Diwali 2027 is on Friday, October 29, in India, the night of Lakshmi Puja at the Kartika new moon. Singapore and Malaysia mark Deepavali on Thursday, October 28, and most US Hindu calendars list October 28.
Diwali, also called Deepavali, is the Hindu festival of lights, held over five days around the new moon of the Hindu month of Kartika.
Its main day, Lakshmi Puja, falls on Friday, October 29, 2027, in India, according to the Government of India’s 2027 gazetted holiday list.
The date is not the same everywhere. Singapore and Malaysia hold their Deepavali public holiday a day earlier, on Thursday, October 28, and for the United States, Drik Panchang puts Lakshmi Puja on October 28 as well, because the new moon lunar day falls on a different evening in American time zones.
This page gives the Diwali 2027 date by country, the five days of the festival, the dates from 2026 to 2030, why Diwali is celebrated, and how it is observed in different traditions.
Table of Contents
When is Diwali 2027?
The table below gives the main Diwali date in 2027 for India and for the countries and communities where it most often differs.
| Where | Diwali 2027 (main day) |
|---|---|
| India | Friday, October 29 |
| Singapore | Thursday, October 28 (public holiday) |
| Malaysia | Thursday, October 28 (public holiday, except Sarawak) |
| United States, Central Time (Houston) | Thursday, October 28 |
| United States, Pacific Time (San Francisco) | Thursday, October 28 |
In Hindi: Diwali 2027 kab hai? Shukravar, 29 October 2027, in India. The Lakshmi Puja window in Delhi runs from 5:55 to 7:21 p.m. IST, according to Dekho Panchang, which gives 6:23 to 7:49 p.m. in Mumbai and 5:18 to 6:44 p.m. in Kolkata.
Why the date differs by country
Diwali’s main day is set by the Hindu lunar calendar. Lakshmi Puja is held after sunset on the day when Amavasya, the new moon lunar day, is in force in the evening.
In 2027, Amavasya runs from 8:48 p.m. IST on Thursday, October 28, to 7:06 p.m. IST on Friday, October 29, according to KundliGPT; Muhuratam gives the same span as 11:18 a.m. to 9:36 a.m. US Eastern Time.
It ends at the exact new moon, which the U.S. Naval Observatory puts at 13:36 UTC on October 29.
| Place | Amavasya begins | Amavasya ends | Evening with Amavasya in force |
|---|---|---|---|
| India (IST) | Thursday, October 28, 8:48 p.m. | Friday, October 29, 7:06 p.m. | Friday, October 29 |
| US Eastern (EDT) | Thursday, October 28, 11:18 a.m. | Friday, October 29, 9:36 a.m. | Thursday, October 28 |
| US Pacific (PDT) | Thursday, October 28, 8:18 a.m. | Friday, October 29, 6:36 a.m. | Thursday, October 28 |
In India, the new moon lunar day covers the evening of October 29; in the United States, it covers the evening of October 28 and has already ended by sunset on October 29.
That is why American Hindu calendars such as Drik Panchang list October 28. Not every source agrees: Daanyam gives October 29 for New York, so families in the US should check the date their local temple uses.
Singapore and Malaysia differ for another reason. Their Deepavali holiday follows the South Indian custom of celebrating on Naraka Chaturdashi, the day before Lakshmi Puja.
Naraka Chaturdashi “is commonly celebrated as Diwali in Tamil Nadu, Goa, and Karnataka,” and India’s 2027 central government holiday list, as summarised by Gconnect, notes that states observing Naraka Chaturdashi on October 28 may substitute that day.
The five days of Diwali 2027
Diwali runs over five days, from Dhanteras to Bhai Dooj, according to Wikipedia. The dates below are for India, from Dekho Panchang’s pages for Dhanteras, Naraka Chaturdashi, Govardhan Puja and Bhai Dooj. Drik Panchang’s US calendar for Houston puts each day one day earlier.
| Day | Festival day | India | United States (Drik Panchang, Houston) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Dhanteras | Wednesday, October 27 | Tuesday, October 26 |
| 2 | Naraka Chaturdashi (Choti Diwali) | Thursday, October 28 | Wednesday, October 27 |
| 3 | Lakshmi Puja (Diwali) | Friday, October 29 | Thursday, October 28 |
| 4 | Govardhan Puja | Saturday, October 30 | Friday, October 29 |
| 5 | Bhai Dooj | Sunday, October 31 | Saturday, October 30 |
Drik Panchang’s US calendar also lists Govatsa Dwadashi on Monday, October 25, as an extra first day.
Diwali dates for 2026 to 2030
Diwali moves about 11 or 12 days earlier each year, then jumps about 19 days later in years after the Hindu calendar adds a leap month.
| Year | Diwali in India | Note |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | Sunday, November 8 | Also November 8 in Houston, per Drik Panchang |
| 2027 | Friday, October 29 | October 28 in Singapore, Malaysia and most US calendars |
| 2028 | Tuesday, October 17 | 12 days earlier than 2027 |
| 2029 | Monday, November 5 | 19 days later than 2028 |
| 2030 | Saturday, October 26 |
Diwali 2026 falls on Sunday, November 8, so the 2027 festival comes 10 days earlier in the 2027 calendar.
Diwali and the new moon
Diwali falls on the darkest night of the Hindu month, the new moon, which is why the festival centres on lamps. In 2027, the exact new moon comes at 9:36 a.m. EDT (13:36 UTC) on Friday, October 29, as listed on Datescal’s Moon Phases 2027: New Moon and Quarter Moon Dates and Times page.
