Diwali 2026 in Paris: Hindu Temples, Puja & Events

Quick answer: Diwali 2026 in Paris is on Sunday 8 November 2026. Drik Panchang gives the Lakshmi Puja muhurat for Paris as 5:35 PM – 7:16 PM, within Pradosh Kaal of 5:20 PM – 8:14 PM (Drik Panchang, Paris). The Embassy of India in Paris lists Diwali (Deepawali) on Sunday 8 November in its 2026 holiday list. Diwali is not a public holiday in France.

Part of Diwali 2026: dates and muhurat for all five days are in our Diwali 2026 guide. See also: Diwali 2026 date and Lakshmi Puja muhurat and the 5 days of Diwali 2026.

Last updated: 9 October 2026. We have rewritten this guide to keep only what we could verify. Temple and event programmes for 2026 are still being announced, so check the official links before you travel.

Paris has one of Europe's most varied Hindu communities, and Diwali here looks different in every home: a Tamil family's oil bath at dawn, a North Indian Lakshmi-Ganesha puja at dusk, Gujarati account books blessed for the new year, and Mauritian families lighting lamps as their parents did. This guide covers the dates, where to worship, a public celebration, a simple home puja and practical tips for November in Paris. For Diwali across the world, see our global Diwali 2026 guide for the USA, UK, Canada and Australia.

Diwali 2026 dates in Paris

Day	Festival	Date in Paris
1	Dhanteras	Friday 6 November
2	Naraka Chaturdashi (Choti Diwali)	Saturday 7 November
3	Diwali, Lakshmi Puja	Sunday 8 November
4	Govardhan Puja / Annakut	Monday 9 November
5	Bhai Dooj	Tuesday 10 November

Lakshmi Puja, Govardhan Puja and Bhai Dooj follow Drik Panchang's pages for Paris. In India, Govardhan Puja is on Tuesday 10 November and Bhai Dooj on Wednesday 11 November, because festival dates depend on the lunar day (tithi) at the local time. Amavasya runs in Paris from 6:57 AM on 8 November to 8:01 AM on 9 November.

France changes to winter time on the last Sunday of October, so all times here are Central European Time (CET). Sunset on Diwali is around 5:20 PM, which is when Pradosh Kaal begins.

Where to worship in and around Paris

Sri Manika Vinayakar Alayam (Ganesh temple), Rue Pajol

The Ganesh temple at 17 Rue Pajol, 75018 Paris, founded in 1985, is one of the best-known Hindu temples in the city and the heart of the Tamil Hindu community around La Chapelle. It is famous for its annual Ganesh festival procession. For Deepavali timings, see the temple's festival calendar on its official website. Expect it to be busy on the festival days; dress modestly and remove shoes before entering.

BAPS Swaminarayan Hindu Mandir, Bussy-Saint-Georges

The BAPS Swaminarayan Hindu Mandir stands at Allée Madame de Montespan, 77600 Bussy-Saint-Georges, in Seine-et-Marne east of Paris. Its official visitor page says it is open every day, welcomes people of all faiths, and can be reached by RER A to Bussy-Saint-Georges followed by a short walk. IANS reported in September 2026 that the mandir hosted UNESCO ambassadors and diplomats from 43 countries, as covered in our Hindu temples abroad news for October 2026. BAPS mandirs worldwide usually celebrate Diwali and the Annakut, but the Paris mandir's 2026 Diwali programme had not been published when we checked; watch its official website for details.

Other temples

The Paris region has several other Hindu temples run by Tamil, North Indian, Gujarati and Mauritian communities, many of them in the northern suburbs. Most publish their Deepavali programme a few weeks ahead on their notice boards and social media pages. Ask friends in your community which temple follows your family's tradition.

A public celebration: Maison de l'Inde

The Maison de l'Inde, India's house at the Cité internationale universitaire de Paris on Boulevard Jourdan (14th arrondissement), includes the Festival of Lights (Divali) in its yearly programme of traditional celebrations, alongside Durga Puja and Saraswati Puja (Cité internationale universitaire de Paris). Its Diwali celebration is a recurring fixture for students and families, but the 2026 date had not been announced when we checked, so watch the official page and the Paris tourism office's event listings. The nearest station is Cité Universitaire on RER B.

Community associations, temples and cultural groups also hold Diwali evenings on nearby weekends. Programmes and tickets change every year; rely only on announcements from the organisers themselves.

