Diwali 2026: Date, Lakshmi Puja Muhurat, 5-Day Calendar and Puja Vidhi

Diwali (Deepavali) 2026 falls on Sunday, 8 November 2026, on the night of Kartik Amavasya. The Lakshmi Puja muhurat in Delhi is about 5:54 PM to 7:50 PM, and in Mumbai about 6:27 PM to 8:27 PM. This guide answers Diwali kab hai 2026, gives the muhurat by city, lays out the five-day calendar from Dhanteras to Bhai Dooj, and walks you through the puja vidhi, mantras and what to do (and avoid) at home.

Dates and timings follow Drik Panchang. Customs differ by region and family, so follow your own tradition where it differs.

Diwali 2026 Date and Lakshmi Puja Muhurat

• Diwali (Lakshmi Puja) date: Sunday, 8 November 2026
• Amavasya tithi begins: about 11:27 AM on 8 November
• Amavasya tithi ends: about 12:31 PM on 9 November
• Pradosh Kaal (Delhi): about 5:31 PM to 8:09 PM
• Lakshmi Puja muhurat (Delhi): about 5:54 PM to 7:50 PM

The best time for Lakshmi Puja is Pradosh Kaal (the twilight period after sunset, about 2 hours 24 minutes) when the Sthir Lagna (Vrishabha lagna) is running and Amavasya is present. In 2026 all three overlap on the evening of 8 November.

Diwali 2026 Lakshmi Puja Muhurat by City

Timings shift by location. From Drik Panchang:

• New Delhi / Noida: 5:54 PM to 7:49 PM
• Mumbai: 6:27 PM to 8:27 PM
• Ahmedabad: 6:22 PM to 8:20 PM
• Bengaluru: 6:17 PM to 8:20 PM

For Jaipur, Kolkata, Chennai, Hyderabad, Lucknow or any other city, check a local panchang before you begin.

Other muhurat options (Mumbai timings): Mahanishita Kaal puja, 11:57 PM to 12:48 AM (night of 8 to 9 November), used by some traditions and Tantric worship; and an afternoon window of 1:47 PM to 3:12 PM for those who cannot do the evening puja.

Is Diwali on 7, 8 or 9 November 2026?

Diwali is on 8 November. Lakshmi Puja needs Amavasya during Pradosh Kaal. Amavasya starts at about 11:27 AM on 8 November and runs until about 12:31 PM on 9 November, so Pradosh Kaal falls under Amavasya only on the evening of the 8th. That is why North and South India observe Diwali on the same day this year.

Diwali 2026 Calendar: All 5 Days

• Friday, 6 November: Dhanteras. Worship of Lakshmi, Kubera and Dhanvantari, buying gold, silver and utensils, and Yama Deepam. Read our Dhanteras 2026 guide.
• Saturday, 7 November: Choti Diwali (Naraka Chaturdashi). Diyas, Hanuman Puja and Kali Chaudas observances. In some regional calendars Abhyang Snan (the early-morning oil bath) is on the morning of 8 November.
• Sunday, 8 November: Diwali (Lakshmi Puja). The main day.
• Tuesday, 10 November: Govardhan Puja and Annakut. Honours Krishna lifting Govardhan Hill. Read Krishna Lifts Govardhan Hill. Some calendars list 9 November, so confirm yours.
• Wednesday, 11 November: Bhai Dooj. The bond between brothers and sisters.

See every date on our festival calendar.

Festival Countdown: From Dussehra to Dev Diwali 2026

Many people plan the whole festive season together, so here is the full run:

• 20 October: Dussehra (Vijayadashami)
• 29 October: Karwa Chauth
• 1 November: Ahoi Ashtami
• 6 to 11 November: Dhanteras, Choti Diwali, Diwali, Govardhan Puja and Bhai Dooj
• 13 to 16 November: Chhath Puja (main Sandhya Arghya on 15 November)
• 24 November: Dev Diwali (Kartik Purnima)

Diwali Ka Mahatva: Why Is Diwali Celebrated?

Diwali comes from Deepavali, meaning "a row of lamps". It is the festival of light over darkness, knowledge over ignorance and good over evil. Different traditions link it to different stories:

• Rama's return to Ayodhya. After 14 years of exile and the defeat of Ravana, Ayodhya lit lamps to welcome Rama, Sita and Lakshmana. Read Why Diwali Marks Rama's Return to Ayodhya.
• Goddess Lakshmi. On the night of Amavasya, Lakshmi is believed to visit clean, well-lit homes. Her story begins with the churning of the ocean in Samudra Manthan.
• Krishna and Narakasura. Naraka Chaturdashi marks the victory over the demon Narakasura.
• Bali and Vamana. Bali Pratipada, the day after Diwali, honours King Bali.
• Diwali is also observed by Jains (the nirvana of Mahavira) and Sikhs (Bandi Chhor Divas).

