Deepavali (Festival of Lights) 2025

Major Hindu festival celebrated island-wide, particularly vibrant in Tamil communities, featuring oil lamp lighting, fireworks, temple visits, gift exchanges, and cultural performances.

Deepavali, the Festival of Lights, will be celebrated across Sri Lanka on Monday, October 20, 2025, as an official public and bank holiday observed nationwide by the Hindu Tamil community and embraced in multicultural gatherings islandwide. The date is confirmed by Sri Lanka’s Central Bank holiday circular and national holiday calendars, which list “Deepavali Festival Day” on October 20, aligning Sri Lanka with other countries observing Diwali on that Monday in 2025. Travelers in Colombo, Jaffna, Trincomalee, Batticaloa, Kandy, and other towns with significant Hindu communities can expect homes, kovils (temples), and streets to glow with oil lamps, colorful rangoli, and festive attire, with many businesses closing or operating limited hours to mark the occasion.

Date and public holiday status

• Official date: Monday, October 20, 2025, designated “Deepavali Festival Day”.
• National calendars: Timeanddate and the national listings reflect the same date as a public holiday, matching regional and international Diwali observances for 2025.
• Government missions: Sri Lankan diplomatic posts list Deepavali on Oct 20, with some noting Oct 21 as the “day following” in specific consular schedules abroad, underscoring the holiday’s formal observance.

What Deepavali celebrates in Sri Lanka

Deepavali in Sri Lanka centers on the triumph of light over darkness and knowledge over ignorance, with religious observances tailored to local Saivite traditions and family customs. Temples hold special pūjā and abhishekam to deities such as Lord Ganesha and Lord Murugan, alongside Lakshmi worship and community offerings that bring families together for blessings and renewal. As in India and other parts of the world, the day is marked by the lighting of oil lamps (vilakku), the creation of colorful kolam (rangoli) at thresholds, and exchanges of sweets and gifts among neighbors, colleagues, and extended family.

Where to experience Deepavali

• Colombo: Hindu kovils in Wellawatte and Pettah illuminate with lamps and flower garlands, and neighborhoods with Tamil communities showcase kolam, new saris and veshti, and sweet shops offering laddoo, jalebi, and milk toffees special to the season.
• Jaffna Peninsula: The epicenter for Tamil Hindu culture in Sri Lanka, Jaffna’s Nallur Kandaswamy Kovil and other temples hold elaborate morning rituals, with homes radiating rows of lamps and families visiting elders to exchange greetings and sweets.
• Eastern Province: Trincomalee’s Koneswaram Kovil and Batticaloa kovils host special prayers that draw devotees from across the region; seafront neighborhoods light up in the evening as families gather to share festival meals.
• Hill Country: Tamil estate communities near Kandy, Nuwara Eliya, and Hatton celebrate with temple offerings, lights on estate lines, and cultural programs in community halls, reflecting the diversity of Deepavali across regions.

Observances and customs

• Temple visits: Morning pūjā and abhishekam with offerings of flowers, fruits, and sweets; devotees often wear new attire and seek blessings for prosperity and wellbeing.
• Lamps and kolam: Rows of oil lamps placed along windowsills and walls, and hand-drawn kolam patterns at thresholds welcome Lakshmi and symbolize auspicious beginnings.
• Sweets and savory treats: Households exchange homemade and shop-bought favorites; in Sri Lanka, milk toffee, kesari, laddu, and murukku are widely shared among friends and colleagues.
• Community spirit: Many schools and offices organize cultural assemblies before the holiday, while the public holiday itself is often reserved for family visits and religious observance.

Practical information for visitors

• Closures and hours: As an official public and bank holiday, government offices, banks, and many shops will close; plan errands for the prior Friday or Tuesday. Tourist sites may open with holiday hours; confirm in advance.
• Transport: Buses and trains run, though some services may follow holiday schedules; book intercity rail or long-distance buses early if traveling that weekend.
• Respectful attire: When visiting temples, wear modest clothing that covers shoulders and knees; remove shoes before entering kovils and avoid photography where restricted.
• Alcohol restrictions: While Poya Days specifically carry alcohol bans, Deepavali does not impose the same nationwide restriction; however, some restaurants may limit alcohol service on the day out of respect or due to staffing.
• Money and ATMs: Banks are closed; ATMs function, but withdraw cash ahead of the holiday to avoid queues or outages.

Travel planning around Deepavali

• Festivals and lights: Evenings of Oct 19–20 are the best time to see homes and kovils illuminated. For a deeper cultural immersion, plan an early morning temple visit on Oct 20 followed by a neighborhood walk at dusk to view kolam and lamps.
• Culinary experiences: Seek out sweets from reputed Colombo or Jaffna confectioners the day before; many shops sell special Deepavali boxes. Tamil restaurants offer festival menus that include vegetarian dishes enjoyed after temple visits.
• Photography etiquette: Ask before photographing people, homes, or rituals; many families happily share the meaning of their kolam and welcome respectful interest in the art.

Calendar context and variations

• The Hindu lunisolar calendar sets Deepavali’s date, which shifts annually; Sri Lanka aligns via official holiday gazettes and bank circulars to confirm the precise day each year.
• In 2025, Sri Lanka, India, Malaysia, Singapore, and Mauritius observe Diwali/Deepavali on Monday, October 20, while neighboring countries with multi-day observances may mark associated days on Oct 21–22 for their regional traditions.
• Sri Lanka’s government holiday lists unify observance into a single public holiday (with some missions listing the following day for administrative purposes), simplifying national scheduling for residents and travelers.

Getting to and around Sri Lanka for the holiday

• Flights: Colombo’s Bandaranaike International Airport (CMB) handles most international arrivals; book early if traveling the Oct 18–21 window, as domestic travel increases during festival periods.
• Local transport: Ride-hailing apps and metered taxis operate in major cities; in Jaffna and Trincomalee, tuk‑tuks and local taxis make temple-hopping easy on holiday evenings.
• Accommodation: City hotels and guesthouses seldom sell out for Deepavali alone, but boutique stays near kovils may be busier; reserve preferred properties in advance, especially in Jaffna.

Verified details at a glance

• Holiday: Deepavali (Festival of Lights) in Sri Lanka.
• Date: Monday, October 20, 2025.
• Type: Public and bank holiday, nationwide.
• Government confirmation: Central Bank holiday list and national calendars list “Deepavali Festival Day” on Oct 20, 2025.

As lamps flicker across Sri Lanka on October 20, 2025, Deepavali invites residents and visitors alike to celebrate light, learning, and renewal. Plan a dawn temple visit, taste the season’s sweets, and watch the island glow at dusk. Mark the date, build a respectful itinerary, and let the Festival of Lights illuminate a heartfelt journey through Sri Lanka’s Hindu heritage and the rich cultural mosaic that makes the island so welcoming to all.