Moving to a new country does not mean leaving your roots behind, it means finding new ways to stay connected to them. For Indian expats in Germany, celebrating traditional festivals is a beautiful way to preserve culture, bring the community together and share the richness of Indian heritage with international friends. Even thousands of kilometres away, Indian traditions continue to sparkle, whether it’s Diwali lighting up your apartment in Berlin or Holi sprinkling colours across a Munich park.
Here’s how you may embrace and enjoy Indian festivals in Germany, from traditional costume to sweets, decorations, community gatherings and local rules to keep in mind.
Table of Contents
How Indian Expats Celebrate Festivals in Germany?
Wearing Traditional Attire
Wearing traditional attire is one of the most treasured parts of Indian celebrations. Wearing ethnic clothing, whether it be a stunning lehenga, an embroidered Kurta or a flowing saree, is about more than simply style; it’s about connecting. Wearing traditional attire during festivals offers a sense of pride in their culture, belonging and nostalgia to many Indian expats living in Germany.
Wearing traditional clothing helps you express your identity proudly and pass on cultural values to children growing up in Germany. Festival attire adds color and charm to family photos, social media posts and community event memories. Germans and other internationals are often fascinated by Indian attire – your saree or sherwani might be the beginning of a beautiful cultural exchange.
Where to Buy: Indian clothing is available online at sites like Amazon Germany and Etsy, as well as in major cities at Indian shops and Indian markets.
Pro Tip: Make contact with nearby Indian tailors or boutiques that occasionally set up pop-up stores during festival seasons.
Cooking and Sharing Indian Sweets
What would Indian festivals be without laddoos or sheer kurma? In Germany, you can make or purchase popular sweets including modaks, rasgulla, jalebi and gulab jamun.
Where to get ingredients: The majority of the ingredients are available at Indian grocery stores, such as Spice Village, Asia Markt, etc. in Frankfurt, etc. During significant festivals, sweet boxes are often available.
Homemade joy: Don’t be afraid to offer or ask for homemade sweets, since many expats share and trade them in their communities.
Decorating Your Home with a Festive Touch
Without turning your living area into a warm, vibrant and colorful celebration area, no Indian holiday is complete. Creating a festive ambiance that boosts your spirits is more important than following tradition when it comes to house decor, from the warm glow of diyas during Diwali to elaborate rangoli patterns and flower garlands. You may bring Indian festival flair into your home even in Germany, where apartments are frequently sleek and minimalist.
Traditional Must Have:
Diyas and Fairy Lights: Warm fairy lights can be strung across your hallway, windows, or balcony. Add LED or clay diyas for Diwali. Indoor battery operated ones are the safest.
Rangoli Designs: Make vibrant patterns right at your door using rangoli powders, stencils or flower petals. Try chalk pens or washable markers on tile floors if powders are difficult to locate.
Incense and Aroma: Fragrances offer a festive touch. Light scented candles, use essential oil diffusers with sandalwood or rose or burn incense sticks (agarbatti).
Participating in Community Events and Indian Associations
Joining forces with the thriving Indian diaspora is one of the most charming ways to celebrate Indian festivities in Germany. Temples, student organizations and cultural associations can be found in big cities and even little towns. These places come alive during festive seasons, providing a powerful dose of Desi vibes and a sense of belonging. Taking part in these activities is a fantastic way to maintain your cultural roots and create a solid support system, regardless of how long you’ve lived in Germany.
Social gatherings are a great way to make friends, find flatmates or network with professionals who share similar experiences. Festivals feel more festive when celebrated in a group, especially when you’re far from home. Many events run on volunteer support so it’s a great way to give back, learn event management and build local connections. Many associations organize storytelling sessions, Indian dance and music classes or religious events for children.
These events are not just for Indians, they’re open to international guests too. Many associations actively encourage Germans and other expats to participate.
What Kind of Events Are Held?
Diwali: Diwali Melas are big celebrations that include food vendors, dance shows, music kid-friendly games and if permitted pyrotechnics.
Holi: A lot of organizations host outdoor Holi celebrations, complete with Indian cuisine, Bollywood music and color powders.
Navratri and Garba Nights: Attend community garba gatherings, which are typically accompanied by live dhol and music, while dressed in your best traditional attire and dancing the night away.
Traditional Dinners: Expect traditional dinners (such as Onam Sadya), cultural events and joyous gatherings throughout Onam, Pongal, Eid and Baisakhi celebrations.
Cultural Shows and Talent Contest: Excellent for families with children, numerous organizations hold contests that highlight Indian culture through dance, music and theatre.
How to Stay Updated?
- Join Facebook groups like “Indians in Berlin”, “Indian in Munich”, or “Indian in Germany” regularly post event information.
- Instagram pages of Indian associations and influencers often promote upcoming events.
- Event platforms like Eventbrite or Meetup list festival themed gatherings around Germany.
