Thailand lights up for Diwali: PM Anutin opens a month-long festival along Chao Phraya
PM Anutin lit the diya at ICONSIAM to open Thailand’s month-long Diwali Festival 2026. Seven free events in Bangkok, Pattaya and Phuket. See the full dates
PTC Web Desk: Thailand marked Diwali on Sunday night with a ceremony led by Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul at Riverpark, ICONSIAM, on the banks of the Chao Phraya River. Standing beside Indian Ambassador Puneet Agrawal, the Prime Minister lit the ceremonial diya and formally opened the Amazing Thailand Grand Diwali Festival 2026. The evening closed with a countdown, shouts of 'Happy Diwali!' and a fireworks display over the river.
It is unusual to see a head of government attend Diwali celebrations on the day itself outside India. The ceremony also drew ambassadors from India, South Africa, Belgium, Sri Lanka and the Maldives. Bangkok Governor Chadchart Sittipunt, Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) Governor Thapanee Kiatphaibool, leaders of the Hindu, Sikh and Namdhari communities, and around 200 invited guests were also present.
The programme began with a puja and a prayer for peace and prosperity. Guests were welcomed in Thai, English and Hindi. The Swami Vivekananda Cultural Centre of the Indian Embassy then staged 'Ramayana – Ramakien', a performance of the epic that both countries have told in their own ways for centuries.
In his speech, Prime Minister Anutin spoke about the long-standing links between the two nations, from Buddhism and the Ramayana (known in Thailand as the Ramakien) to the Sanskrit and Pali roots in the Thai language. He also described India as one of Thailand’s most important tourism markets. Diwali’s lamps, he said, were a reminder that light defeats darkness and good wins over evil. He thanked all public and private partners who helped bring the festival together.
Ambassador Agrawal said the sight of Indians living in Thailand, Thais of Indian origin and visitors from India celebrating alongside Thai friends reflects the deep bond between the two countries. “Diwali celebrates light, knowledge and the triumph of good,” he said.
One month, seven events, three provinces
In Thailand, Diwali is not a single night. The festival runs through November with seven events in Bangkok, Chonburi (Pattaya) and Phuket, and entry to all of them is free. That makes it one of the longest Diwali celebrations in the world.
The festival began with 'The First Light' at Central Bangrak on November 3. Sunday’s ceremony capped 'Lotus by the River', a three-day event at ICONSIAM featuring:
A giant illuminated lotus on the riverfront
A concert by Thai star Golf F.HERO
The Indian–Thai Got Talent contest
A turban-tying pavilion run by the Sikh and Namdhari communities
Classical and Bollywood dance performances
Indian street food and a Diwali market
TAT Governor Thapanee Kiatphaibool said festivals are among Thailand’s strongest forms of soft power. She added that the festival invites travellers from India, one of Thailand’s key markets, to celebrate their favourite festival in Thailand, alongside a Thai-Indian community that has been part of Thai society for generations.
Upcoming events
November 13–15, Pattaya Beach Road, Chonburi: Opening night and diya lighting by the sea on Friday, November 13.
November 20–24, Little India Bangkok, Phahurat Road: Dev Deepavali, Loy Krathong and Gurpurab fall under the same full moon, with the main day on Tuesday, November 24.
November 26–29, Quartier Avenue, EMQUARTIER, Bangkok: Closing-night diya lighting on Friday, November 27.
The Indian Association of Thailand (IAT) and the Thai–India Trade & Tourism Association (TITTA) first brought Diwali into Thailand’s public spaces in 2021, with TAT’s support from the very first year. The festival has grown every year since. Thai Prime Ministers have attended, and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi praised its Little India edition in 2024.
With Thailand and India set to mark 80 years of diplomatic relations in 2027, this year’s ceremony also points toward that anniversary.
About the festival
The Amazing Thailand Grand Diwali Festival 2026 is hosted by the Indian Association of Thailand and the Thai–India Trade & Tourism Association, in collaboration with the Tourism Authority of Thailand and the Embassy of India, Bangkok. Public and private partners and the Thai-Indian community also support it. The Bangkok Metropolitan Administration is co-host of the Bangkok events. The organiser is Bharat Choice Co., Ltd.