Here are the Florida communities celebrating the Festival of Lights:

TAMPA/PINELLAS PARK
Gujarati Samaj of Tampa Bay is hosting a Diwali dinner from 5 p.m. on Sunday, Nov. 10, at India Cultural Center, 5511 Lynn Road, Tampa. The event is exclusively and free for GSTB members only. For information, call GSTB Vice President Bhavik Modi at (813) 557-4555.

Sanatan Mandirin Tampa will hold Deepawali Laxmi Puja from 6:30 p.m. on Oct. 31. Fireworks and rangoli celebration will be on Nov. 2. Annakut will be the next day. The mandir is at 311 E. Palm Ave. For information, call (813) 221-4482 or visit www.sanatanmandirtampa.org

Shree Raam Mandir,7411 E. Comanche Ave., in Tampa, will have Grand Diwali celebrations featuring songs, music, dance and drama from 6.30 p.m. on Oct. 25. For information, call (813) 334-0443.

Hindu Temple of Florida in Tampa will hold its annual Deepawali celebrations on Oct. 31 with Lakshmi Pooja at 6 p.m. followed by fireworks and mahaprasad at 5509 Lynn Road, Tampa. For information, call (813) 962-6890 or visit https://www.htfl.org/

BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandirwill hold Diwali (Chopda Pujan) from 10 a.m. Oct. 31. Annakut/New Year will be on Nov. 2 from noon to 7 p.m. with aarti every hour. Mahaprasad will be served. Kids’ Diwali celebration will be 1 to 6 p.m. on Nov. 9. BAPS is at 9556 E. Fowler Ave. in Thonotosassa. For details, call (813) 986-5473.

SOUTH FLORIDA
FORT LAUDERDALE: The Indian Regional and Cultural Center will hold its Diwali festivities from noon to 10 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 16, at Broward County Convention Center, 1950 Eisenhower Blvd., Fort Lauderdale. The program will include music and dance performances, including bhangra, Bollywood, folk dances. Other attractions are food, fashion, jewelry and henna. For tickets and other information, call Sanjay Gupta at (954) 461-4003 or visit www.irccflorida.org

WEST PALM BEACH: And the Palm Beach India Association will hold a Diwali Show on Nov. 9. For time, venue and other details, visit www.gopbia.org or email [email protected]

ORLANDO/CASSELBERRY
Hindu Society of Central Florida (1994 Lake Drive)in Casselberry will celebrate Diwali and Annakut on Saturday, Nov. 2, with several competitions and cultural programs, fireworks. For information, call (407) 574-1814 or visit www.orlandohindutemple.org

Gujarati Society of Central Florida will hold Diwali Celebration 2024 from 5:30 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 9, at Grand Cypress Resort, One Grand Cypress Blvd., Orlando. Festivities include variety of foods, cash bar, kids programs. Cost is $75, $100 and VIP for members, $150 non-members. For information, visit www.gujaratisocietycfl.com or call (407) 797-9407.

Maa Durga Sri Sai Baba Temple will celebrate Diwali and Laxmi Pooja on Oct. 31. The temple is at 11414 S. Apopka Vineland Road, Orlando. For information, call (407) 437-6709 or visit www.durgasaitemple.com

JACKSONVILLE
Indian Cultural Society of Jacksonville and Patel Brothers will hold Grand Diwali celebration from 2 p.m. Nov. 17 at Florida Theatre, 128 E. Forsyth St., #300, Jacksonville. For information, email [email protected] or visit www.jaxics.org

BARTOW/WINTER HAVEN/LAKELAND
Bhartiya Samaj of Central Florida will celebrate Diwali at 6 p.m. on Nov. 3 at Bartow Civic Center, 2250 S. Floral Ave., Bartow. For information, call Subhash Patel at (863) 838-0969 or visit www.bscfl.com

Shree Swaminarayan Hindu Temple (ISSO), 2793 New Tampa Highway, Lakeland, will celebrate New Year and Annakut on Nov. 2. Tulsi Vivah will be on Nov. 23. For information, call (863) 687-4776 or visit www.issolakeland.org

