DIVYA JYOTI ASSOCIATION INC. PRESENTS
2026
Diwali Motorcade
and Cultural Extravaganza
A beloved Queens tradition returns to fill Little Guyana with devotion, illuminated floats, Tassa, music, dance and community.
Saturday, October 24, 2026
Phil “Scooter” Rizzuto Park (Smokey Oval), Queens, New York
Festivities begin at 1:00 PM
Free and open to the public
DATE
Saturday, October 24, 2026
TIME
Festivities begin at 1:00 PM
LOCATION ↗
Phil “Scooter” Rizzuto Park (Smokey Oval), Queens, NY
ADMISSION
Free and open to the public
THE FESTIVAL OF LIGHTS
One day. Three celebrations.
The Diwali Motorcade moves from devotion, to procession, to performance. Here is how the day unfolds.
01
Lakshmi Puja and Hawan
The day begins in devotion, honoring Mother Lakshmi and the triumph of light, knowledge and goodness.
Sunday, November 8
02
The Motorcade of Light
Cars, trucks and official floats become moving works of art as they carry the light of Diwali through Little Guyana.
Sunday, November 8
03
Cultural Extravaganza
Live music, dance, youth performances, Tassa and special guests carry the celebration into the evening.
Sunday, November 8
THE 2026 ROUTE
A glowing journey through Little Guyana.
Gather at Smokey Oval, then follow the procession as it carries the light of Diwali through the cultural heart of Richmond Hill.
Route details coming soon.
The final procession route, vehicle staging, lineup information, step-off time, parking guidance and street closure information will be published here once confirmed.
A LIGHT WE CARRY FORWARD
Mother Lakshmi 2025: Meet Lilly
In 2025, Lilly was named Best Dressed Mother Lakshmi at the Diwali Motorcade. Her grace, beauty and devotion captured the spirit of the celebration and became one of the memorable images of the Motorcade’s return.
As we look toward 2026, Lilly represents a new generation carrying forward a tradition rooted in faith, family and community.
“The next generation does not simply inherit the light. They become it.”
WATCH THE LIGHT RETURN
More than an event. A Queens homecoming.
Relive the return of the Diwali Motorcade and experience the faith, culture, community and energy that filled Little Guyana.
PARTICIPATE
Register Your Vehicle or Float
Register your car, SUV or truck, or indicate your interest in participating with an official Diwali Motorcade float.
Registration is free.
SELL AND SHOWCASE
Apply as a Vendor
Bring your business, food or craft to thousands of families gathering in Queens for the Festival of Lights.
GIVE
Support the Motorcade
Sponsors, partners and community supporters help keep this celebration free and open to the public.
GALLERY
A glimpse of the magic.
Each image captures a moment of faith, artistry and community in Little Guyana. Together they preserve the joy and cultural pride of the Diwali Motorcade.
Floats and Lights
Devotion in Every Generation
The Rhythm of Little Guyana
Community
Cultural Showcase
Live Performance
THE RETURN
The light came back to Liberty Avenue.
After a five-year pause, the Diwali Motorcade returned in 2025, brighter and stronger, welcoming more than 10,000 community members back to the streets of Queens.
The return was more than an event. It was a homecoming, and the beginning of the next chapter of this beloved Queens tradition.
WITH THANKS
Made possible by our partners.
The Diwali Motorcade is free and open to the public because of the businesses, organizations and community leaders who stand behind it.
Our 2026 partners will be announced here as sponsorships are confirmed. Interested in joining them? We would love to start the conversation.