Diwali Puja Samagri (Checklist)

• Idols or pictures of Lakshmi and Ganesha (and Kubera and Saraswati if your family worships them)
• A clean chowki with a red or yellow cloth
• Kalash with water, mango leaves and a coconut
• Roli, kumkum, haldi, akshat (rice) and moli
• Lotus and marigold flowers, incense and camphor
• Diyas with ghee or oil, and a few extra for the home
• New coins, a silver coin and your account books or business tools
• Sweets, batasha, fruit, supari, paan and kheer
• Betel leaves, a conch and a bell

Lakshmi Puja Vidhi: Step by Step

1. Clean the home and draw rangoli at the entrance. Hang a toran of mango leaves or marigold.
2. Bathe and wear new or clean clothes in the afternoon.
3. Set up the puja space. Place the chowki in a clean corner, usually the northeast. Our guides on setting up a home puja space and the Vastu of the puja room can help.
4. Begin in the muhurat (Delhi about 5:54 PM to 7:50 PM). Take a sankalp with water and rice.
5. Worship Ganesha first with Om Gam Ganapataye Namaha.
6. Worship Goddess Lakshmi. Offer kumkum, akshat, flowers, sweets and fruit. Place coins and your account books before the idol.
7. Light the diyas. Light a ghee diya before the deities, then place diyas at the entrance, windows, balcony and courtyard.
8. Chant the mantras below, and finish with the aarti.
9. Share the prasad and greet the family.
10. Keep a diya burning through the night, as many families do.

Businesses often perform Chopda Pujan (worship of account books) in the same muhurat.

Diwali Mantras

Lakshmi beej mantra
ॐ श्रीं महालक्ष्म्यै नमः
Om Shreem Mahalakshmyai Namah

Mahalakshmi mantra
ॐ श्रीं ह्रीं श्रीं कमले कमलालये प्रसीद प्रसीद श्रीं ह्रीं श्रीं ॐ महालक्ष्म्यै नमः
Om Shreem Hreem Shreem Kamale Kamalalaye Praseed Praseed Shreem Hreem Shreem Om Mahalakshmyai Namah

Chant 11, 21 or 108 times. You can also chant Om Namo Narayanaya, since Lakshmi is the consort of Vishnu. Browse more in our mantras library.

Diwali Home Preparation and Vastu

• Clean and declutter the home, especially the entrance and puja space, before 8 November.
• Light the entrance, the northeast corner and the puja room.
• Draw rangoli and keep the doorway bright and welcoming.
• Use diyas, a toran and fresh flowers. Keep the mandir clean and uncluttered.

For a detailed room-by-room guide, read our Vastu tips for Diwali 2026.

Things to Do and Avoid on Diwali

Do

• Clean the house and light diyas at dusk
• Worship Lakshmi and Ganesha in the muhurat
• Share sweets and gifts, and visit elders
• Help someone in need. Charity is part of the festival.

Avoid (as per common custom)

• Quarrels and harsh words on the main day
• Non-vegetarian food and alcohol, which many families avoid
• Leaving the entrance dark
• Wasting food

Fireworks: follow local rules, use green crackers where permitted, and keep children, elders, pets and neighbours in mind.

Diwali in Jyotish: Amavasya and the Sun in Libra

Diwali falls on Kartik Amavasya, the new moon, when the Sun and Moon are together in Tula (Libra). Many people see this as a night for new beginnings, gratitude and fresh financial intentions. If you want to know how the planets support your finances and family this year, generate your free Kundli, check your daily horoscope, or ask the DivineAdda AI assistant.

दिवाली 2026 (हिंदी में संक्षेप)

दिवाली 2026 कब है? दिवाली 2026 रविवार, 8 नवंबर को है। यह कार्तिक अमावस्या की रात है।

लक्ष्मी पूजा मुहूर्त: दिल्ली में शाम लगभग 5:54 से 7:50 बजे तक; मुंबई में 6:27 से 8:27 बजे तक।

अमावस्या तिथि: 8 नवंबर को लगभग 11:27 बजे से 9 नवंबर को लगभग 12:31 बजे तक।

5 दिन का कैलेंडर: धनतेरस (6 नवंबर), छोटी दिवाली (7 नवंबर), दिवाली (8 नवंबर), गोवर्धन पूजा (10 नवंबर), भाई दूज (11 नवंबर)।

दिवाली के बाद: छठ पूजा 13 से 16 नवंबर (मुख्य संध्या अर्घ्य 15 नवंबर) और देव दिवाली 24 नवंबर।

What Comes After Diwali

After Diwali come Govardhan Puja, Bhai Dooj, Chhath Puja (13 to 16 November) and Dev Diwali on 24 November. Explore every festival on our festivals topic hub, and browse sacred items and Rudraksha for your puja corner.