Diwali 2026 (Deepawali): Date, Lakshmi Puja Muhurat, Five-Day Calendar, Puja Vidhi and Significance

Discover Diwali 2026 dates, city-wise Lakshmi Puja muhurat, the five-day calendar, puja samagri, step-by-step rituals, and the meaning behind Deepawali traditions across India this year.

Diwali 2026 is on Sunday, 8 November 2026. The Lakshmi Puja muhurat in New Delhi is from 5:54 PM to 7:50 PM, during Pradosh Kaal. The festival runs from Dhanteras on Friday, 6 November to Bhai Dooj on Wednesday, 11 November.

Diwali, or Deepawali, is the festival of lights and the most widely celebrated festival in India. This guide gives the verified dates and tithi timings for all five days, the Lakshmi Puja muhurat for 22 cities, a samagri list and step-by-step puja vidhi, and an explanation of the questions this year's calendar raises, such as why nothing falls on 9 November and why Diwali comes so late.

Timings are in Indian Standard Time and are for New Delhi unless another city is named. They follow Drik Panchang's Diwali calendar, checked city by city, and the Government of India holiday list.

Diwali 2026 at a Glance

When Is Diwali in 2026?

Diwali is celebrated on the Amavasya (new moon) of Kartik. In 2026, the Amavasya tithi begins at 11:27 AM on Sunday, 8 November and ends at 12:31 PM on Monday, 9 November. Lakshmi Puja is performed in Pradosh Kaal, the period after sunset, and Amavasya is present at sunset only on the 8th. That makes Sunday, 8 November, the day of Diwali. It is also a gazetted holiday for central government offices.

The date is the same across India this year. Tamil Nadu and Kerala, which mark Deepavali on the morning of Naraka Chaturdashi, also celebrate on 8 November. Lakshmi Puja falls on 8 November in the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom and the UAE as well, at local evening time. Bhai Dooj is the day that moves: in those countries it falls a day earlier, on Tuesday, 10 November.

Why Diwali Is So Late in 2026

Diwali 2025 fell on 20 October. In 2026, it comes 19 days later because the Hindu calendar carries an extra month this year, Adhik Jyeshtha, which ran from mid-May to mid-June. An extra month is added every two to three years to keep the lunar calendar in step with the seasons, and every festival after it moves later in the Gregorian calendar.

Diwali comes 19 days after Dussehra and 10 days after Karwa Chauth in 2026.

Diwali 2026 Calendar: The Five Days Explained

Dhanteras: Friday, 6 November

The Trayodashi tithi runs from 10:30 AM on 6 November to 10:47 AM on 7 November. Dhanteras is observed on the evening of the 6th, when Trayodashi is present in Pradosh Kaal. In Delhi, the puja muhurat is from 6:02 PM to 7:57 PM. Yama Deepam, a lamp lit outside the home facing south for Lord Yama, is offered from 5:33 PM to 6:51 PM.

Families worship Lord Dhanvantari, Goddess Lakshmi and Lord Kubera, and buy gold, silver or new utensils. Our guide to what to buy on Dhanteras 2026 gives the muhurat for 12 cities and the traditional purchases, and our guide on which gemstone to wear explains why a stone should suit your chart rather than the date.

Chhoti Diwali and Narak Chaturdashi: 7 and 8 November

The Chaturdashi tithi runs from 10:47 AM on 7 November to 11:27 AM on 8 November, so its observances are split across two dates. The lamps of Chhoti Diwali, Kali Chaudas and Hanuman Puja belong to the evening and night of Saturday, 7 November. The Abhyang Snan, the ritual oil bath taken before sunrise, falls on the morning of Sunday, 8 November, from 5:41 AM to 6:38 AM in Delhi.

The day recalls Lord Krishna's victory over the demon Narakasura. In the south and in Maharashtra, the pre-dawn bath is the main ritual of Deepavali itself.

Diwali and Lakshmi Puja: Sunday, 8 November

This is the main day. Homes are lit with diyas, Goddess Lakshmi and Lord Ganesha are worshipped in the evening, and families exchange sweets and gifts. The Lakshmi Puja muhurat in Delhi is from 5:54 PM to 7:50 PM. Timings for other cities are in the next section.

Monday, 9 November: Amavasya Continues

In most Panchangs, no main festival falls on this day. Amavasya continues until 12:31 PM, and many people take a holy dip and give in charity on Kartik Amavasya. As the day is a Monday, it is also a Somvati Amavasya.

Govardhan Puja and Annakut: Tuesday, 10 November

The Pratipada tithi runs from 12:31 PM on 9 November to 2:00 PM on 10 November. Govardhan Puja is performed in the morning, and Pratipada is present in the morning only on the 10th. In Delhi, the morning muhurat is from 6:40 AM to 8:50 AM. The Government of India's restricted holiday list shows Govardhan Puja on Monday, 9 November, so some offices and institutions observe it a day earlier. Check with your temple for the date of its Annakut.

