Journal · News · 9 November 2026 · four minutes
Diwali and Hindu Heritage Month, November 2026.
Diwali fell on 8 and 9 November this year, inside Hindu Heritage Month. Two federal statements mark them. What they say, Ottawa's census lines and the dates to plan for 2027.
In short
- Hindu Heritage Month
- November. Federal statement: Ottawa, 1 November 2026.
- Diwali 2026
- 8 and 9 November, marked by Hindu, Sikh, Jain and Buddhist communities. Federal statement: 8 November.
- Ottawa
- 16,200 residents born in India, the city's second immigrant birthplace; 57,820 counted as South Asian (Census 2021).
- Next November
- Events from August to November 2027 apply for federal events funding from 13 January to 24 February 2027.
Two statements in one week.
Marc Miller, Minister of Canadian Identity and Culture, issued both from Ottawa: the first on 1 November, the second on the first day of Diwali.
Canadian Heritage · statements · 1 and 8 November 2026
Hindu Heritage Month 2026 began on 1 November with a federal statement recognising "the remarkable contributions of Hindus in Canada". It notes that Hindu traditions span more than five millennia and that more than 1 billion people practise Hinduism today (Hindu Heritage Month statement).
On 8 November the minister marked Diwali: "Today and tomorrow, Hindu, Sikh, Jain and Buddhist communities across the country and around the world are marking Diwali." The statement describes the Festival of Lights through diyas, small oil lamps made of clay, along with fireworks and colourful rangoli designs (Diwali statement).
Beyond its traditions, Diwali carries a universal message of hope.
Ottawa in census numbers.
Between the 2016 and 2021 censuses, India moved from fourth to second among the birthplaces of Ottawa's immigrants and became the first source of recent arrivals.
Statistics Canada · Census 2016 and 2021 · City of Ottawa
| Measure | Census 2016 | Census 2021 |
|---|---|---|
| Residents born in India | 10,500 · 4th birthplace | 16,200 · 2nd birthplace |
| Recent arrivals from India | 1,900 · 3rd | 5,645 · 1st (11.9%) |
| Residents counted as South Asian | 38,750 · 4.2% | 57,820 · 5.8% |
In 2021, 2.0% of Ottawa residents reported the Hindu religion, 1.1% Buddhist and 0.6% Sikh, the census religion chart for the city shows. The Diwali statement names all three communities, with the Jain community, among those who mark the festival.
The community portrait, with the census lines, the Diwali greeting and the sweets, is on Indian Ottawa.
November holds two heritage months.
Hindu Heritage Month and Lebanese Heritage Month share November on the federal list.
Federal heritage months · November
- Hindu Heritage Month: November; the federal statement this year came on 1 November.
- Lebanese Heritage Month: November, set by the Lebanese Heritage Month Act; Lebanese Independence Day on 22 November. Our news on it.
- Diwali: 8 and 9 November in 2026, the federal statement of 8 November says.
- The whole year, month by month, with the Act or motion behind each month: heritage months in Canada.
What a community organisation can plan for 2027.
Three steps from this November to the next one.
For South Asian associations, temples' cultural committees and community groups in Ottawa
| When | What | Where to start |
|---|---|---|
| 13 January – 24 February 2027 | Federal MARP Events intake for public events from 1 August to 30 November 2027 | MARP Events funding for 2027 |
| Now through spring 2027 | A community pavilion at Capital Cultures, September 2027: fee $0, 100% of takings to the community | Pavilion application |
| November 2027 | Hindu Heritage Month and Lebanese Heritage Month again | Heritage months calendar |
Questions.
Short answers, each from the source named in the article.
Hindu Heritage Month and Diwali 2026
When is Hindu Heritage Month in Canada?
In November. The Government of Canada marked Hindu Heritage Month 2026 with a statement from Ottawa on 1 November 2026.
When was Diwali in 2026?
On 8 and 9 November 2026. The federal statement of 8 November says Hindu, Sikh, Jain and Buddhist communities mark Diwali "today and tomorrow".
Which heritage months fall in November in Canada?
Hindu Heritage Month and Lebanese Heritage Month. The full list is on heritage months in Canada.
How many people in Ottawa were born in India?
Census 2021 counts 16,200 Ottawa residents born in India, second among the city's immigrant birthplaces after China, and India was the first source of arrivals between 2016 and 2021. Indian Ottawa.
What does a pavilion at Capital Cultures cost a community?
The pavilion fee is $0, and 100% of the takings stay with the community. The application takes about ten minutes.