Moves each year, falls October or November
Divali in Suriname: the festival of lights
Divali is the Hindu festival of lights and a national public holiday in Suriname. It falls in October or November and is marked by rows of diyas, small clay oil lamps, set along pavements, low walls and verandas.
Check this This holiday follows a lunar calendar and moves every year. Check the exact date for your travel year before booking flights.
At Divali diyas are lit everywhere: small clay oil lamps set in rows along pavements, on low walls and on verandas. The festival celebrates the victory of light over darkness.
In neighbourhoods with a large Hindustani community, including southern Paramaribo and in Nickerie, the effect after dark is striking.
Sweets are eaten and given away: barfi, ladoo, gulab jamun. Neighbours share with each other regardless of faith.
Frequently asked questions
When is Divali in Suriname?
In October or November. Divali follows the Hindu lunar calendar, so the exact date changes each year. It is a national public holiday in Suriname.