Popular Indian Associations in Germany
| Institute Name | What & How they celebrate? |
|---|---|
| IAGB – Indian Association of Berlin | Organizes Diwali, Holi, Independence Day, cultural evenings and sports meet. |
| DIG Berlin – Deutsch-Indische Gesellschaft, Berlin | Promotes Indo-German cultural exchange with lectures, exhibitions and concerts. |
| ISW – Indian Social Work, Munich | Primarily organizes Holi and Diwali celebrations. |
| MMM – Maharashtra Mandal, Munich | Celebrates marathi festivals like Gudi Padwa, Ganesh Chaturthi, etc. |
| Tamil Sangam Bavaria | Celebrates Pongal, Tamil New Year and Tamil language classes. |
| ICF – Indian Cultural Forum, Frankfurt | Organizes festivals, classical music events and dance performances. |
| Maharashtra Mandal, Frankfurt | Celebrates marathi festivals |
| Indian Association, Stuttgart | Celebrates almost all the Indian festivals. |
| Kannada Koota, Stuttgart | Organizes Ugadi, Kannada Rajyotsav and other Karnataka themed events. |
| Indische Gemeinde Hamburg e.V. | One of the oldest Indian communities in Germany focused on cultural preservation. |
| Indian Association, NRW | Brings together Indians for cultural fests, yoga days and more. |
| ISA – Indian Student Association | Organizes Diwali, Holi, Onam, etc., orientation programs, career support programs, cultural events and nights. |
Understanding Local Rules and Regulations
It is a happy and rewarding experience to celebrate Indian holidays in Germany, but there is a responsibility to be aware of and respectful of local laws and customs. Germany is renowned for its cleanliness and stringent laws, particularly those pertaining to community life, fire safety and noise levels. You can enjoy the celebrations without any problems if you are aware of this.
Fireworks and Fire Safety
In India, Diwali fireworks are a significant custom, while in Germany, private fireworks are only permitted on Silvester or New Year’s Eve. It is normally forbidden to use them at other occasions and doing so could result in fines. In some places, you might be able to request for a special permit, although this is uncommon and needs preparation in advance. However, to bring the holiday spirit indoors, use electric diyas, fairy lights or LED sticks that resemble sparklers.
Pro Tip: Before lighting candles or diyas in common areas or on balconies, always get permission from your landlord or building management (Hausverwaltung).
Noise and Quiet Hours
Germany has strict rules regarding noise levels, particularly quiet hours on weekdays and Saturdays often between 10 p.m. to 6 a.m. Sundays and public holidays are Ruhetags or rest days during which it is not permitted to hoover, play loud music or even use a hammer. For parties, consider keeping the volume low after 10 p.m. Notify your neighbours ahead of time (a polite reminder or little note goes a long way!). If you are hosting a larger event or party, reserve a community hall or cultural centre.
Decorating Common Areas
If you want to illuminate the entrance or hallway of your building, always start by asking the building committee or your Hausmeister. It is against fire safety regulations to use open fires in public places like hallways or staircases. As long as they don’t harm walls or fixtures, temporary, detachable decorations (such as garlands or string lights) are typically permissible.
Waste Disposal and Clean Up
Cleanups after a festival are equally important to sort your waste into categories such as paper, plastic, bio and restmüll (general waste). Food packaging, and broken diyas should never be left outside as this may result in complaints and penalties. Make early plans for a trash disposal system if you are hosting an event.
Pro Tip: If you are not sure about rules when celebrating, consider asking Hausmeister or building management (Hausverwaltung). If you are hosting an event for a large public then seek permission from Ordnungsamt (municipal office).
My Experience
When I first moved to Germany, I lived in a student dorm with a non-Indian roommate who wasn’t familiar with Indian culture or festivals. That year, a few of my friends and I decided to celebrate Diwali in one of our rooms. Wanting to share the experience, I invited my roommate to join us.
We decorated the room with fairy lights and diyas, played a short puja via YouTube and ended the evening with a homemade dinner. The atmosphere was cozy and festive, just like home. In our excitement, however, we lost track of time and continued celebrating late into the night. Around midnight, the dorm’s security personnel knocked on our door and politely asked us to keep the noise down, explaining that some other students had been disturbed.
The next morning, one of my friends approached the Hausmeister to better understand the dorm’s celebration rules. He kindly handed him a printed list outlining everything we needed to know for future events.
Despite the gentle warning, my roommate had a wonderful time and told me how much he enjoyed experiencing Diwali for the first time. The following year, we hosted a Holi celebration, this time with all the necessary permissions in place. My roommate joined in once again, enthusiastically throwing colors and eating savouries and sweets with the rest of us. In fact, it was not only him but a lot of students from the dorm who had never celebrated Holi before. Since then, it was our little tradition, he would meet me in Berlin every year around Diwali before I moved back to India. However, he never fails to call me during Diwali and wish me. Not just that, he now attends Diwali functions held by different organizations with my other friends and sends me photos just to make me realise what I have left behind.
For me, living away from India never diminished the joy of festivals. In fact, it made the experience even richer. Not only I continued celebrating our traditions, but I also had the chance to share them with the people from different countries and backgrounds, creating deeper and more meaningful connections along the way.
Conclusion
It is not only possible to celebrate Indian holidays in Germany, but it may also be very satisfying and significant. Every tiny act, like adorning your home with diyas and colours or dressed in colorful traditional clothing and making your own sweets, serves as a potent reminder of your identity and origins. Whether you are a family planning a potluck Onam Sadya or a student lighting your first Diwali diya in a shared accommodation, realise that every action helps to preserve our culture while also fostering international relationships.
Go ahead and celebrate this holiday season by wearing your kurta or saree with pride, sharing laddoos with your coworkers, inviting your neighbours to light a diya and letting the joy radiate from your heart to your new home in Germany.
About the Author: Deep Parikh
