps to welcome the goddess of wealth.
- Day 3 (November 9): Gai Tihar, worshipping cows as symbols of wealth and prosperity.
- Day 4 (November 10): Govardhan Puja (worshipping oxen for agriculture) and Mha Puja (self-worship).
- Day 5 (November 11): Bhai Tika, a sibling celebration where sisters offer garlands and colorful tikas to their brothers as blessings.
To join in the celebrations, you can leave food out for crows on day one or adorn street dogs with red tikas and marigold garlands.
Another thing you might see on your trip to Nepal is deusi-bhailo singers traveling door to door to perform festive songs.
Trinidad and Tobago: Divali Nagar’s nine nights
Divali on Sunday, November 8, 2026, is a national public holiday in Trinidad and Tobago, and villages across the islands glow with thousands of diyas that night. It caps off the country’s huge nine-day Divali celebration.
Divali Nagar in Chaguanas hosts the event, with nine nights of festivities running from October 30 to November 7, 2026. Expect stage shows, traditional Indian food, and cultural exhibits celebrating the country’s rich Indo-Caribbean heritage.
If you’re visiting, dress modestly and remove your shoes in temple spaces. Allow extra travel time, too, as traffic around Divali Nagar can build heavily near sunset.
Guyana: The Diwali motorcade through Georgetown
Guyana’s Diwali motorcade is a spectacular annual tradition that brings the Festival of Lights to the streets of Georgetown.
On Saturday, November 7, 2026, the Diwali Motorcade procession will feature illuminated floats from temples and community groups, decorated with colorful lights and creative displays depicting Hindu deities and religious scenes.
The motorcade rolls out in the evening, winding from Campbellville through Georgetown and along the East Coast Demerara to La Bonne Intention, with thousands of spectators lining the route.
Fiji: Diyas across the islands
In Fiji, Diwali is a national public holiday on Monday, November 9, 2026.
Families and communities come together for an island-wide celebration of light, generosity, and new beginnings. Homes glow with traditional diyas and fairy lights, while families prepare sweets to share with neighbors and friends of every background.
Suva and Nadi have hosted public Diwali celebrations and fireworks displays in recent years, but official programs for 2026 have not yet been announced.
Mauritius: Clay lamps and shared sweets
Around two-thirds of Mauritians have Indian roots. Between 1834 and 1920, the British brought hundreds of thousands of Indian indentured laborers to the island.
As a result, almost half of the population is Hindu today, and Indian holidays like Diwali are an important part of Mauritian culture.
Divali is a public holiday on Sunday, November 8. Unlike several other countries on this list, Mauritius doesn’t add a Monday holiday.
Families decorate their homes with traditional clay lamps and share homemade sweets with friends and neighbors. Some towns host community events, cultural activities, and public light displays.
On November 2, Mauritius marks the Arrival of Indentured Laborers, a separate public holiday marking the arrival of the first Indian indentured laborers.
Planning a Diwali trip outside India
Most public Diwali events run from November 7 to 9, 2026, but some end earlier. For example, Divali Nagar in Trinidad and Tobago, Kuala Lumpur’s Brickfields bazaar, and Singapore’s Festival Village all wrap up by November 7 or 8.
So aim to arrive by Friday, November 6, to experience the festivities before they end. And if you want to stay close to the festival sites, book your accommodation well in advance.
On the public holiday, many shops and offices close, while temples are busy, as many host special Deepavali observances.
Before arriving at your destination, sort out your mobile data solution. You can install an eSIM and activate it on arrival. Most of these countries also have SIM card kiosks at the airport, allowing you to get a local SIM card in Singapore or buy a Malaysian SIM card after you land. If Kathmandu is on your list, here’s how to stay connected in Nepal.
If you’re still set on spending Diwali in India, here’s what to know about landing in India for Diwali.
Follow the lights with Holafly
Whether you’re wandering Little India after dark or catching Tihar in Kathmandu, a Holafly eSIM keeps you online from the moment you land. Install it before you leave, switch it on when you arrive, and enjoy unlimited data, 5G speeds where available, and 24/7 customer support. Sharing your location with friends or finding the next street celebration is quick and easy. If you’re hopping between celebrations, Holafly Plans cover 160+ destinations with a single eSIM.
What’s more, every Holafly eSIM includes Always On, 1 GB of backup data each month at no additional cost. It activates automatically while the eSIM stays installed, renews monthly, and works in 150+ destinations. If you decide on a whim to add another stop to your festival trip, Always On keeps you connected while you sort out the next leg.
Peace of mind before you fly
Set up your eSIM before travel and get unlimited data on arrival.
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Hi, I'm Mika, a South Korean writer living in the US. I cover travel and live events, focusing on the practical stuff that makes your trip smoother, whether you're navigating a new city or heading to a major international event.I'm also the founder of Search SEOul, South Korea's leading SEO conference, bringing together search marketing experts and speakers from around the world.