The full moon two weeks before, the October 15 Hunter’s Moon, is Sharad Purnima, and the full moon two weeks after, the November 13 to 14 Beaver Moon, is Kartik Purnima, when Guru Nanak Jayanti falls on November 14.
Why is Diwali celebrated?
Diwali celebrates the victory of light over darkness, and different traditions tie it to different stories. Dekho Panchang summarises the main ones: the return of Rama to Ayodhya in the Ramayana, the emergence of the goddess Lakshmi from the cosmic ocean, and Krishna’s victory over the demon Narakasura, which is remembered on Naraka Chaturdashi.
Diwali is not limited to Hindus. According to Wikipedia:
- Jains celebrate it as Mahavira Nirvana Divas, marking the death and final liberation of Mahavira.
- Sikhs celebrate Bandi Chhor Divas, remembering the release of Guru Hargobind from the Gwalior Fort prison.
- In Nepal, the festival is known as Tihar and runs over several days with its own named rituals.
How Diwali is observed
Practice varies by region and community, but common customs include lighting oil lamps called diyas, decorating homes, setting off fireworks, sharing sweets, and exchanging gifts.
Each of the five days has its own focus. Dekho Panchang describes a pre-dawn oil bath, Abhyanga Snan, as the central ritual of Naraka Chaturdashi, and Lakshmi Puja is held after sunset on the main day.
Wikipedia describes the fourth day as Govardhan Puja or Annakut in some regions, and the fifth, Bhai Dooj, as a celebration of the bond between brothers and sisters.
Where Diwali is a public holiday
Diwali is an official holiday in Fiji, Guyana, India, Malaysia, Mauritius, Myanmar, Nepal, Pakistan, Singapore, Sri Lanka, Suriname, and Trinidad and Tobago.
In the United States, Diwali is recognised as a state holiday in Pennsylvania (2024), Connecticut (2025), and California, according to KTVU.
California’s law, AB 268, signed on October 7, 2025, and in effect from January 1, 2026, lets public schools and community colleges close for Diwali and lets state employees take the day off, according to the Hindu American Foundation. New York City lawmakers have also passed legislation making Diwali a school holiday.
What Diwali is not
Several festivals are confused with Diwali. The table below sets out the differences.
| Festival | What it is | Date in 2027 |
|---|---|---|
| Diwali (Lakshmi Puja) | Main day of the festival of lights, at the Kartika new moon | Friday, October 29, in India |
| Deepavali | Another name for Diwali; in Singapore and Malaysia, the Naraka Chaturdashi holiday | Thursday, October 28, in Singapore and Malaysia |
| Choti Diwali | Naraka Chaturdashi, the day before Lakshmi Puja | Thursday, October 28, in India |
| Dussehra | Vijaya Dashami, about three weeks before Diwali | Saturday, October 9, on India’s holiday list |
| Holi | The Hindu spring festival of colours, at the Phalguna full moon | March 2027 |
| Guru Nanak Jayanti | Birth anniversary of Guru Nanak, at Kartik Purnima | Sunday, November 14 |
Dussehra and Guru Nanak Jayanti dates are from India’s 2027 gazetted holiday list.
Frequently asked questions
When is Diwali in 2027?
Diwali 2027 is on Friday, October 29, in India, according to the Government of India’s 2027 holiday list and Dekho Panchang. Singapore and Malaysia hold their Deepavali public holiday on Thursday, October 28, and Drik Panchang’s US calendar also lists Lakshmi Puja on October 28.
Is Diwali 2027 on October 28 or October 29?
It depends on where you are. India celebrates on Friday, October 29, when the new moon lunar day is in force after sunset. In US time zones, that lunar day covers the evening of October 28 instead, so US calendars such as Drik Panchang give October 28. Singapore and Malaysia also observe October 28.
When is Deepavali 2027 in Singapore?
Deepavali 2027 is a public holiday in Singapore on Thursday, October 28, according to the Singapore Government Gazette. Malaysia also observes Deepavali on Thursday, October 28, 2027, in every state and federal territory except Sarawak, according to the official list reported by Human Resources Online.
What are the five days of Diwali 2027?
In India, the five days are Dhanteras on Wednesday, October 27; Naraka Chaturdashi on Thursday, October 28; Lakshmi Puja on Friday, October 29; Govardhan Puja on Saturday, October 30; and Bhai Dooj on Sunday, October 31, according to Dekho Panchang. In the US, Drik Panchang lists each day one day earlier.
Why is Diwali celebrated?
Diwali celebrates the victory of light over darkness. Hindus link it to Rama’s return to Ayodhya, the goddess Lakshmi, and Krishna’s defeat of Narakasura. Jains mark Mahavira’s nirvana on the same day, and Sikhs celebrate Bandi Chhor Divas, the release of Guru Hargobind, according to Wikipedia.
When was Diwali last year, and when is it in 2028?
Diwali 2026 falls on Sunday, November 8, according to Dekho Panchang and Drik Panchang. Diwali 2028 falls on Tuesday, October 17, in India, according to Dekho Panchang and Wikipedia, 12 days earlier in the calendar than in 2027.
Sources:
- Government of India 2027 gazetted holidays (StaffNews)
- Gconnect: Central Government Holiday List 2027
- Dekho Panchang: Diwali 2027
- Drik Panchang: Diwali 2027 calendar
- Daanyam: Diwali 2027, San Francisco
- Daanyam: Diwali 2027, New York
- KundliGPT: Diwali 2027
- Muhuratam: Diwali 2027
- Singapore Government Gazette: 2027 public holidays
- Human Resources Online: Malaysia 2027 public holidays
- Wikipedia: Diwali
- KTVU: California Diwali holiday
- Hindu American Foundation: California Diwali law
- USNO moon phases 2027
