This year, Diwali 2025 will be a grand week-long celebration full of lights, happiness and traditions. This week-long festival starts with Dhanteras and ends with Bhai Dooj. In Purvanchal, Bihar, Jharkhand and some other regions, this celebration continues till Chhath Puja. Diwali is a major festival where people clean their houses, perform puja and buy gold, silver, utensils, electronics, bikes, cars and other household essentials on Dhanteras. They welcome positive energy and prosperity wholeheartedly. The evening of Diwali is illuminated with lamps. During this time schools, colleges, banks and other government institutions remain closed. This year, Diwali will start from Dhanteras (18 October) and end on Bhai Dooj (23 October). Let’s see the complete calendar of Diwali 2025 in detail.
Dhanteras – Saturday, October 18, 2025
Dhanteras marks the beginning of Diwali. On this day people buy gold, silver and utensils, which brings good luck and prosperity to their homes.
Date: Trayodashi
Start: 12:18 pm (October 18)
End: 1:51 pm (October 19)
Yama Deepam – Sunday, October 19, 2025
On this day, a lamp is donated to Yamraj to bring happiness, peace and prosperity in the family.
Date: Chaturdashi
Start: 1:51 pm (October 19)
End: 3:44 pm (20 October)
Chhoti Diwali (Narak Chaturdashi) – Monday, October 20, 2025
Chhoti Diwali is also known as Narak Chaturdashi. This day is celebrated a day before the main Diwali.
Date: Chaturdashi
Start: 1:51 pm (October 19)
End: 3:44 pm (20 October)
Diwali/Lakshmi Puja – Tuesday, October 21, 2025
Goddess Lakshmi is worshiped on this day. Devotees pray for wealth, prosperity and happiness. Diwali symbolizes the victory of good over evil. It is believed that on this day Lord Rama returned to Ayodhya with Sita and Lakshman after 14 years of exile.
Title: Amavasya
Start: 3:44 pm (20 October)
End: 5:54 pm (21 October)
Govardhan Puja – Wednesday, October 22, 2025
Lord Krishna is worshiped during Govardhan Puja. Legend has it that Krishna saved the people of Vrindavan from the wrath of Indra by lifting Mount Govardhan on his finger.
Date: Pratipada
Start: 5:54 pm (21 October)
End: 8:16 pm (22 October)
Bhai Dooj – Thursday, October 23, 2025
Bhai Dooj, like Rakhi, symbolizes the bond of love and protection between brother and sister. This festival is especially celebrated in states like Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Haryana and Uttarakhand.
Date: Dwitiya
Start: 8:16 pm (22 October)
End: 10:46 pm (23 October)
Now know where and how many days there will be holidays during the Diwali festival week.
When will schools be closed?
Diwali is a major festival, so schools, colleges and government offices remain closed on this day in almost every village and city across the country. In some states, schools will remain closed for five consecutive days from October 19 to 23 during Diwali. States like Haryana, Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, Delhi and Rajasthan have kept fixed holidays during this period. However, it would be better if you contact the school.
19 October (Sunday) – All schools and colleges will remain closed on this day due to weekly holiday.
20 October (Monday) – Narak Chaturdashi (Small Diwali) holiday in most of the states.
October 21 (Tuesday) – There will be a government holiday across the country on Diwali and all schools and colleges will remain closed.
October 22 (Wednesday) – Schools will generally remain closed in Uttar Pradesh, Bihar and Haryana on the occasion of Govardhan Puja.
23 October (Thursday) – Most of the schools remain closed also on the occasion of Bhai Dooj. It would be better if you contact the school.