Many traditions, one festival of lights

Hindus in Paris come from many places, and each brings its own Diwali:

Tamil families from Sri Lanka and from Tamil Nadu and Puducherry, many living around La Chapelle, keep Deepavali on the Naraka Chaturdashi morning with an early oil bath (ennai kuliyal), new clothes, sweets and a temple visit. By European time, Chaturdashi is the lunar day at sunrise on Saturday 7 November; in India, Tamil Deepavali falls on Sunday 8 November. Some families and temples follow the Indian or Sri Lankan almanac, so check your temple's date.
North Indian families do Lakshmi-Ganesha puja on the Amavasya evening, Sunday 8 November, in the Pradosh Kaal muhurat.
Gujarati families worship the account books (Chopda Pujan) on Diwali and celebrate their New Year on Govardhan day with Annakut.
Mauritian Hindu families, a large community in France, light rows of diyas and share homemade sweets with neighbours, much as Diwali is celebrated in Mauritius.
Bengali families worship Goddess Kali on the Amavasya night.

These are differences of custom, not of faith. If you are new to Paris, joining a neighbour's tradition for an evening is one of the nicest ways to spend Diwali.

A simple Lakshmi-Ganesha puja in a Paris apartment

Most Parisians live in apartments, often small, with a smoke detector on the ceiling and neighbours on every side. A heartfelt puja still fits.

Set up: a clean shelf or low table with a picture of Lakshmi and Ganesha, a small pot of water, flowers, kumkum, rice grains, incense and a sweet.
Light: one oil or ghee lamp at the altar while you are in the room, and LED diyas or fairy lights on windowsills and balconies.
Sankalpa: state your name, the place (Paris), the day (Diwali, Sunday 8 November 2026) and your prayer for the family's health and harmony.
Ganesha first: offer a flower and rice, chanting "Om Gan Ganapataye Namah".
Lakshmi: offer kumkum, flowers and the sweet, and chant "Om Shreem Mahalakshmyai Namah" 11, 21 or 108 times.
Aarti and prasad: sing your family's aarti, ask forgiveness for any mistakes, and share the sweets.

Begin inside the 5:35 PM to 7:16 PM muhurat if you can. French law requires a smoke detector in every home, so keep flames and incense well away from it, never cover it, and put the lamp out before you go out or to sleep. For a full day-by-day plan, see our guide to celebrating Diwali at home.

Practical tips for Diwali in Paris

Métro and RER: La Chapelle (Métro line 2) and Gare du Nord (lines 4 and 5, RER B and D) are the gateways to the La Chapelle shops and the Rue Pajol temple. RER A runs to Bussy-Saint-Georges for the BAPS mandir, and RER B to Cité Universitaire for the Maison de l'Inde. Check RATP for weekend works before you travel.
Weather: early November in Paris is usually cool, damp and dark by about 5:20 PM. Take a warm layer and an umbrella over your festive clothes, and comfortable shoes you can remove easily at temples.
Shopping: the streets around La Chapelle are lined with South Asian groceries, sweet shops and sari stores. Go early in the week before Diwali; the weekend before is the busiest.
Fireworks: the sale and use of fireworks in France are regulated, and prefectures and mayors can ban them locally, which often happens around holidays in the Paris area. Many buildings also forbid them in their rules. Enjoy organised displays instead of setting off your own.
Your building: check your building's rules (règlement de copropriété or règlement intérieur) before decorating shared hallways or balconies, keep music within quiet hours, and consider a small box of sweets for neighbours.
Food: temple prasad and community meals are usually vegetarian; if you are hosting, a simple vegetarian thali with one or two sweets is perfect.

Celebrating elsewhere in France or Europe? See our Diwali 2026 guide for European countries and, for the autumn festival season in France, our Dussehra 2026 France city-by-city guide.

In the City of Lights, Diwali brings a light of its own. As diyas glow in Paris homes and temples, from La Chapelle to Bussy-Saint-Georges, we remember that the true lamp burns within, and that light always triumphs over darkness. As commonly told, Lord Rama's homecoming to Ayodhya was welcomed with rows of lamps, and Maa Lakshmi's grace enters every home kept bright with love. Far from India yet close in heart, share a blessing with your family and friends this Diwali 2026.

Deepa shloka: the lamp prayer

शुभं करोति कल्याणम् आरोग्यं धनसम्पदा। शत्रुबुद्धिविनाशाय दीपज्योतिर्नमोऽस्तु ते॥

Shubham karoti kalyanam arogyam dhana-sampada, shatru-buddhi-vinashaya deepa-jyotir namostu te.

