Diwali 2026 in Réunion: Dates, Lakshmi Puja Muhurat and Tamil Temples

Quick answer: in Réunion, Lakshmi Puja (main Diwali) is on Sunday 8 November 2026, and the Saint-Denis muhurat is 7:04 PM to 8:43 PM Réunion time (UTC+4). Dhanteras is on Friday 6 November, Govardhan Puja on Monday 9 November and Bhai Dooj on Tuesday 10 November. Réunion has one of the oldest Hindu communities in the Indian Ocean, mostly of Tamil origin, and the festival is widely known on the island as Dipavali.

Editor's note (1 November 2026): HinduTone calculated these local dates from Drik Panchang tithi times using Drik's own rules for each festival, and checked our method against Drik's published dates for 15 countries. The Lakshmi Puja muhurat is the Vrishabha (Taurus) lagna that falls within Pradosh Kaal, following the Drik method, worked out for each town's sunset. The date for Réunion sits close to a tithi boundary this year: most calendars give the dates shown here, but some local calendars may list the neighbouring day, so follow your temple. We do not list event schedules, because they change every year. Temples and community groups usually announce Diwali programmes a few weeks ahead; check their websites and social pages.

Diwali 2026 dates in Réunion

These are the five days of Diwali for Saint-Denis. The same dates apply in every town in our table below.

Naraka Chaturdashi and Lakshmi Puja share a date this year because Chaturdashi is still running at sunrise on Sunday in Réunion, and Amavasya has begun by sunset. In Réunion time, Amavasya runs from Sun 8 Nov, 9:57 AM to Mon 9 Nov, 11:01 AM. For reference, the same tithi in Indian Standard Time runs from 11:27 AM on 8 November to 12:31 PM on 9 November (IST).

Diwali 2026 city-by-city timings in Réunion

All dates are the same across the island. The muhurat differs by a minute or two at most, because sunset varies slightly between the north, east, west and south coasts.

Lakshmi Puja muhurat explained

Lakshmi Puja is performed on the Amavasya (new moon) evening of the month of Kartik. Two windows matter. The first is Pradosh Kaal, the period of about two hours and twelve minutes that begins at sunset. The second is Vrishabha lagna, the time when the sign Taurus is rising on the eastern horizon. Taurus is a fixed (sthira) sign, and tradition holds that worship begun in a fixed lagna helps Lakshmi stay in the home.

For Saint-Denis on Sunday 8 November 2026, sunset is at 6:31 PM, so Pradosh Kaal runs from 6:31 PM to 8:43 PM. Vrishabha rises at 7:04 PM and is still rising when Pradosh ends, which gives the recommended muhurat of 7:04 PM to 8:43 PM.

• If you cannot start in the muhurat, any time within Pradosh Kaal (6:31 PM to 8:43 PM in Saint-Denis) is still considered good.
• Light the first diya before you begin the main puja, and keep lamps burning through the evening.
• Families in Saint-Pierre, Saint-Paul and the south and west use the times for their own town from the table above; the difference is only a minute.

Hindu temples in Réunion for Diwali

Réunion has dozens of Tamil temples, called kovils, spread across almost every commune. Several are listed as historic monuments. The ones below are temples we confirmed from tourism, heritage and press sources. They are a starting point, not a complete list; your nearest neighbourhood kovil may well hold its own Dipavali puja.

Saint-Denis

• Kovil Kalikambal – the best-known Tamil temple in the capital, dedicated to the goddess Kali, in the city centre. It holds celebrations at Thaipoosam Cavadee and Dipavali.

Saint-André and the east

• Temple du Colosse – a large, colourful Tamil temple dedicated to Pandialé, in the Le Colosse area. Visitors often admire it from outside, so ask locally about access.
• Temple du Petit-Bazar – one of the two main Hindu temples in Saint-André.

Saint-Pierre and the south

• Temple Narassingua Péroumal – dedicated to Narasimha, an avatar of Vishnu, in the Ravine Blanche district of Saint-Pierre. It was restored by craftsmen from South India and reconsecrated in 2010.
• Temple Shri Maha Badra Karli – a Kali temple next to the Narassingua Péroumal temple in Saint-Pierre.
• Temple du Gol – in Saint-Louis, one of the Tamil temples listed as a historic monument on the island.

Saint-Paul also has a Tamil temple in the town, and many smaller communes have their own kovils. ISKCON devotees are active on the island and have held Ratha Yatra processions in Saint-Pierre, but we could not confirm a permanent ISKCON temple, so contact them directly if you follow that tradition.

Temples and community groups usually announce Diwali programmes a few weeks ahead; check their websites and social pages. Many kovils follow the Tamil temple calendar, which is another reason to confirm the date with your own temple.

How Diwali is celebrated in Réunion

Most Hindus in Réunion descend from engagés, the indentured labourers brought from South India, largely from the Tamil country, to work on the sugar plantations after slavery was abolished on the island in 1848. Their descendants, often called Malbar or Tamoul in local usage, kept their temples, festivals and many rituals while becoming fully part of Réunionese Creole life. Today Hindu practice on the island is a living blend: temple rites in Tamil, families who also take part in other faiths, and festivals that the whole island turns out for.

