Diwali
The festival of lights: lamps, kandils, rangoli, faral and shopping crowds on Laxmi Road.
Quick facts
- Month:
- October or November
- Known for:
- Kandils, faral, Laxmi Road shopping
Diwali is the biggest family festival of the year. Homes are lit with diyas and paper kandils (lanterns), rangoli is drawn at every door and families make faral: chakli, karanji, chivda, shankarpali and ladoos.
In the weeks before Diwali, Laxmi Road, Tulshibaug and the markets of the old city are packed with shoppers. Many groups hold Diwali Pahat, early morning music concerts, on the first day of the festival.
Something wrong or missing on this page? Suggest a correction
More in Festivals of Pune
-
Shiv Jayanti
The birth anniversary of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, celebrated on 19 February with processions and programmes.
- Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar Jayanti The birth anniversary of Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar on 14 April, marked in Pune with tributes at his statues, processions, music and lectures through the day and night.
-
Navratri and Dasara
Nine nights of the goddess, with the Chaturshrungi fair, garba and dandiya, ending in Dasara: apta leaves as gold, Ravan dahan and new beginnings.
-
Palkhi (Ashadhi Wari)
Every year the palkhis of Sant Dnyaneshwar and Sant Tukaram pass through Pune with lakhs of Varkaris walking to Pandharpur.
-
Gudi Padwa
The Marathi New Year: a gudi at every door, neem and jaggery, shrikhand puri, and shobha yatras with dhol tasha across Pune.
- Holi and Rang Panchami The festival of colours: a Holi bonfire and puran poli on the full moon night, then colours on Dhulivandan and again on Rang Panchami.
Sources: Written by PuneDiary. Facts checked 10 October 2026.