The day recalls Lord Krishna lifting Govardhan Hill to shelter the people of Vrindavan, and temples offer the Annakut, a mountain of food. It is Bali Pratipada or Padwa in Maharashtra and Karnataka, and the Gujarati New Year, Bestu Varas.

Bhai Dooj: Wednesday, 11 November

The Dwitiya tithi runs from 2:00 PM on 10 November to 3:53 PM on 11 November. Sisters apply the tilak in the afternoon, and the afternoon period falls within Dwitiya in full only on the 11th. In Delhi, the Aparahna period for the tilak is from 1:10 PM to 3:20 PM. A few regional calendars, including Bihar's holiday list, mark the day on Tuesday, 10 November, because Dwitiya begins that afternoon. The day is Bhau Beej in Maharashtra, Bhai Phonta in Bengal and Bhai Tika in Nepal.

Lakshmi Puja Muhurat 2026 by City

Lakshmi Puja (often spelt Laxmi Puja) is performed in Pradosh Kaal, the first part of the night after sunset, while Amavasya is running. Within Pradosh Kaal, the most favoured time is when Vrishabha (Taurus) lagna is rising. Taurus is a fixed sign, and tradition holds that worship in a fixed lagna invites Goddess Lakshmi to stay. The muhurat is the overlap of the two.

Every city was checked on Drik Panchang for that city. Other Panchangs can differ by a minute or two.

If You Miss the Muhurat

The puja can be done at any time in Pradosh Kaal while Amavasya lasts. Families who worship late at night use Nishita Kaal, around midnight, which is from 11:39 PM to 12:31 AM in Delhi. This is also the hour of Kali Puja in Bengal. Trading families in Gujarat, Rajasthan and Maharashtra perform Chopda Pujan, the worship of new account books, on Diwali evening.

Lakshmi Puja Samagri List

1. Idols or a picture of Goddess Lakshmi and Lord Ganesha

2. A wooden chowki and a red cloth

3. A kalash with water, mango leaves and a coconut

4. Earthen diyas, ghee or oil, and cotton wicks

5. Roli, haldi, chandan and akshat (unbroken rice)

6. Flowers, with lotus and marigold preferred

7. Kheel and batashe, sweets, fruit and dry fruits

8. Coins and gold or silver bought on Dhanteras

9. Incense, dhoop, camphor, a bell and a conch

10. Paan, supari, cloves and cardamom

Lakshmi Puja Vidhi at Home: Step by Step

1. Clean the home and the puja space. Draw a rangoli at the entrance and hang a toran on the main door.

2. Set the chowki with a red cloth. Place Lord Ganesha on the left and Goddess Lakshmi on his right as you face them, and set the kalash beside them.

3. Light a ghee lamp and take the sankalp, stating your name and the purpose of the puja.

4. Worship Lord Ganesha first with roli, akshat, flowers and sweets.

5. Invoke Goddess Lakshmi. Offer roli, akshat, flowers, kheel and batashe, sweets and coins. Many families also worship Lord Kubera and their account books or valuables.

6. Recite the Lakshmi mantras or the Shri Sukta, then sing the aarti of Ganesha and Lakshmi.

7. Light the diyas from the puja lamp and place them at the entrance, in every room, in the kitchen and by the tulsi plant.

8. Share the prasad, and seek the blessings of elders. Many families keep one lamp burning through the night.

Customs differ between families and regions. Follow the practice your own family keeps.

Vastu Tips for Diwali

Vastu tradition gives a few simple pointers for the festival:

1. Finish cleaning and clearing out clutter before Dhanteras, with extra attention to the north-east of the home and the main entrance.

2. Set up the puja in the north-east of the home, or in the east or north of the room, and sit facing east or north.

3. Keep the main door well lit, with diyas on both sides and a rangoli at the threshold.

4. In a shop or office, perform the puja where the accounts or the cash are kept.

Our room-by-room Vastu guide for the home and our guide to Vastu for the office cover placement in more detail.

Why Diwali Is Celebrated

Diwali means a row of lights, and different traditions give the festival different stories.

1. Lord Rama's return: In North India, Diwali marks the return of Rama, Sita and Lakshmana to Ayodhya after fourteen years of exile and the defeat of Ravana. The people lit lamps to welcome them.

2. Goddess Lakshmi: Lakshmi is said to have emerged from the churning of the ocean, the Samudra Manthan, and is believed to visit clean, well-lit homes on Diwali night.

3. Lord Krishna and Narakasura: In the south and west, the festival celebrates Krishna's victory over Narakasura.

4. Other traditions: Jains mark the nirvana of Lord Mahavira, Sikhs observe Bandi Chhor Divas, and Bengal worships Goddess Kali on the same night.

In December 2025, UNESCO added Deepavali to its Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.

How Diwali Is Celebrated Across India

1. North India: Lakshmi and Ganesha Puja on Diwali evening, with Govardhan Puja and Bhai Dooj after it.

2. Gujarat: Chopda Pujan on Diwali night, followed by the New Year on 10 November.

3. Maharashtra: The festival opens with Vasu Baras on 5 November. Abhyang Snan, Lakshmi Pujan, Padwa and Bhau Beej follow.