Meaning: I bow to the light of the lamp, which brings what is auspicious and good, health and prosperity, and destroys ill-will. Many families recite it as they light the evening diya.

Lakshmi mantra for Diwali

ॐ श्रीं महालक्ष्म्यै नमः॥

Om Shreem Mahalakshmyai Namah.

Meaning: Salutations to Mahalakshmi. Shreem is the seed syllable traditionally associated with Lakshmi.

🪔 Joyeuse Diwali from Paris! May the City of Lights and the light of Diwali fill our family with love, health and togetherness. Happy Diwali 2026! ✨ Share on WhatsApp

🙏 To our dear parents and elders: though we are far away in France, your blessings light our home every day. Wishing you a peaceful, healthy Diwali. 🪔🌸 Share on WhatsApp

✨ To my friends in Paris and beyond: may your Diwali be bright with laughter, sweets and the warmth of good company. Happy Festival of Lights! 🪔 Share on WhatsApp

🪔 Warm Diwali wishes to you and your family. May this festival of light bring you clarity, good health and success in every honest effort. Happy Diwali 2026! ✨ Share on WhatsApp

🌸 May Maa Lakshmi step into every Paris home lit with diyas tonight, bringing grace, contentment and peace. Jai Maa Lakshmi! 🪔🙏 Share on WhatsApp

🙏 As Ayodhya lit lamps to welcome Lord Rama home, may our hearts glow to welcome goodness. Jai Shri Ram, and a blessed Diwali to all Hindus in France! 🪔✨ Share on WhatsApp

A short Diwali prayer

Maa Lakshmi and Lord Ganesha, far from the land of my ancestors, I light this lamp with a humble heart. Remove the darkness of ego and fear from within me. Bless my family here and in India with good health, peace and harmony. Give me the wisdom to work honestly and the gratitude to see the many gifts already in my life. May the light of this Diwali shine through my words and deeds.

Use the share buttons on this page to send these blessings to your family and friends.

Frequently asked questions

When is Diwali 2026 in Paris?

Diwali (Lakshmi Puja) is on Sunday 8 November 2026 in Paris. The Embassy of India in Paris also lists Diwali (Deepawali) on Sunday 8 November in its 2026 holiday list. Dhanteras is Friday 6 November and Bhai Dooj Tuesday 10 November.

What is the Lakshmi Puja muhurat in Paris?

Drik Panchang gives 5:35 PM to 7:16 PM on Sunday 8 November 2026 for Paris, within Pradosh Kaal of 5:20 PM to 8:14 PM (Paris time). Do not convert India's muhurat to French time; the puja belongs to the evening after your own sunset.

Is Diwali a public holiday in France?

No. Diwali is not a public holiday in France. In 2026 it falls on a Sunday, so most families can do the evening puja without taking leave. Dhanteras (Friday) and Bhai Dooj (Tuesday) are normal working and school days.

Which Hindu temples can I visit in Paris for Diwali?

Two well-known places are the Sri Manika Vinayakar Alayam (Ganesh temple) at 17 Rue Pajol in the 18th arrondissement and the BAPS Swaminarayan Hindu Mandir at Bussy-Saint-Georges, east of Paris on RER A. Check each temple's own website for its 2026 Deepavali programme and timings.

Is there a public Diwali event in Paris?

The Maison de l'Inde at the Cité internationale universitaire de Paris includes the Festival of Lights (Divali) in its yearly programme of celebrations. The 2026 date had not been announced when we checked, so watch its official page.

Can I light diyas and fireworks in a Paris apartment?

Keep real flames to a supervised lamp at the altar and use LED diyas elsewhere; French homes must have a smoke detector, so keep flames and incense away from it. Fireworks are tightly regulated and often banned locally; enjoy organised displays rather than setting off your own.

Editor's note (9 October 2026)

We rewrote this guide on 9 October 2026 and removed earlier claims we could not verify, including a gala, hotel dinners and some temple listings. Diwali on Sunday 8 November is confirmed by the Embassy of India's holiday list; Paris muhurats and the Govardhan and Bhai Dooj dates are from Drik Panchang for Paris; the Rue Pajol, Bussy-Saint-Georges and Maison de l'Inde details are from their official websites. The BAPS mandir's inauguration-festival dates are not given on its website, so we have not stated them. Programmes change; always check with the organisers.

Diwali 2026 Celebrations in Paris: Complete Guide to Events, Temples and Festivities in the City of Lights

Diwali 2026 dates in Paris

Where to worship in and around Paris

Sri Manika Vinayakar Alayam (Ganesh temple), Rue Pajol