Diwali 2021
28 Oct 2021
Diwali is a festival of lights and one of the major religious festivals in Hinduism, Jainism and Sikhism. Customs of Diwali differ depending on the region and tradition.
The festival usually lasts five days and is celebrated during the Hindu lunisolar month Kartika (between mid-October and mid-November). In 2021, the five days of Diwali are between 02-06 November 2021.
The main festivities for Diwali are held in India, but Diwali is also celebrated in many other countries around the world. Many people will travel abroad to visit friends and relatives at this time.
Advice for travellers
Coronavirus (COVID-19) continues to disrupt international travel. For example, the Foreign Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) currently advise that all regularly scheduled international flights between the UK and India remain suspended with only a limited number of flights operating.
Before booking any travel abroad, you should be aware:
- of the risk of COVID-19 in the country you are travelling to; you can check this under the 'alerts' section of each country page
- that there may be entry restrictions, vaccination or quarantine requirements for UK travellers
- that travel guidelines are liable to change at short notice
If you are planning on travelling abroad to celebrate Diwali, you should:
- check the latest government guidance on the FCDO Foreign travel advice and country specific pages and the rules for entering the UK on your return
- ensure you are up to date with UK recommendations on COVID-19 vaccination
- check if you are at increased risk of severe COVID-19: if you are at increased risk of severe COVID-19, you should carefully consider your travel plans and consider seeking medical advice prior to making any decisions
- ensure you are able to comply with COVID-19 prevention measures during travel and at your destination: further information on this can be found in the COVID-19: Health Considerations for Travel page
Furthermore, if you are attending Diwali celebrations abroad, you should consider:
- being up to date with routine UK schedule vaccinations
- check if you need any travel vaccinations or boosters before travel; you can find this out in the 'vaccinations' section of each country page
- consider if malaria is a risk at your destination, and if so, be aware of the measures you can take to prevent malaria
- having valid comprehensive travel insurance which covers COVID-19 related illness or unexpected delays
- avoiding insect bites and taking care with food and water safety precautions, respiratory hygiene and hand hygiene during travel and when you are abroad
- reviewing the advice on visiting friends and relatives
- reviewing the advice on personal safety, accident prevention and sun safety
If you become unwell after you return to the UK with a high temperature (fever) or flu-like illness, you should seek urgent medical advice. Always tell the healthcare professional about your recent travel abroad, particularly if you have travelled to a country where malaria is a risk.