Events are being held across New York for Diwali, India's "Festival of Lights," which falls on Nov. 8. On Saturday, Oct. 24, streets around Times Square will be closed for the free 11th annual Diwali at Times Square. Flushing Town Hall will hold a festival themed around Indian weddings on Sunday, Nov. 1, and a Bollywood-Hollywood music performance on Saturday, Nov. 14. Tamarind Tribeca is serving a 15-course dinner, and Edge at Hudson Yards will have sunset lighting.
The Diwali season, India's "Festival of Lights," has begun. Diwali itself falls on Sunday, Nov. 8 this year, but in New York the events start two weeks earlier with the Times Square festival on Saturday, Oct. 24. Diwali has also been a New York City public school holiday since 2023. Here are the events in Flushing, which many Korean Americans visit, and in central Manhattan, listed by date.
At a Glance
Oct. 24 at Times Square: The Largest Diwali Celebration Outside India
The 11th annual Diwali at Times Square takes place Saturday, Oct. 24. Streets around 1560 Broadway will be closed, and performances of Indian music, dance and fashion will run throughout the day. There is a separate children's area, and admission is free. The highlight is the "diya (oil lamp) lighting countdown" on the One Times Square screen. Organizers describe the event as the largest Diwali celebration held outside India, and New York City has taken part as an official partner since 2024. A detailed schedule is available on the organizers' website (diwalitimessquare.com).
That night, INDN, an Indian restaurant in NoMad, and its sister bar 16|Sola will hold a Diwali party starting at 9:30 p.m. The adults-only event centers on Indian food, cocktails, music and dancing.
Flushing Town Hall: "Indian Wedding" on Nov. 1, Bollywood on Nov. 14
Flushing Town Hall (137-35 Northern Blvd.), near the Flushing-Main St. station on the 7 line, will hold its 12th annual Diwali festival on Sunday, Nov. 1. This year's theme is the Indian wedding. The Srijan dance company, led by Aba B. Roy, will recreate wedding customs on stage, including haldi, in which turmeric is applied to the bride's body, and henna painting, while a tasha drum procession welcomes the bride's party. Admission is $20 for adults; children are free.
At the same venue at 7 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 14, "Hollywood Meets Bollywood" will take place. It begins with a dance lesson, followed by musicians from the two genres performing in turn and then playing together on one stage at the end.
Dinner and an Observation Deck
Tamarind Tribeca (99 Hudson St.), an Indian restaurant in Tribeca, will serve a 15-course Diwali dinner from Friday, Nov. 6 to Sunday, Nov. 8. The price is $101, following the Indian custom of "shagun," giving gifts in odd-numbered amounts. Regular and vegetarian menus are available, and signature dishes include paani puri, "kosha mangsho," a Bengali-style lamb stew, and laddu tiramisu.
Edge (30 Hudson Yards), the Hudson Yards observation deck, will have special lighting for the Diwali period. Organizers suggest going up before sunset, watching the sky change, and staying until the city lights come on. Indoors, there are glowing installations such as the "Crystal Cave." Operating hours for each date are best checked at edgenyc.com.
On Oct. 24, road closures will make it difficult to reach Times Square by car. The easiest way is the subway to the Times Square-42nd St. station (1, 2, 3, 7, N, Q, R, W and S lines). From New Jersey, it is a five-minute walk from the Port Authority Bus Terminal.