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Réunion🇷🇪 | festivalsDipavaliClay oil lamps, kolam floor designs, Tamil temple rites, ghee and incense | things to do and best time to go

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Backpacking in Dipavali
🌟 Highlightfestival ranked #4
By Johan Kruseman 🇳🇱 | Updated October 22, 2026

Drums thump against a wall of sandalwood and camphor smoke, and barefoot devotees in yellow and orange walk toward the fire-pit while kids dart between food stalls selling samosas and bonbons piments. That is Dipavali, the Tamil Hindu festival of lights, celebrated across Réunion, with its strongest displays at the Tamil temples in Saint-Denis, Saint-Pierre and the east coast around Saint-André. It lasts a day, usually in October or November following the lunar calendar. The mood is family-led and devotional, not a party: oil lamps, rangoli patterns, sweets handed out to strangers, small fireworks at dusk. Backpackers come for the Indian Ocean’s Tamil heritage, mixed with Creole warmth, and entry is free. Dress modestly, remove your shoes at temple doors, and ask before photographing prayers. Check the exact date and which temples host events locally before you plan your route.

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✨ Why go?
Ranked #4 festival in RéunionWhat sets this place apart

Dipavali gives you something Réunion’s hiking trails and beaches cannot: a look at living Tamil Hindu culture on an island where Creole, Malagasy, Chinese and Indian traditions share the same street. Plan around it if you are already in the island’s east or north, since the temples near Saint-André and Saint-Denis open their doors to anyone who asks politely, and neighbors often press sweets into your hands. It costs nothing to attend, which matters on an island where nearly everything else is pricey. The social side is gentle. You will be talking to families, not backpackers, and that is the point. Fitting it into a longer trip is easy because it is one day, so you can combine it with a volcano climb or a cirque hike on either side. Come with curiosity and respect, and the lamps lit at dusk will explain the rest.

💡 HighlightsWhat this place is best known for

  1. Lamp lighting at dusk: Rows of small clay oil lamps (diyas) line doorways, temple steps and gardens, and the glow against the dark is the festival’s signature image.
  2. Tamil temple ceremonies: Priests chant, ring bells and offer flame to the deities while families bring flowers and fruit. The smell of incense and ghee hangs thick, and visitors may watch quietly from the side.
  3. Rangoli (kolam) floor designs: Rice flour and colored powders form geometric patterns at entrances. Watching them being made by hand, often by grandmothers and children, is quietly absorbing.
  4. Sweets and Tamil snacks: Families and temple stalls share sweets, samosas and curry-filled snacks. Accepting a plate is polite and a good way to start a conversation.
  5. Evening fireworks and community gatherings: Small displays and music
… read more 👉
  1. Lamp lighting at dusk: Rows of small clay oil lamps (diyas) line doorways, temple steps and gardens, and the glow against the dark is the festival’s signature image.
  2. Tamil temple ceremonies: Priests chant, ring bells and offer flame to the deities while families bring flowers and fruit. The smell of incense and ghee hangs thick, and visitors may watch quietly from the side.
  3. Rangoli (kolam) floor designs: Rice flour and colored powders form geometric patterns at entrances. Watching them being made by hand, often by grandmothers and children, is quietly absorbing.
  4. Sweets and Tamil snacks: Families and temple stalls share sweets, samosas and curry-filled snacks. Accepting a plate is polite and a good way to start a conversation.
  5. Evening fireworks and community gatherings: Small displays and music close the day in neighborhoods with large Tamil communities, and the street fills with relatives dressed in new clothes.
The temple ceremony and the evening lamp lighting pair well in a single day, since you can attend prayers in the afternoon and stay on as the lamps come alive after dark.
Spotted a mistake or missing something? Contact us.

🌤️ When to go?When is the celebration of Dipavali?

