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Post Category - Family LifeFamily Life
Post Category - Parties & PlayParties & Play
Post Category - What's OnWhat's OnWith so many Indians and South Asians in Hong Kong, celebrating Diwali in the city can be a unique, larger-than-life experience. We answer all your questions about the Hindu Festival of Lights from this year’s dates to its history and customs.
Hong Kong may be small but it sure houses a diverse community of people celebrating different festivities. And given the city’s number of Indians, Nepalis and other South Asian communities, the diaspora embracing festivals like Diwali and flaunting glamourous traditional attire. And of course, Hongkongers don’t need a reason to dress up, so chances are that you have been to (or been invited to) some of the parties happening across the city! Here’s the Sassy Mama guide to celebrating bright and beautiful Diwali in Hong Kong.
Jump To:
What Is Diwali?
When Is Diwali 2024?
Gifts To Give During Diwali
Where To Buy Diwali Sweets, Candles & Lights In Hong Kong
Festive Menus To Celebrate Diwali
Where To Buy Dresses For Diwali
Diwali Events In Hong Kong 2024
Read More: Sassy Mama’s Guide To Festivities Around The Globe
What Is Diwali or The Festival Of Lights?
Diwali or Deepavali is known as The Festival of Lights and celebrates the triumph of good over evil. Legend has it that Lord Rama returned home after defeating the demon-king Ravana (perfectly timed with the end of a long period of exile imposed by his evil stepmother). The three major religions that celebrate Diwali include Hindus, Sikhs and Jains but the reasons for their celebrations slightly vary.
Teaching Kids About Diwali
If you want to teach your kids more about Diwali, we’d recommend “Amma, Tell Me About Diwali” from the “Amma, Tell Me” series by Hong Kong-based author, Bhakti Mathur. These books can be found in libraries in almost all international schools in the city and narrate the stories of Indian mythology very easily to young learners.
Read More: That Mama – Bhakti Mathur, Author Of The “Amma” Book Series
When Is Diwali 2024?
The Diwali celebration typically lasts five days, though Diwali 2024 is spread over six days. This year, it’s from Tuesday, 29 October to Sunday, 3 November 2024. Here’s a lowdown on what each day symbolises:
- First day: Dhanteras, when businesses in India mark the first day of their financial year.
- The second day is Chotti Diwali (small Diwali), a lead-up to the big celebration the following day that is associated with Lord Krishna’s defeat of the demon Narakasura.
- The third day is Diwali, the big daddy of Hindu celebrations almost everywhere in India. On this day, families worship Lakshmi, the Goddess of Wealth and have a pooja (prayer ceremony) in her honour. This year, the date for Diwali is both 31 October and 1 November but Diwali 2024 will be celebrated on Friday, 1 November 2024.
- The fourth day has more low-key celebrations and is celebrated in different ways in various parts of India and South Asia — it’s also considered the first day of the Indian New Year in Gujarat.
- The last day is Bhai Dooj, which honours the special bond between brothers and sisters.
In all, it’s over five days of partying, prayer, being with family and friends, eating well, dressing up and gifting.
Each family has its own traditions, some call friends over for a game of poker and others love a Bollywood movie marathon. Follow our list below and maybe you can create your own Diwali traditions! But plan wisely — tradition says that whatever you are doing on the first day of a New Year is an indication of how you’ll spend the next 12 months!
Gifts To Give During Diwali 2024
Diwali is a great time for shopping for gifts. The most common gifts are usually traditional sweets and sweet boxes, nuts and dried fruits, candles, candle holders, diyas, chocolates or home decor items. While you can get them at many of the stores in Hong Kong, it’s always nice to give an Indian-owned mumpreneur business a little extra love on Diwali. These are some of our favourite Diwali gift items.
Diwali Collection
Baking Maniac, from $240
The Kohinoor Candle Set
Candle Up, $800 for a set of two candles, nuts and a tray
Diwali Hamper
Gift Hampers, from $769
Sienna Table Cloth
Malabar Baby, from $560
Where To Buy Diwali Sweets, Candles & Lights In Hong Kong
Diwali Sweets & Sweet Boxes In Hong Kong
Every year, Indian restaurants and Indian grocery stores across Hong Kong offer the most delicious sweet boxes! You’ll also find home bakers and chefs saving their finest goodies for the festive season. These usually get booked within a few days of them being announced, so watch this space for this year’s Diwali specials. Other than these, some grocery stores stock packaged Indian sweets throughout the year too. These are also a good option, if you haven’t been able to snag the specially crafted ones.
Read More: Indian Grocery Stores And Supermarkets In Hong Kong
Diwali Lights & Candles In Hong Kong
Most Indian stores across Hong Kong stock diyas (clay lamps) almost all year round. You can choose the plain ones and paint them with your kids for an easy and fun DIY craft exercise, or buy fancier decorative pieces. The good news is that these can be reused year on year.