4. West Bengal, Assam and Odisha: Kali Puja at midnight on 8 November.

5. Tamil Nadu, Karnataka and Kerala: Deepavali is a morning festival, beginning with an oil bath before sunrise on 8 November.

6. Punjab: The Golden Temple in Amritsar is lit for Bandi Chhor Divas.

Diwali 2026: An Astrological Note

Diwali falls on the new moon, when the Sun and the Moon come together. On Kartik Amavasya, they meet in Libra (Tula), and in 2026 the Moon is in Swati nakshatra through the Lakshmi Puja muhurat. The choice of Vrishabha lagna for the puja reflects the wish that prosperity should stay. These are traditional associations and not predictions.

For many trading communities, Diwali closes the old books and opens the new year. If you are starting a venture, our guide to business name numerology explains how a name is chosen.

Start the New Year With Personal Guidance

Diwali is when many families set up a new home, office or business. Dr. Sanjay Sethi offers Vastu consultations for homes and workplaces, along with astrology and numerology readings for the year ahead.

Book a personal consultation with Dr. Sanjay Sethi

Frequently Asked Questions About Diwali 2026

1. When is Diwali in 2026?

Diwali is on Sunday, 8 November 2026. The five-day festival begins with Dhanteras on Friday, 6 November and ends with Bhai Dooj on Wednesday, 11 November.

2. What is the Lakshmi Puja muhurat on Diwali 2026?

In New Delhi, the Lakshmi Puja muhurat on 8 November 2026 is from 5:54 PM to 7:50 PM. Pradosh Kaal is from 5:31 PM to 8:09 PM. In Mumbai, the muhurat is from 6:27 PM to 8:27 PM, and in Kolkata, from 5:20 PM to 7:18 PM.

3. Is Diwali on 8 or 9 November 2026?

Diwali is on 8 November. The Amavasya tithi runs from 11:27 AM on 8 November to 12:31 PM on 9 November, and it is present after sunset, when Lakshmi Puja is performed, only on the 8th.

4. When is Dhanteras in 2026?

Dhanteras is on Friday, 6 November 2026. In New Delhi the puja muhurat is from 6:02 PM to 7:57 PM. The Trayodashi tithi runs from 10:30 AM on 6 November to 10:47 AM on 7 November.

5. Is Chhoti Diwali on 7 or 8 November 2026?

Both dates are involved. The lamps of Chhoti Diwali are lit on the evening of Saturday, 7 November. The Abhyang Snan of Narak Chaturdashi is taken before sunrise on Sunday, 8 November, from 5:41 AM to 6:38 AM in Delhi.

6. When is Govardhan Puja in 2026?

Govardhan Puja is on Tuesday, 10 November 2026 in most Panchangs, two days after Diwali. Amavasya continues until 12:31 PM on 9 November, so Pratipada is present in the morning only on the 10th. The Government of India holiday list shows it on 9 November.

7. When is Bhai Dooj in 2026?

Bhai Dooj is on Wednesday, 11 November 2026. The Dwitiya tithi runs from 2:00 PM on 10 November to 3:53 PM on 11 November, and the afternoon tilak time in Delhi is from 1:10 PM to 3:20 PM.

8. Why is Diwali so late in 2026?

The Hindu calendar has an extra month, Adhik Jyeshtha, in 2026. It pushes the festivals that follow it later, so Diwali falls on 8 November, 19 days later than in 2025.

9. Is Diwali on the same date in the USA, UK and Canada?

Yes. Lakshmi Puja is on Sunday, 8 November 2026 in the United States, Canada and the United Kingdom, at the local evening time. Bhai Dooj falls a day earlier there, on Tuesday, 10 November.

10. Can Lakshmi Puja be done if I miss the muhurat?

Yes. The muhurat is the preferred window, but the puja can be done at any time in Pradosh Kaal while Amavasya lasts. In Delhi, Pradosh Kaal on 8 November is from 5:31 PM to 8:09 PM.

11. Where should Lakshmi and Ganesha be placed for Diwali puja?

Place them in the north-east of the home, or in the east or north of the room. Lord Ganesha is placed on the left and Goddess Lakshmi on his right as you face them, and the family sits facing east or north.

12. Is Diwali a public holiday in 2026?

Diwali is a gazetted holiday for central government offices, but in 2026 it falls on a Sunday, 8 November. State holidays for the surrounding days differ.

13. When does Chhath Puja begin after Diwali 2026?

Chhath Puja begins with Nahay Khay on Friday, 13 November 2026, five days after Diwali. Sandhya Arghya is on Sunday, 15 November and Usha Arghya on Monday, 16 November.

 

Dates and timings are for New Delhi unless stated otherwise and may vary by location and tradition. Please follow your family panchang or priest where their guidance differs.