Festival calendar
Festival

Diwali in the Netherlands

Also called Deepavali, दिवाली.

The five days run from Dhanteras on 6 November to Bhai Dooj. The date above is Lakshmi Puja, which is the night people mean by Diwali.

Diwali runs five days from Dhanteras to Bhai Dooj, with Lakshmi Puja on the main night. Away from India the shape of it changes: there is no public holiday, the children have school, and the evening has to work around a Dutch working day.

The thing that surprises people in their first year is fireworks. Consumer fireworks are illegal in the Netherlands outside a window on 31 December, and that is enforced. Nothing else about the evening has to change — lamps at the door, rangoli, the puja at the right hour, and enough mithai — but the fireworks are not happening, and it is better to know that in October than on the night.

What we arrange

  • Lakshmi Puja with a pandit, at the muhurat for your city
  • Diyas, rangoli colours and torans for the entrance
  • Marigold garlands, ordered three weeks out — October stock goes fast
  • Mithai from a maker rather than a supermarket shelf
  • Sattvik or Jain catering for the evening, and eggless sweets
  • A hotel suite or hall if the flat will not hold everyone

Sourcing takes about 30 days for this one, so tell us by .

Dates

What this usually becomes

Also coming up

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