Deepavali 2026 in Malaysia: Where to Go

Deepavali 2026 falls on Sunday, 8 November 2026. In Singapore, Monday 9 November is the day off in lieu, and in Malaysia the festival is a federal public holiday in every state except Sarawak, with Monday 9 November expected to be the replacement day off in most states. So for most people it is a three-day weekend from Saturday 7 to Monday 9 November. If you would like to see the Festival of Lights somewhere new this year, the best places within reach of Singapore are Johor Bahru's Little India on Jalan Ungku Puan, Brickfields and Klang around Kuala Lumpur, George Town's Little India in Penang, and the temple street in old Melaka.

Deepavali 2026 dates at a glance

	Singapore	Malaysia
Deepavali	Sunday 8 November 2026	Sunday 8 November 2026 (all states except Sarawak)
Day off in lieu	Monday 9 November 2026	Monday 9 November 2026 expected in most states
Schools	Closed on Monday 9 November; year-end holidays start 21 November	Schools in Johor, KL, Selangor, Penang and Melaka also get Tuesday 10 November off

Deepavali follows the Hindu lunisolar calendar, so the date moves every year. For planning ahead, Deepavali 2027 is listed for Thursday, 28 October 2027 in both countries (Malaysia marks the date as subject to change).

Johor Bahru: the easiest Deepavali outing

If you only have a day, stay close. Johor Bahru's Little India is centred on Jalan Ungku Puan in the old city, a few minutes from the Causeway. In the weeks before the festival the street usually fills with a Deepavali bazaar: stalls selling saris and Punjabi suits, brass oil lamps, coloured powder for kolam, jasmine garlands, henna, spices and boxes of murukku and other festive sweets. Local reports from previous years describe crowds of Singaporeans shopping there in the evenings, because many items cost less than at home. The bazaar is organised locally each year and its dates and stall layout can change, so check the latest news before you go.

What to see nearby

• Arulmigu Sri Rajakaliamman Glass Temple – JB's best-known Hindu temple, famous for its walls and pillars covered in glass mosaic. Visitors are welcome outside prayer times; dress modestly and check the visiting hours before you go.
• Jalan Tan Hiok Nee and the old town – a short walk away, with heritage shophouses and cafes for a break between bazaar runs.
• Banana-leaf rice and thosai – the Indian restaurants in the city centre are at their busiest around the festival, so go early for lunch.

A JB Deepavali trip works well as an afternoon-and-evening outing: shop the bazaar while it is cooler, have dinner, then head home before the late-night queue builds at the checkpoint. Our Singapore to Johor Bahru private car page has fares and pick-up details, and our JB day trip guide has more ideas for filling the rest of the day.

Kuala Lumpur: Brickfields, Chinatown and Batu Caves

For a bigger celebration, go to Kuala Lumpur. Brickfields, next to KL Sentral, is the city's Little India, and its main road, Jalan Tun Sambanthan, is lined with textile shops, jewellers, flower sellers and sweet shops. In the run-up to Deepavali the street gets extra stalls, lights and decorations, and the evenings are lively.

• Sri Mahamariamman Temple on Jalan Tun H.S. Lee, at the edge of Chinatown, dates back to 1873 and is the oldest Hindu temple in Kuala Lumpur. Its tall, colourful gopuram (gateway tower) is worth seeing even if you only pass by.
• Batu Caves, just north of the city, is best known for Thaipusam, but the giant golden statue of Lord Murugan and the 272 painted steps up to the Temple Cave are impressive at any time of year.
• Klang's Little India on Jalan Tengku Kelana, roughly 45 minutes to an hour west of central KL, hosts one of the biggest Deepavali shopping streets in the Klang Valley. If you love a crowded bazaar, it is worth the side trip.

The drive from Singapore to KL takes around four to five hours depending on the Causeway and the North–South Expressway, so make it a two- or three-night stay over the long weekend. See our Singapore to Kuala Lumpur page for fares and vehicle options.

Penang: George Town's Little India

George Town's Little India covers a few compact blocks around Lebuh Queen, Lebuh Pasar and Lebuh Chulia, inside the UNESCO World Heritage zone. At festival time, Bollywood music spills out of the shops, the streets fill with stalls and the smell of spices and jasmine is everywhere. The Sri Mahamariamman Temple on Lebuh Queen became a temple in 1833 and is Penang's oldest Hindu temple.

Penang is a long drive from Singapore, so treat it as a holiday rather than a weekend dash: stay three nights or more, or combine it with Ipoh on the way. Details are on our Singapore to Penang page.

Melaka: the temple on Harmony Street

Melaka is quieter at Deepavali than KL or Penang, but it has history. On Jalan Tukang Emas, the street locals call Harmony Street, stands the Sri Poyyatha Vinayagar Moorthi Temple, built in 1781 by Melaka's Chitty community and often described as the oldest Hindu temple still in use in Malaysia. The Kampung Kling Mosque and the Cheng Hoon Teng Chinese temple stand on the same short stretch. Combine it with Jonker Walk and a Nyonya meal for an easy two-day trip, about three hours' drive from Singapore. See our Singapore to Melaka page.

Deepavali etiquette for visitors

• Greeting: a simple "Happy Deepavali" is always welcome. If a friend invites you to an open house, it is polite to accept, eat what you are offered and bring a small gift such as fruit or sweets.
• Temples: remove your shoes, cover your shoulders and knees, and ask before photographing people at prayer. Avoid walking in front of worshippers.
• Kolam: the patterns of coloured rice or powder at doorways are part of the celebration. Step around them, not on them.
• On the day itself: many Indian-owned shops and some restaurants close or shorten their hours on 8 November while families celebrate at home. Bazaars are busiest in the days before the festival, not on Deepavali itself. Big malls generally stay open.

Crossing the Causeway on Deepavali weekend

A long weekend means heavy traffic. Expect the northbound queue to build from the afternoon of Friday 6 November and on Saturday morning, and the southbound queue back into Singapore to peak on the evening of Monday 9 November. Many Malaysians who work in Singapore also travel home for the festival, which adds to the crowds at both checkpoints.

• Leave early in the morning (before about 7am) or late at night if your plans allow.
• Check the live cameras on our Woodlands and Tuas checkpoint traffic page before you set off.
• For KL or Melaka, the Tuas Second Link is often the smoother crossing; for JB city centre, Woodlands is closer.
• Read our guide to Causeway jams on public holidays for the other busy dates coming up.

Going by private car

A private car saves a lot of hassle at festival time. Your whole group rides together from your doorstep, and you stay in the car through immigration at both the Singapore and Malaysian checkpoints, so nobody has to queue in the halls with shopping bags. For a JB bazaar evening, our Day Trip Service books the car and driver by the hour (8, 10 or 12 hours), so the driver can wait while you shop, visit the temple and have dinner. For KL, Melaka or Penang, a one-way or return transfer works better. An Innova suits families of up to six, and our MPVs leave room for the bags you bring back.

Ready to plan your Deepavali trip? Check fares on the Johor Bahru or Kuala Lumpur pages, book through our online booking form, or Whatsapp us with your dates. There is no deposit, and you pay the driver on arrival.

Frequently Asked Questions

Last updated: 14 October 2026