Dipavali, the Tamil festival of lights, is held in Réunion in late October or early November on the day the Hindu lunar calendar sets, with the main celebration lasting one evening and temple events running around it in Saint-André, Saint-Pierre and Saint-Denis.
  • Best day: The main evening itself, when oil lamps are lit at temples and homes. Weekend events nearby are quieter and easier to join.
  • Weather: Expect 22 to 28°C (72 to 82°F) on the coast, warmer afternoons, and the odd shower as the hot season begins. Bring a light rain shell, sandals you can slip off at temples and a sarong or long trousers.
  • Booking: Reserve a bed three to four weeks ahead. Prices barely rise for Dipavali itself, but they climb if it lands near school holidays, by roughly 10 to 20 percent.
  • Crowds and roads: Arrive in
… read more 👉
Dipavali, the Tamil festival of lights, is held in Réunion in late October or early November on the day the Hindu lunar calendar sets, with the main celebration lasting one evening and temple events running around it in Saint-André, Saint-Pierre and Saint-Denis.
  • Best day: The main evening itself, when oil lamps are lit at temples and homes. Weekend events nearby are quieter and easier to join.
  • Weather: Expect 22 to 28°C (72 to 82°F) on the coast, warmer afternoons, and the odd shower as the hot season begins. Bring a light rain shell, sandals you can slip off at temples and a sarong or long trousers.
  • Booking: Reserve a bed three to four weeks ahead. Prices barely rise for Dipavali itself, but they climb if it lands near school holidays, by roughly 10 to 20 percent.
  • Crowds and roads: Arrive in Saint-André by late afternoon and leave before the last evening rush on the RN2 coast road. Buses thin out after dark.
Arrive an hour before dusk to see the lamps lit and still find parking.


source: climatestotravel.comJANJanuary: not recommended for travelingFEBFebruary: not recommended for travelingMARMarch: not recommended for travelingAPRApril: not recommended for travelingMAYMay: not recommended for travelingJUNJune: not recommended for travelingJULJuly: not recommended for travelingAUGAugust: not recommended for travelingSEPSeptember: not recommended for travelingOCTOctober: highly recommended for travelingNOVNovember: highly recommended for travelingDECDecember: not recommended for traveling

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🛏️ Where to stay?How to pick the right area

Saint-André is the smartest base for Dipavali, because the east coast holds the island’s densest Tamil community and its biggest temples, so you can walk to the evening ceremonies. The town is calm, safe at night around the center and light on tourist crowds. Budget rooms and guesthouses cluster near the main street and the market, and a short bus ride connects you with Saint-Benoît and Saint-Denis.
Saint-Denis suits you if you want company. It has the island’s widest choice of cheap beds, a lively evening scene around the waterfront and the Jardin de l’État, and it is easy to meet other solo travelers. … read more 👉
Saint-André is the smartest base for Dipavali, because the east coast holds the island’s densest Tamil community and its biggest temples, so you can walk to the evening ceremonies. The town is calm, safe at night around the center and light on tourist crowds. Budget rooms and guesthouses cluster near the main street and the market, and a short bus ride connects you with Saint-Benoît and Saint-Denis.
Saint-Denis suits you if you want company. It has the island’s widest choice of cheap beds, a lively evening scene around the waterfront and the Jardin de l’État, and it is easy to meet other solo travelers. Dipavali events happen in the city’s Tamil temples, and buses run to the east coast until early evening.
Saint-Pierre in the south is the third option. The seafront is full of young travelers, bars and cheap eateries, and it feels safe after dark in the busy streets. Its Tamil temples hold their own celebrations, and Saint-Paul’s and Saint-Leu’s surf crowd is a short bus ride away. Avoid sleeping far from a bus line, since evening services thin out and taxis are pricey.


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👛 Costs (as of 22 October 2026)How expensive it really is

