Deepavali 2026 in Johor Bahru: Dates, Little India and Border Traffic

The Short Version

Deepavali 2026 falls on Sunday 8 November 2026. Four sources we read agree on the date. Singapore gives a holiday in lieu on Monday 9 November, so the long weekend there is 7 to 9 November. For Johor, the replacement day is not settled in the sources we read, so check the official Johor notice before you plan around it. Johor Bahru's Little India is on Jalan Ungku Puan,. We checked these pages on 4 November 2026 and say below what we could not confirm.

Deepavali lights and oil lamps in Johor Bahru, with a RM35 capsule stay at Pelangi Capsule Hostel — Deepavali, Sunday 8 November 2026.

Dates and Holidays

Date: Sunday 8 November 2026 (Wego, OfficeHolidays, AJobThing and HinduTone all give this date).
Where it is a public holiday: it is a federal public holiday in all Malaysian states except Sarawak. OfficeHolidays also excludes Labuan.
Johor replacement day: the sources conflict. OfficeHolidays and Wego point to Monday 9 November. AJobThing says the JTKSM 2026 calendar lists no separate Johor replacement. So: 8 November, with a possible Monday 9 November day off. Check the official Johor notice.
Singapore: Deepavali is Sunday 8 November, with a holiday in lieu on Monday 9 November, giving a long weekend from 7 to 9 November. MOM's wording is that it is a public holiday if your rest day falls on 8 November 2026.
School tip: one source (AJobThing) says Johor schools have an extra holiday on Tuesday 10 November under the KPM calendar. We saw it in only one place, so treat it as a tip and confirm with the school.

Little India and the Temples

Johor Bahru's Little India is on Jalan Ungku Puan. In October 2025 the Menteri Besar officiated the Johor Deepavali bazaar, and The Star's photo caption places it on Jalan Ungku Puan. A Malay-language RTM report from 19 October 2025 said the 2025 bazaar had about 100 traders selling traditional clothing, Indian sweets, home decor, kuih and henna (inai) services. Those are 2025 reports, not a 2026 schedule.

Arulmigu Rajamariamman Devasthanam is on Jalan Ungku Puan. A 2021 Malay Mail report described worshippers arriving from 7.30am in colourful traditional attire (we did not open that page ourselves, so treat the detail as indicative).
Arulmigu Sri Rajakaliamman Glass Temple is near the Singapore border. HinduTone says its interior is covered in coloured glass and beads, and that it is lit up on Deepavali evening.

What we could not confirm: no 2026 bazaar dates, light-up details or specific open-house listings for Johor Bahru turned up. We did not open every events page, so other events may exist. We will not name any we cannot source.

Temple Etiquette

This comes from one guide (HinduTone), plus informal traveller reviews of the Jalan Ungku Puan temple. The temple itself publishes no official rule that we found.

Men: long trousers and a sleeved shirt. Women: cover shoulders and knees. Avoid sleeveless tops and shorts.
Remove shoes at the designated area and arrange them neatly. Some temples ask that leather items be left outside.
Walk clockwise around the shrine and silence your phone.
Ask before photographing the inner sanctum or the priests.

Border Traffic

The Vibes reported on 19 October 2025 that past Deepavali breaks saw heavy congestion on the Johor Causeway (Woodlands to JB) and the Second Link (Tuas towards the Sultan Abu Bakar CIQ). That is a precedent, not a 2026 forecast.

Our own guess, unsourced: with Singapore's long weekend running 7 to 9 November, the busy times may be Friday 6 November and Monday 9 November. See our Causeway crossing guide and tips to beat the queue, and fill in your arrival cards the night before (MDAC and SG Arrival Card checklist).

What We Could Not Confirm

Shop and restaurant opening hours on Deepavali in Johor Bahru: we found no source. Call ahead for anywhere you must visit.
What exactly is closed: only the general point that government offices, banks and schools close on public holidays, from a calendar site.
A 2026 Little India bazaar schedule.

FAQ

When is Deepavali 2026?

Sunday 8 November 2026, according to the four sources we read.

Is Monday 9 November a holiday in Johor?

Not settled. Some sources say yes, but AJobThing says the JTKSM calendar lists no separate Johor replacement. Check the official Johor notice. In Singapore, Monday 9 November is a holiday in lieu.

Where is Little India in Johor Bahru?

On Jalan Ungku Puan, where the Arulmigu Rajamariamman Devasthanam temple also stands.

What should I wear to a Hindu temple?

Cover your shoulders and knees (men in long trousers and a sleeved shirt), and be ready to remove your shoes.

Will the Causeway be jammed?

Past Deepavali breaks saw heavy congestion on the Causeway and Second Link. There is no 2026 forecast yet, so check live traffic before you leave.

Stay at Pelangi

Pelangi Capsule Hostel is at 26A Jalan Perang, Taman Pelangi, 80400 Johor Bahru. A capsule is RM35 per night, and RM30 for the first night if you are a first-time guest booking direct on our website. We accept MYR and SGD (not USD). Holiday weekends fill up, so book direct here, or see our rooms, things to do in JB on a budget and contact us.

Sources (checked 4 November 2026)

Holiday notices and traffic change. This is general information. Check official Johor, ICA and LTA notices before you travel.