Diwali 2027: date, meaning and flights to India

Diwali dates: 2027 and 2028 (and 2026)

Year	Diwali (Lakshmi Puja)	Around it
2026	Sunday 8 November	Dhanteras Fri 6 Nov, Govardhan Puja Tue 10 Nov, Bhai Dooj Wed 11 Nov
2027	Friday 29 October	Dhanteras Wed 27 Oct, Govardhan Puja Sat 30 Oct, Bhai Dooj Sun 31 Oct
2028	Tuesday 17 October	Govardhan Puja Wed 18 Oct, Bhai Dooj Thu 19 Oct

Dates are for New Delhi from Drik Panchang. Diwali follows the lunar calendar, so some regions and calendars differ by a day. In Tamil Nadu, for example, Deepavali is marked on the morning of Naraka Chaturdashi.

What is Diwali?

Diwali, or Deepavali, is the festival of lights. For many Hindu families it celebrates the return of Lord Rama to Ayodhya and the victory of light over darkness. The main night is Lakshmi Puja, when families pray for prosperity, light diyas, decorate with rangoli, share sweets and visit relatives. Sikhs mark Bandi Chhor Divas on the same day, and the Golden Temple in Amritsar is lit up. Jains also celebrate Diwali. The festival runs over five days, from Dhanteras to Bhai Dooj.

Where to spend Diwali in India

• Delhi: lights and markets everywhere, and the easiest arrival from Australia, with non-stop flights from Melbourne and Sydney. Ayodhya, Varanasi and Jaipur are a short onward trip. See Melbourne to Delhi and Sydney to Delhi.
• Amritsar: Bandi Chhor Divas at the Golden Temple, with lamps and fireworks. See Adelaide to Amritsar.
• Mumbai: big city celebrations and family visits. See Sydney to Mumbai.
• Ahmedabad and Gujarat: Diwali leads into the Gujarati New Year the next day. See Melbourne to Ahmedabad.
• Kolkata: Kali Puja is celebrated on the same night.
• Chennai and the south: Deepavali is a morning festival with an oil bath, new clothes and sweets. See Melbourne to Chennai and Sydney to Bengaluru.

Expect busy domestic flights, trains and roads across India in Diwali week. Book any onward travel inside India at the same time as your international flights.

Booking for Diwali 2027 and 2028

Diwali 2027 is on Friday 29 October, after the SA spring school holidays (about 25 September – 10 October 2027). In 2028 it's earlier, on 17 October. In Australia, searches for Diwali dates peak in August. We suggest:

• Book by mid-year (May–July) for the best choice of dates and fares.
• Plan to arrive two or three days before Lakshmi Puja, so a delay doesn't mean missing the main night.
• If you're also going to a wedding, check the luggage on your fare. Wedding season starts around Diwali, and our baggage guide compares the airlines.
• Read our cheapest time to fly guide if you're flexible about your dates.

Diwali in Australia

If you're staying home, Australian cities hold big community Diwali events. In Adelaide, Hindu Council of Australia (SA) is holding Adelaide's Biggest Deepavali Festival at the Adelaide Showground on Saturday 7 November 2026. Melbourne and Sydney have large festivals too, but dates and venues change every year, so check with the organisers, your local temple or your community association.

Bringing parents to Australia for the celebrations instead? See our parents' page.

Talk to a real person about Diwali flights

Fares and schedules change every day, so we don't publish prices on this page. For live fares, call or WhatsApp the Travel Care team on 0421 882 733. We're a family-run agency at 222 Henley Beach Road, Torrensville, booking flights since 2010, and we speak English, Hindi and Punjabi. Seen a cheaper fare somewhere else? Send us the screenshot and we'll see what we can do.

Last checked: 19 October 2026 by the Travel Care team.