Diwali 2026 in Kollam: Events, Puja & Where to Celebrate

TL;DR 🪔

• Diwali 2026 in Kollam falls on November 7-8, with Dhanteras on November 6 opening the five-day festive arc
• Puttingal Devi Temple and Thamarakkulam Ganapathy Temple are among the principal places of worship through the season
• The lead-up runs through Navratri (October 11), Dussehra / Vijayadashami (October 20), and Karva Chauth (October 29)
• Clay diyas, Lakshmi puja, and neighbourhood lamp-lighting are the signature rituals of the main night
• Local markets begin stocking diyas, sweets, and festive goods well ahead of November

Diwali in Kollam: The Context

Kollam celebrates Diwali as part of a broader festive arc that stretches from late September through early November. While Onam remains the signature Kerala celebration, Diwali has long been observed across the state — and in Kollam, a city with a diverse religious landscape and deep temple culture, the festival is marked with genuine warmth and participation.

Diwali 2026 opens with Dhanteras on November 6, when households traditionally purchase new utensils, gold, or silver as an auspicious beginning to the festival. This is one of the busiest days of the year for the city's jewellery and kitchenware markets, with customers arriving from surrounding talukas as well.

Naraka Chaturdashi on November 7 is observed with early morning oil baths taken before sunrise — a ritual common in south Indian Diwali traditions. The night of Naraka Chaturdashi transitions into the main Lakshmi Puja on November 8, when homes fill with rows of clay diyas, rangoli patterns cover thresholds, and families conduct puja to welcome the goddess of prosperity. Kollam's neighbourhoods on this night take on a distinct warmth — the cumulative glow of hundreds of homes lit together creates a visual that remains memorable long after the season ends.

Kollam's Temples During the Diwali Season 🛕

Kollam's temple landscape is one of the richest in Kerala, and the Diwali season brings heightened activity to places of worship across the district. Puttingal Devi Temple, one of the most significant shrines in the Kollam region, sees devotees arrive from across the area during major festive seasons. The goddess is approached with devotion at the start of important undertakings, and the Diwali period is no exception.

Thamarakkulam Ganapathy Temple receives particular attention before and during Diwali, as Ganesha's blessings are traditionally sought before any major puja or auspicious beginning. Devotees offer coconuts, flowers, and modak before returning home to begin Lakshmi puja preparations.

Sree Saravana Temple (Murugan Temple) in Eravipuram is another active site through the festive season. The Murugan deity is deeply beloved in Kollam, and the temple draws a steady flow of visitors through October and November. For families with young children, a visit here during the Diwali period has become part of the seasonal routine for many households.

Beyond these, Kollam's wider network of neighbourhood temples plays a major role. Yogeswara Temple, Siva Parvathi Temple, and Sree Mahavishnu Temple each conduct special pujas during the Diwali period. Community halls associated with temples often organize cultural programmes — music performances, storytelling sessions for children, and collective lamp-lighting ceremonies — that extend the celebration beyond individual homes and into shared spaces.

The Lead-Up: From Navratri to Diwali

The festive season that culminates in Diwali begins well before November. Navratri 2026 starts on October 11, marking nine nights of goddess worship that culminate in Durga Ashtami on October 19 and Dussehra / Vijayadashami 2026 on October 20. These observances are widely observed in Kollam, particularly by families with children, for whom Vijayadashami is also considered an auspicious day to begin formal learning — the Vidyarambham tradition has children take their first lessons in writing on this day, often conducted at the temple with the guidance of an elder.

Karva Chauth on October 29 is observed by some communities in Kollam, particularly families with north Indian heritage. The fasting and evening rituals of Karva Chauth make October 29 a notable day in the community calendar for those who observe it.

After Dussehra and Karva Chauth, the next major markers are Dhanteras on November 6 and then Diwali proper on November 7-8. The window between October 20 and November 6 is when Kollam's markets complete their Diwali transformation — new clothing lines, sweet boxes, diya sets, and home decoration items fill the commercial stretches of the city.

Celebrating Diwali at Home in Kollam

Diwali home preparations in Kollam follow a recognizable pattern. The house is cleaned thoroughly in the days before the festival — the practical expression of welcoming Lakshmi, who is believed to visit homes that are bright, clean, and open. Kolams are drawn at the main entrance, typically using white rice flour with coloured accents.

Sweets are central to the celebration. Families in Kollam typically prepare or purchase a range of sweets — coconut-based ladoos, halwa, and the more widely known kaju katli and gulab jamun — to share with neighbours and relatives. The exchange of sweet boxes between families remains one of the most widely practised social customs of the Diwali season in Kollam.

The lighting of diyas begins at dusk. Rows of clay lamps line the outer walls, steps, and balconies of homes. While electric lights have become more common in recent years, clay diyas remain the preferred symbol of the festival. Some families also float small lamps in water vessels placed at the entrance.

Firecrackers continue to be part of the Diwali celebration, though there is a visible trend in many residential areas toward quieter varieties, particularly in streets with elderly residents or young children.

Insider Tip: Kollam's wholesale market near the city centre is the best place to buy diyas in bulk — but it becomes extremely crowded in the final three days before Diwali. Going around November 1 gives you much better selection and avoids the rush. Look specifically for hand-made clay diyas from local potters rather than machine-manufactured versions, which tend to be thinner and less stable once lit.

FAQ

When is Diwali 2026 in Kollam? Diwali 2026 falls on November 7-8. Lakshmi Puja is typically observed on the night of November 8. Dhanteras, the first day of the five-day arc, is November 6.

Which temples in Kollam are active during Diwali? Puttingal Devi Temple, Thamarakkulam Ganapathy Temple, and Sree Saravana Temple (Murugan Temple) are among the major temples that see significant visitor footfall during the Diwali season.

Is Diwali a public holiday in Kollam? Yes, Diwali is a gazetted public holiday in Kerala, so schools and most government offices remain closed on the main day.

What sweets are traditionally made for Diwali in Kollam? Families in Kollam typically prepare coconut-based sweets alongside more widely known Diwali sweets such as kaju katli, gulab jamun, and halwa. Home preparation and purchased boxes from local sweet shops are both common.

When does Navratri start in Kollam in 2026? Navratri 2026 begins on October 11 and concludes with Vijayadashami on October 20. The festival is observed with goddess puja through the nine nights.

Bottom Line

Diwali 2026 in Kollam unfolds through a full festive arc beginning with Navratri in October, building through Dussehra and Karva Chauth, and culminating in the lamp-lit nights of November 7-8. With Puttingal Devi Temple, Thamarakkulam Ganapathy Temple, Sree Saravana Temple (Murugan Temple), Yogeswara Temple, and dozens of neighbourhood shrines as community anchors, Kollam has no shortage of places to seek blessings and gather with others. For residents, this season is as much about neighbours, shared sweets, and lit doorsteps as it is about the calendar dates.