Is Diwali a Dry Day in India? Here’s the City-Wise Dry Day List 2025

Diwali, the festival of lights, is a joyous celebration that brings people together. It's a time for family, friends, and festivities, marking the victory of good over evil. While Diwali is a time for indulgence, some states in India observe dry days, restricting liquor sales. If you're planning to celebrate Diwali with drinks, it's essential to know if it's a dry day in your city. Here's a city-wise guide to help you plan your celebrations.

What Is Dry Day In India?

A dry day in India refers to some specific notified days when the sale of alcohol is banned by the government officially. On these dry days, there are restrictions applied to licensed outlets like bars, liquor shops, and hotels on the consumption and sale of alcohol. The consumption of alcohol at home is not prohibited unless specially mentioned. 

List of dry days in India

• National holidays:  Republic Day (January 26), Independence Day (August 15), and Gandhi Jayanti (October 2).
• Religious festivals.
• On elections 

Liquor regulation is a state-specific topic; hence, every state rolls out its specific list every year.  

Is Diwali a Dry Day in India?

Diwali is a grand festival in India, marked by visits, gatherings, and parties. If you're hosting a Diwali party, you might wonder if it's a dry day or not. The answer is that Diwali isn't a nationwide dry day, but liquor laws may vary by state and city. 

CIty-Wise Guide

Delhi: Diwali is officially a dry day in Delhi in 2025. The sale and serving of alcohol will be prohibited on Diwali, October 20, 2025. This dry day is part of the government's effort to honor cultural and religious observances by banning alcohol sales in licensed outlets on significant festival days.

Mumbai: No, Diwali is not a dry day. Other dry days apply here. 

Pune: Not a dry day. Diwali is not declared as a state-wide dry day in Maharashtra. 

Bangalore: Not a dry day as no state-wide dry day has been declared in Karnataka for Diwali. 

Ahmedabad: This is a dry state, hence it's a dry day here.

Hyderabad: No state-wide dry day declared in the state of Telangana on Diwali. 

Patna: Bihar is a dry state and hence it bans the sale and consumption of alcohol in any part of the state.

Kolkata: No, Diwali is not a dry day in West Bengal. 

Mizoram: This is a dry state.

Punishments For Not Following Dry-Day Rules

Delhi (Diwali)

• Violators caught drinking or selling alcohol during a dry day can be fined heavily.  The penalties often start at several thousand rupees.​
• Shops and stores caught violating dry day laws can have their liquor licenses canceled or suspended. This will lead to permanent bans on sale for a period.

In General

• Heavy fines are imposed on individuals or stores selling or serving alcohol on dry days. Penalties can start from a thousand rupees and increase depending on the state regulations and how severe the violation is.​
• Suspension or cancellation of liquor licenses for business establishments violating the dry day rules. This effectively prohibits the business from legally selling alcohol for a specified time or longer.​
• Legal action, including arrest for illegal sale or consumption of alcohol on dry days. This depends on state laws, especially in dry states with a complete ban. 

Summing Up

Diwali isn't a nationwide dry day in India. States like Nagaland, Mizoram, Gujarat, and Bihar will observe a dry day due to their local laws. However, Delhi will also observe a dry day as per the government declaration. Hence, plan your parties accordingly.