Dipavali in Réunion costs roughly €81 to 140 a day for an independent traveler, since the festival itself is free and most spending goes on beds and getting around the island.
CategoryBudget RangeLocal Reality
Festival tickets€0Temple ceremonies and street celebrations are open to everyone, with donations welcome (€2 to 5).
Accommodation€30 to 55 per nightDorm beds or simple guesthouse rooms. Prices are higher in Saint-Gilles and lower in Saint-André.
Local transport€3 to 20 per dayCar Jaune buses cost around €2 to 3 per ride in town, with longer routes costing more. A rental car runs €35 to 55 daily.
Food & drinks€15 to 30 per dayMarket snacks and temple meals are cheap, while restaurant mains cost €14 to 22. Paying in euros by cash is easiest at stalls.
Miscellaneous€3 to 10 per dayDonations,
… read more 👉
Dipavali in Réunion costs roughly €81 to 140 a day for an independent traveler, since the festival itself is free and most spending goes on beds and getting around the island.
CategoryBudget RangeLocal Reality
Festival tickets€0Temple ceremonies and street celebrations are open to everyone, with donations welcome (€2 to 5).
Accommodation€30 to 55 per nightDorm beds or simple guesthouse rooms. Prices are higher in Saint-Gilles and lower in Saint-André.
Local transport€3 to 20 per dayCar Jaune buses cost around €2 to 3 per ride in town, with longer routes costing more. A rental car runs €35 to 55 daily.
Food & drinks€15 to 30 per dayMarket snacks and temple meals are cheap, while restaurant mains cost €14 to 22. Paying in euros by cash is easiest at stalls.
Miscellaneous€3 to 10 per dayDonations, sweets to take home, and a sarong or scarf if you need one.
Total Daily Budget€81 to 140Based on the high-season bed price and typical daily spending.
⚠️ Prices can change and everyone travels differently, so take this as a rough guide. Hope it helps you plan your adventure!

🍲 FoodEating & Drinking in Dipavali

Dipavali in Réunion tastes of Tamil home cooking: temple kitchens and neighborhood stalls serve vegetarian plates of rice, lentils, massalé spiced vegetables and coconut chutney, often on banana leaf. Many families keep to vegetarian food for the festival, so expect little meat near the temples.
Sweets are the highlight. Hunt for laddu, jalebi, gulab jamun and coconut-based treats, handed out in small paper bags or shared from trays. Try samoussas and bonbons piment (chili fritters) from market sellers, and a glass of fresh sugarcane juice or lait de coco. Alcohol is not part of temple events, though Dodo beer and rum punch are easy to find in town afterward.
Some etiquette: remove shoes before entering temple halls, accept food with your right hand and take only what you can finish. Offers … read more 👉
Dipavali in Réunion tastes of Tamil home cooking: temple kitchens and neighborhood stalls serve vegetarian plates of rice, lentils, massalé spiced vegetables and coconut chutney, often on banana leaf. Many families keep to vegetarian food for the festival, so expect little meat near the temples.
Sweets are the highlight. Hunt for laddu, jalebi, gulab jamun and coconut-based treats, handed out in small paper bags or shared from trays. Try samoussas and bonbons piment (chili fritters) from market sellers, and a glass of fresh sugarcane juice or lait de coco. Alcohol is not part of temple events, though Dodo beer and rum punch are easy to find in town afterward.
Some etiquette: remove shoes before entering temple halls, accept food with your right hand and take only what you can finish. Offers of sweets from strangers are a welcome, so say thank you and accept one. Lines for temple meals move slowly but politely. Carry cash in small coins and notes, since stalls rarely take cards, and portions are generous enough to share.

FAQFrequently asked questions about Dipavali

Dipavali takes place in late October or early November, on the evening the Hindu lunar calendar marks as the festival of lights. The main celebration lasts one night, with temple events around it for a few days. Saint-André on the east coast, Saint-Pierre and Saint-Denis all hold ceremonies.
Attending Dipavali costs nothing for the festival itself, as temple ceremonies and street events are open to all. Budget travelers should plan €60 to 95 a day for a bed, buses and food. Donations of €2 to 5 at temples are welcome, and sweets from stalls cost around €1 to 4.
Dipavali does not need tickets in advance, since ceremonies and celebrations are free and open to the public. Reserving a bed three to four weeks ahead is wise, especially in Saint-André or Saint-Pierre. Arrive at temples by late afternoon to get a good spot before the evening lamp lighting.
⚠️ Things can change over time, so always validate details locally before you go.

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We 💚 feedbackWhat to keep in mind

Dipavali trips go wrong when travelers treat it like a festival with a stage and a schedule and turn up at the wrong temple, or at the wrong hour. Ask a local or check the municipal page a few days ahead, arrive in the late afternoon, wear light modest clothes, and bring small change for temple donations.

✍️ Help improve this page!
The information on this page is based on in-depth research, insights shared by experienced travelers, and feedback from the local travel community in Réunion. While every effort is made to keep the information accurate and current, conditions can change — so if you spot anything incorrect or outdated, please get in touch.



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