Dipavali is one of the most visible of these festivals. Saint-André, in the east, is widely regarded as its centre, and in recent years the town has drawn large crowds for lights, music, dance and a decorated procession. Saint-Pierre and other towns also mark it. At home, families clean and decorate the house, draw kolam patterns at the door, light rows of lamps, wear new clothes and prepare sweets and savouries to share with neighbours and friends of every background.

Because Réunion's Hindu heritage is mainly Tamil, many families treat the early morning of Naraka Chaturdashi, with its oil bath and lamps, as Deepavali proper, while others focus on the Lakshmi Puja evening. This year both fall on Sunday 8 November, so the whole celebration comes together on one day. Families from North India and Gujarat, and newer arrivals from Mauritius and India, will also keep Govardhan Puja and Bhai Dooj.

Simple Lakshmi Puja at home

If you cannot get to a temple, a short puja at home is entirely traditional. A simple outline:

1. Clean the house and the puja space during the day; draw a kolam or rangoli at the entrance.
2. Set a clean cloth on a low table and place images or murtis of Lakshmi and Ganesha, with a kalash of water topped with mango leaves and a coconut.
3. Lay out flowers, kumkum, turmeric, rice, a few coins, sweets, fruit and incense.
4. At the muhurat, light the main ghee or oil lamp, pray to Ganesha first, then invoke Lakshmi with her names or a simple prayer such as Om Shreem Mahalakshmyai Namah.
5. Offer flowers, sweets and fruit, perform aarti, and then light diyas around the house, at the door and on windowsills.
6. Share the prasad with family and neighbours.

Practical tips for Diwali 2026 in Réunion

• Weekdays: Dhanteras is on Friday, and both Naraka Chaturdashi and Lakshmi Puja fall on Sunday 8 November, which suits most working families. Govardhan Puja and Bhai Dooj fall on Monday and Tuesday. Check the official 2026 holiday list for any local arrangements.
• Sunset and weather: Sunset is around 6:30 PM across the island. November is the start of the warm season, so evenings are mild; lamps placed outdoors may need shelter from wind or a passing shower.
• Fireworks: Rules on fireworks are set by the authorities and can vary by commune, so check with your mairie before buying or lighting any, and be considerate of neighbours and animals.
• Temple pujas: If you want a priest to perform a puja for your family, ask your kovil early, as the Dipavali period is busy.
• Visiting temples: Dress modestly, remove shoes before entering, and ask before taking photographs inside.

Diwali 2026 Réunion FAQ

When is Diwali (Dipavali) 2026 in Réunion?

By the Drik Panchang method, Lakshmi Puja is on Sunday 8 November 2026 across Réunion. Dhanteras is on Friday 6 November, Naraka Chaturdashi also falls on Sunday 8 November, Govardhan Puja is on Monday 9 November and Bhai Dooj on Tuesday 10 November. Most calendars give these dates, but some local calendars may list a neighbouring day, so follow your temple.

What is the Lakshmi Puja muhurat in Saint-Denis?

In Saint-Denis the Lakshmi Puja muhurat is 7:04 PM to 8:43 PM on Sunday 8 November 2026, Réunion time (UTC+4). This is the Vrishabha (Taurus) lagna inside Pradosh Kaal, which runs from sunset at 6:31 PM to 8:43 PM.

Which Hindu temples in Réunion celebrate Dipavali?

Réunion has many Tamil temples, known locally as kovils. Well-known ones include the Kovil Kalikambal in Saint-Denis, the Temple du Colosse and the Petit-Bazar temple in Saint-André, the Narassingua Péroumal and Shri Maha Badra Karli temples in Saint-Pierre, and the Temple du Gol in Saint-Louis.

Is Dipavali a public holiday in Réunion?

We could not confirm Dipavali as a public holiday in Réunion for 2026, so check the official 2026 holiday list and your employer's policy. Lakshmi Puja on 8 November falls on a Sunday this year, which makes the evening puja easier for most families.

Do the muhurat times differ across Réunion?

Hardly at all. The whole island is on one time zone, and the muhurat moves by only a minute or two from town to town. Saint-Benoît is earliest at 7:03 PM to 8:42 PM, while Saint-Paul, Saint-Pierre, Saint-Louis and La Possession are 7:05 PM to 8:44 PM.

Can I light diyas and fireworks in Réunion for Diwali?

Diyas and candles at home are fine with sensible fire safety. Rules on fireworks are set by the authorities, and local restrictions can apply, so check with your mairie before buying or lighting any.

Related guides

• Diwali 2026 dates in every country, with Lakshmi Puja times
• Diwali 2026 festival hub
• The 5 days of Diwali 2026 explained
• Naraka Chaturdashi 2026
• Govardhan Puja and Annakut 2026
• Bhai Dooj 2026
• The stories behind Diwali
• Diwali 2026 in Seychelles
• Diwali 2026 in the Maldives
• Diwali 2026 in Mozambique