You can also make the trek up to the infamous Chungking Mansions to get a large stock of diyas from the stores there. But if that proves too much of a mission, you can always depend stock up on candles instead. Many of them are shaped like diyas and fit in perfectly well with the Festival of Lights. You can also find electric tea lights or fairy lights that you can put up around Diwali and keep on till Christmas. Partytime also stocks colourful Diwali decorations for your home.
Read More: Party Supplies And Decorations In Hong Kong
Festive Menus To Book In Hong Kong For Diwali
Indian restaurants across the city are still finalising the menus and the dates (since it also coincides with Halloween), but here are some tidbits to make your mouth water.
CHAAT
Treat your family to a Michelin-starred Diwali tasting menu at CHAAT featuring Tuna Bhel Chaat (that’s a variation of Indian street food we can’t wait to try!), Kerala Lobster curry, Lamb Nihari, Beans Poriyal and more. Plus, there’s a wine pairing option for Mamas and Papas!
Prince & The Peacock
Black Sheep’s latest Indian fine dining restaurant will offer a Diwali menu from Friday, 1 to Sunday, 3 November 2024. Available a la carte will be Gobhi Angeethi (chargrilled milk-braised cauliflower with tempered yoghurt), Nav Ratan Pulao (literally translating to rice with nine jewels) and delicious Ras Malai (saffron-infused milk dumplings with churned flavoured milk) to end the meal.
Chaiwala
For a less pricey Indian feast that you can enjoy with the kids, book the Diwali dinner at Chaiwala on Thursday, 31 October 2024. There’s sure to be some Halloween fun thrown in too!
Read More: The Best Kid-Approved Indian Restaurants In Hong Kong
Where To Buy Ethnic Indian Wear And Dresses For Diwali
Now that we have checked off food and lights, let’s get you dressed for Diwali! You may not have many occasions to feel like an Indian Maharani, but this is one time of the year when too much bling feels just about right!
We are certainly not short of options in Hong Kong. For affordable yet stylish outfits, head to the first and second floors of Mirador Mansion in Tsim Sha Tsui where you’ll find many stores selling everything from sarees, sherwanis and lehengas to jootis, bangles and bindis to complete your look.
If you are looking for a statement piece, look at Sanskrit where viewings are by appointment only. If you want something that you can wear not just on Diwali but also at your Indian best friend’s wedding, head to Kanta Trading Company or Nanak Clothes House.
Love the elegant Indian saree? Check out the gorgeous collection at Ethnica. This mama-run venture has collected the finest hand-woven sarees from all parts of India and is sure to impress. Want to order from India? Our Indian Sassy Mama Editor loves the kid’s clothes from Little Muffet and the beautiful sarees and blouses from Suta (our lovely That Mama Bhakti Mathur is often seen looking gorgeous in sarees and blouses from Suta). You can also browse on Etsy for Indian outfits and accessories!
Read More: Eco-friendly Fashion – Where To Get Sustainable Clothes For Kids In Hong Kong
Diwali Events In Hong Kong 2024
Diwali is all about shopping, eating and having a great time with friends and family! Naturally, all the Diwali events in Hong Kong reflect that.
Diwali Pop-Up
Want to buy beautiful ethnic wear? Head to this Diwali sale and get your outfit for the season sorted.
When: Thursday, 3 to Saturday, 5 October 2024
Where: 8D, Robinson Garden, 3 Robinson Road, Hong Kong
RSVP: 6200 2317
Quiz Wali Diwali
This quiz organised by Wild Boar Games is for all Indians living in Hong Kong and those who feel they know enough about Indian films, music and pop culture to compete!
When: Monday, 14 October 2024; 7pm to 9:30pm
Where: The Globe, 45-53A Graham Street, Hong Kong
How much: $280
Booking: Eventbrite
Women of Hong Kong Diwali Pop-Up Market
A one-day Diwali-themed pop-up market with food stalls and shopping picks – from beautiful clothing to stunning jewellery and festive decorations.
When: Friday, 18 October 2024; 2pm to 7pm
Where: The Women’s Lounge, 4/F Hollywood Commercial House, 3-5 Old Bailey Street, Central, Hong Kong
RSVP: Women of Hong Kong
We know there will soon be a lot more Diwali events announced! Infinity Events will have a Diwali Bollywood party on Saturday, 26 October 2024 with Mumbai-based DJ Reme bringing the beats, so bookmark this page for everything to do with Diwali in Hong Kong!
Read More: Weekend Planner – Activities And Events For Kids And Families In Hong Kong
Editor’s Note: This post was originally written in October 2013 by Simran and most recently updated in October 2024 by Anita Balagopalan. Special thanks to Najuka Redkar and Fashila Kannaka for their contribution.
