Diwali 2026 date and muhurat
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Diwali 2026 falls on Sunday, 8 November 2026, and Lakshmi Puja is performed that evening. The five-day festival starts with Dhanteras on Friday, 6 November and ends with Bhai Dooj a few days after Diwali.
This page lists the dates of all five days and explains how the puja muhurat is worked out. If you are planning your Diwali shopping, our crackers price list 2026 and the FAQ on ordering may help, and our guide to green crackers explains what the green label on a box means.
When is Diwali in 2026?
Diwali, also called Deepavali, is celebrated on Amavasya, the new-moon day of the Hindu month of Kartik (in the purnimanta calendar followed in North India; it is Ashvin Amavasya in the amanta calendar used in much of the south and west). In 2026, the Amavasya that matters for the evening puja falls on Sunday, 8 November, so that is the date of Lakshmi Puja and the main Diwali night across North India, including Delhi NCR.
Because the date follows the lunar calendar, it changes every year. In 2025 Diwali fell in October; in 2026 it comes later, in the second week of November.
What are the five days of Diwali 2026?
| Day | Festival | Date (2026) |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Dhanteras (Dhantrayodashi) | Friday, 6 November |
| 2 | Choti Diwali (Naraka Chaturdashi) | Saturday, 7 November |
| 3 | Diwali, Lakshmi Puja | Sunday, 8 November |
| 4 | Govardhan Puja, Annakut | Monday 9 or Tuesday 10 November |
| 5 | Bhai Dooj | Tuesday 10 or Wednesday 11 November |
Dhanteras, Choti Diwali and Diwali are widely listed for 6, 7 and 8 November. For Govardhan Puja and Bhai Dooj, calendars differ by a day in 2026, depending on when the tithis begin and end at your location. Some panchangs also list Naraka Chaturdashi on 8 November, the same day as Lakshmi Puja. Check a panchang for your city, such as Drik Panchang, or ask your family priest.
What is the Lakshmi Puja muhurat on Diwali 2026?
Lakshmi Puja is done in the evening of 8 November, during Pradosh Kaal, the period of roughly two and a half hours that begins at sunset, while the Amavasya tithi is in effect. Many families prefer the part of Pradosh Kaal that overlaps with Sthir Lagna (a "fixed" ascendant, usually Vrishabha/Taurus in the evening), which is believed to make the blessings of Lakshmi stay in the home.
The exact clock times depend on the time of sunset in your city, so they differ between Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata and Chennai by several minutes or more. For your precise muhurat, check a panchang for your city on the day. Delhi sunset in early November is a little before 5:40 pm, so in Delhi NCR the puja window opens in the early evening.
What is Choti Diwali in 2026?
Choti Diwali, or Naraka Chaturdashi, falls the day before Diwali, on Saturday, 7 November in most calendars. It marks Lord Krishna's victory over the demon Narakasura. Many families light a single diya, the Yam Deepak, at the doorway, and some take an early-morning oil bath (abhyang snan).
When is Dhanteras 2026?
Dhanteras is on Friday, 6 November 2026. It is the traditional day for buying gold, silver, utensils and new things for the home, and for worshipping Dhanvantari, the god of medicine, and Kuber. Lamps are lit in the evening, during the Trayodashi tithi.
When are Govardhan Puja and Bhai Dooj in 2026?
Govardhan Puja (Annakut) follows Diwali, on Pratipada, and celebrates Lord Krishna lifting the Govardhan hill. Bhai Dooj follows on Dwitiya; sisters apply tilak to their brothers and pray for their long life. In 2026 they fall on 9 or 10 November and 10 or 11 November respectively, depending on your panchang. Gujarati New Year (Bestu Varas) is also celebrated on Pratipada.
Is Diwali 2026 a public holiday?
Diwali is a gazetted holiday for central government offices across India, and most states and private employers also close for it. In 2026 Diwali falls on a Sunday, so check your employer's or school's holiday list to see whether an extra day is given around it. Central government holidays for each year are notified by the Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT).
How do I prepare for Diwali 2026?
A simple timeline for the last two weeks:
- Two weeks before (from 25 October): clean and decorate the house, plan gifts and sweets.
- One week before (from 1 November): buy diyas, rangoli colours and puja items. If you are buying crackers, order early; see our Diwali crackers names list to decide what you want.
- Dhanteras, 6 November: traditional shopping day for gold, silver and utensils.
- Diwali, 8 November: rangoli in the morning, Lakshmi Puja in the evening, then celebrations with family.
If you will be lighting crackers, read our firecracker safety tips first and keep a bucket of water ready.
How does Delhi Crackers work for Diwali 2026?
Our shop sells Diwali crackers at 50% off the printed MRP. Add items to your cart and tap Order on WhatsApp; we confirm the order with you on WhatsApp. You can pick up the order, or get home delivery in Noida and Indirapuram. Payment is by UPI and the minimum order is ₹999. More details are in the FAQ.