Diwali
India's biggest festival — the Festival of Lights, celebrated nationwide with oil lamps, fireworks, and family gatherings, marking the triumph of light over darkness.
Diwali
Diwali is India's largest and most widely celebrated festival, marking the symbolic victory of light over darkness and good over evil. Homes, streets and temples are lit with oil lamps (diyas) and string lights, and the festival is marked with fireworks, sweets, and family gatherings across the entire country.
While Diwali is celebrated nationwide, some cities offer especially memorable settings — the ghats of Varanasi lit with thousands of lamps, the Golden Temple in Amritsar illuminated and reflected in its pool, and Jaipur's markets strung with lights are all particularly striking ways to experience it.
Where
Nationwide, most vividly in Jaipur, Varanasi, Amritsar and Delhi
When
October or November (exact date shifts yearly on the lunar calendar)
What to Expect
Diyas & String Lights
Homes, temples and public spaces across India are lit with oil lamps and string lights for the full festival period.
Varanasi's Ghats
The ghats of Varanasi, already atmospheric, become especially striking during Diwali, lit with thousands of lamps along the Ganges.
The Golden Temple, Illuminated
Amritsar's Golden Temple is lit for Diwali and reflected in its surrounding pool, one of the most photographed Diwali scenes in India.
A Family Festival
At its core, Diwali is a home and family celebration — visitors experience it most vividly through markets, temples and public lighting rather than private gatherings.
Common Questions
Everything international travellers ask before planning a trip around this festival.
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Varanasi and Amritsar both offer especially striking public settings, though Jaipur and Delhi also light up significantly — we can build an itinerary around whichever fits your dates and interests.
The main celebration is one night, but the surrounding festival period spans about five days, each with its own smaller traditions.
Yes, though restrictions on fireworks have increased in some cities in recent years for air-quality reasons — we can advise on current conditions when planning your trip.
Start Your Journey
Time Your Trip Around Diwali.
When Will You Go?
Tell us your travel window and we'll build an itinerary around the festival, usually with a reply within 24 hours.