OCALA
India Ocala Association will celebrate Diwali from 6 p.m. Nov. 9 at Cultural and Educational Center, 2030 N.E. 36th Ave. For details, call (352) 575-1111 or visit indiaocala.org

FORT MYERS/NAPLES
India Association of Fort Myers will hold a Diwali Gala from 6:30 p.m. Nov. 16 at Sidney & Berne Davis Art Center, 2301 First St., Fort Myers. Cost for adults is $75 members, $100 non-members, $35 kids of members, $50 non-members. To purchase tickets, visit www.iaftmyers.org/diwali-gala02024

MELBOURNE/VIERA (SPACE COAST)
Indian Association of the Space Coast will hold Diwali Annual Dinner from 6 p.m. to midnight on Oct. 26 at St. John the Evangelist Catholic Community, 5655 Stadium Parkway, Melbourne. Members are free; and nonmembers pay $25. For details, call (321) 271-7072 or visit https://myiasc.com/

Manav Mandirwill hold Diwali celebrations (Laxmi Puja, fireworks) at 5 p.m. on Nov. 1 and Annakut Utsav the next day. The temple is at 7400 Waelti Drive, Melbourne. For information, call (321) 426-0668 or visit www.mmbrevard.org

Here are the Florida communities celebrating Navratri:

TAMPA BAY/PINELLAS PARK
Gujarati Samaj of Tampa Bay will celebrate Garba Dandiya Night from 8 p.m. on Oct. 4-5 at India Cultural Center, 5511 Lynn Road, Tampa. The garba is only for GSTB members. Performers will be playback singer Jignesh Shah of X Factor fame and Shivani Shah. On Oct. 11-12, Rythum Shastri, Reena Thakar and Ramesh Dayema will perform from 8 p.m. at Florida State Fairgrounds, 4800 U.S. 301 N. It is free for GSTB members and $25 for non-members. For information, call GSTB Vice President Bhavik Modi at (813) 557-4555.

Sanatan Mandir at 311 E. Palm Ave., Tampa, will hold Navratri festival from Oct. 3-11. Dussehra celebrations will be on Oct. 12. For details, call the temple at (813) 221-4482, email [email protected] or visit www.sanatanmandirtampa.org

Ambaji Mandir at 10991 58th St., in Pinellas Park, is celebrating Navratri with daily garba from Oct. 3-12 after 7 p.m. aarti. Navratri Ashtami is from 5 p.m. on Oct. 11 and Dussehra from 6 to 7 p.m. Oct. 12. For more information, call the mandir at (727) 388-6685 or visit www.ambajimandir.org

Sri Laxmi Narayan Mandir is celebrating Navratri with daily garba from Oct. 3-12 after 7 p.m. aarti. Navratri Ashtami is from 5 p.m. on Oct. 11 and Dussehra from 6 to 7 p.m. Oct. 12. Sri Laxmi Narayan Mandir is at 4615 George Road, Tampa. For information, call the temple at (813) 444-9786.

Shree Raam Mandir,7411 E. Comanche Ave., in Tampa, will celebrate nine nights from Oct. 3-11. Kanya Kumari pooja will be on Oct. 6. For information, call Nick at (813) 334-0443.

SOIKOT (Bengali Association of Greater Tampa Bay) will hold Durga Puja Oct. 11-13 at India Cultural Center, 5511 Lynn Road, Tampa. Lakshmi Puja will be Oct. 19 at ICC Lotus Hall. For details, e-mail [email protected] or visit www.soikot.org

SOUTH FLORIDA
CORAL SPRINGS: The Indian Regional & Cultural Center (IRCC) will celebrate Navratri from 8 p.m. Oct. 5 and Oct. 12 at Coral Springs High School, 7201 W. Sample Road, Coral Springs. Cost is $35 for IRCC members, $45 non-members. For more information, call (954) 543-1539 or visit www.irccflorida.org to purchase tickets.

