THE NETHERLANDS, November 9, 2026 (NL GTimes): Hindus across the Netherlands marked Diwali, the festival of lights, with temple services and family gatherings on Sunday as the main day of the five-day celebration. Street festivals and public events had taken place in the days before, according to local news reports. The five-day celebration runs from Friday, November 6, through Tuesday, November 10. Sunday, November 8, was the principal day, known as Lakshmi Puja. Diwali is the most important festival for Hindus, celebrating the victory of good over evil. The name comes from the Sanskrit word dipavali, meaning “a row of lights.” Small clay oil lamps, known as diyas, are lit around sunset. Lakshmi, the goddess of prosperity, is central to the celebration.

In The Hague’s Transvaal neighborhood, the largest local celebration, Diwali Nagar, was held Saturday on Paul Krugerplein and along the Paul Krugerlaan. Visitors gathered for music, market stalls, and performances. A large traditional diya was lit, and an image of the Goddess Lakshmi was lowered from a cherry picker amid fireworks, Den Haag FM reported. “What makes our street so special is that different cultures and communities come together here,” said Anmol Bindra, a board member of the shopkeepers’ association. “We are extremely proud to host the biggest Diwali celebration in The Hague. With this festival we want to invite everyone to come together, discover one another’s traditions and, above all, enjoy it together.” Prime Minister Rob Jetten posted a greeting on Sunday morning wishing the community a joyful Diwali. “Thousands of people in the Hindustani community in the Netherlands and millions around the world come together to reflect on the triumph of good over evil, of light over darkness, and on the power of positivity and optimism,” he wrote.

More on the Netherland’s Diwali celebrations at source.
https://nltimes.nl/2026/11/09/hindus-netherlands-mark-diwali-temple-services-street-festivals

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