ROYAL PALM BEACH: Palm Beach India Association will present Garba from 7 p.m. on Oct. 4-5 and Oct. 11-12 at Royal Palm Beach High School, 10600 Okeechobee Blvd., Royal Palm Beach. The event is free for PBIA members and $40 non-members. Kids garba will be 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. Oct. 12. For information, email [email protected] or visit www.gopbia.org

MIAMI: Indian Cultural Club of South Florida (ICCOSF) will hold Garba & Dandiya from 7 p.m. to midnight Oct. 5 at 6304 S.W. 78th St., South Miami. Tickets are $35 each. DJ Vish will entertain. To purchase tickets, visit https://www.iccsof.org

ORLANDO/KISSIMMEE/CASSELBERRY
The Gujarati Society of Central Florida will hold Navratri Garba from 8 p.m. Oct. 4-5 at Olympia High School, 4301 S. Apopka Vineland Road, Orlando. The Oct. 11-12 garba will be from 8 p.m. at Lyman High School, 865 S. Ronald Reagan Blvd., Longwood. Performers are Kirtan and Devangi Brahmbhatt. The event is free for society members and $25 non-members. For information, call Paresh at (407) 600-0971 or visit www.gujaratisocietycfl.com The society will hold a Kids Navratri from 5 to 7 p.m. Oct. 5 at Olympia High School. It will be free and for members’ kids only. For information, call Bijal Shodhan at (818) 572-5742.

Hindu Society of Central Florida (HSCF) temple will celebrate Navratri Utsav with music, raas and garba from 8:30 p.m. Oct. 3-11 in the community hall, 1994 Lake Drive, Casselberry. Dussehra will be celebrated on Oct. 12. For more information, call Mahendra Kapadia at (407) 595-9224 or visit www.orlandohindutemple.org

Lake Nona Indians will hold Garba Night from 7 on Oct. 3 at Lake Nona High School Cafeteria, 12500 Narcoossee Road, Orlando. Tickets are $10. Music Masti group from India will perform. To purchase, visit www.lakenonaindians.org

BARTOW/LAKELAND/WINTER HAVEN
The Bhartiya Samaj of Central Florida will celebrate Navratri at 8 p.m. Oct. 4-5 and Oct. 11-12 at Bartow Civic Center, 2250 S. Floral Ave., Bartow. For more information, call Subhash S. Patel at (863) 838-0969 or visit www.bscfl.com

Shree Swaminarayan Hindu Temple, 2793 New Tampa Highway, Lakeland, will hold Navratri garba from 8 p.m. on Oct. 5 and 12. Sharad Purnima garba will be from 8 p.m. Oct. 19. For information, call (863) 687-ISSO or visit www.issolakeland.org

OCALA/BELLEVIEW
India Association Cultural & Educational Center will celebrate Navratri for members only from 7 p.m. on Oct. 4-5, 11-12 and 18 at 2030 N.E. 36th Ave., Ocala. For information, call (352) 274-0496.

FORT MYERS/NAPLES
India Association of Naples will hold a free Dandiya Night from 6 to 10 p.m. Oct. 12 at Bent Creek Preserve Clubhouse, 9350 Bronwood Place, Naples. For information, email [email protected]

JACKSONVILLE
The Gujarati Samaj of North East Florida will celebrate Navratri Garba Nites 2024 with a live band from Gujarat from 7.30 p.m. on Oct. 4-5 at Atlantic Coast High School, 9735 R.G. Skinner Parkway. For all four days, the combo ticket is $20 members and $80 non-members. For more information, call (904) 209-9445; to purchase tickets, visit gsnef.org

MELBOURNE/VIERA (SPACE COAST)
The Indian Association of the Space Coast will hold Garba Night from 7 p.m. to midnight on Oct. 5 (Rupesh Rawal) and Oct. 12 (Masti Group from India) at Viera High School, 6103 Stadium Parkway, Viera. Association members are $10 and non-members $25. For details, e-mail [email protected] or visit https://myiasc.com/

Also, Manav Mandir temple, 7400 Waelti Drive, Melbourne, will begin Navratri, Garba at 5 p.m. on Oct. 3. Dussehra will be celebrated from 5 p.m. on Oct. 13. For information, call (321) 426-0668 or visit www.mmbrevard.org

Disclaimer: Event details are subject to change. Please check with local organizers.