Diwali 2026: Date, Lakshmi Puja Muhurat, 5-Day Festival Guide & Puja Vidhi

Quick Answer (Summary) Diwali 2026 — the main Lakshmi Puja — falls on Sunday, November 8, 2026, on the night of Kartik Amavasya. The most auspicious window for the puja is the Pradosh Kaal in the evening, roughly 6:00 PM to 8:30 PM (exact timings shift 30–60 minutes by city — see the city-wise table below). The five-day festival runs from Dhanteras (Nov 6) to Bhai Dooj (Nov 11).

Diwali 2026: The Five-Day Festival Calendar

Diwali is not a single day — it is a five-day celebration, each day with its own deity, legend and ritual. Here are the dates for 2026 (as per Drik Panchang):

Day	Festival	Date (2026)	Dedicated To
1	Dhanteras (Dhanatrayodashi)	Friday, Nov 6	Dhanvantari, Lakshmi–Kubera; buying gold & utensils
2	Naraka Chaturdashi (Choti Diwali)	Sunday, Nov 8	Krishna's victory over Narakasura — abhyang snan at dawn
3	Diwali — Lakshmi Puja	Sunday, Nov 8	Goddess Lakshmi & Lord Ganesha (Amavasya night)
4	Govardhan Puja	Tuesday, Nov 10	Krishna lifting Govardhan Hill
5	Bhai Dooj	Wednesday, Nov 11	The bond between brothers and sisters

2026 note: This year Naraka Chaturdashi and Diwali fall on the same Sunday (Nov 8) in India — Chaturdashi tithi runs 10:47 AM Nov 7 → 11:27 AM Nov 8, so the abhyang snan is at dawn on Nov 8, and Amavasya (current at sunset) makes Nov 8 evening the Lakshmi Puja night too. Gujarat and western India still observe Kali Chaudas on the night of Nov 7; in the USA/UK/Canada the festival falls on Nov 7 (local sunrise). A small number of regional panchangs may shift Govardhan Puja / Bhai Dooj by a day — when in doubt, follow your local panchang.

Lakshmi Puja Muhurat 2026 (City-Wise)

The scriptures prescribe performing Lakshmi Puja during Pradosh Kaal (the ~2.5 hours after sunset) on Amavasya night — ideally when the stable Vrishabha (Taurus) Lagna is rising, since a fixed (sthira) lagna is believed to keep Goddess Lakshmi steady in the home.

Amavasya Tithi: begins ~11:27 AM on Nov 8, ends ~12:31 PM on Nov 9 (IST).

City	Lakshmi Puja Muhurat (Nov 8)
New Delhi	5:54 PM – 7:50 PM
Mumbai	6:27 PM – 8:27 PM
Kolkata	5:20 PM – 7:18 PM
Chennai	6:07 PM – 8:09 PM
Bengaluru	6:17 PM – 8:20 PM
Hyderabad	6:07 PM – 8:08 PM
Ahmedabad	6:22 PM – 8:20 PM
Pune	6:24 PM – 8:24 PM
Jaipur	6:03 PM – 7:59 PM

Timings: Drik Panchang (Pradosh Kaal + Vrishabha Lagna overlap). Your exact window moves with latitude — use SanatanTools' Muhurat Finder for your city's precise timing.

Why Pradosh Kaal?

Muhurat is not superstition — it is applied astronomy. Pradosh Kaal begins at sunset, when the day's solar energy settles and the lunar (Amavasya) energy peaks. Performing the puja in this window, especially under the fixed Vrishabha Lagna, is the classical prescription found across panchang traditions. The Mahanishita Kaal (late-night) muhurat is a secondary option for those who miss the evening.

Significance: Why We Celebrate Diwali

Diwali's light carries many stories, layered over millennia:

Rama's return to Ayodhya — after 14 years of exile and the victory over Ravana, the people of Ayodhya lit rows (avali) of lamps (dipa) to welcome him. Deepavali literally means "a row of lights."
Samudra Manthan — Goddess Lakshmi emerged from the churning of the cosmic ocean on this Amavasya, which is why she is the festival's presiding deity.
Krishna and Narakasura — Naraka Chaturdashi commemorates Krishna (with Satyabhama) slaying the demon Narakasura, freeing 16,000 captives — the triumph of light over darkness in its most literal telling.
Mahavira's Nirvana — Jains mark Diwali as the night Lord Mahavira attained moksha.
Bandi Chhor Divas — Sikhs celebrate Guru Hargobind Ji's release from Gwalior Fort on this day.

Lakshmi-Ganesha Puja Vidhi (Step by Step)

A complete traditional puja follows the Shodashopachara (sixteen offerings). Here is a practical home version:

Clean and decorate — clean the home, draw a rangoli at the entrance (lotus for Lakshmi, small footprints leading inward to invite her in).
Set the altar — place idols or images of Lakshmi, Ganesha and Saraswati on a raised platform draped in red cloth, facing east or north.
Kalash sthapana — fill a kalash with water, mango leaves and a coconut; it represents divine presence.
Sankalp — take a vow stating your name, gotra and purpose of the puja.
Ganesha first — every puja begins with Lord Ganesha, remover of obstacles: offer durva, red flowers and modak.
Lakshmi pujan — offer lotus or red flowers, kumkum, rice (akshat), sandalwood, incense and a ghee lamp. Place coins, jewellery or your account books before her and worship them as symbols of wealth.
Naivedya & aarti — offer sweets and fruits, then perform aarti with the whole family, ringing the bell.
Light the diyas — place lit diyas at the entrance, windows, tulsi plant and courtyard — an invitation for light and prosperity to enter.
Prasad distribution — share the offerings; elders bless the younger members.

Puja Samagri Checklist

Idols/images of Lakshmi–Ganesha–Saraswati · red cloth · kalash, mango leaves, coconut · Gangajal · panchamrit (milk, curd, ghee, honey, sugar) · kumkum, turmeric, sandalwood paste · rice (akshat) · red lotus/flowers, garlands · durva grass · incense sticks, dhoop, camphor · ghee diyas and oil lamps · coins, jewellery, account books/ledger · sweets, fruits, paan, betel nuts · new broom (bought on Dhanteras) · bell and aarti thali.

Dhanteras: The First Day

Dhanteras (Nov 6) honours Dhanvantari, the divine physician who emerged from the ocean with the pot of amrita. Tradition prescribes buying gold, silver or new utensils — and the humble broom — as an invitation to Lakshmi. Light a Yama diya (a lamp for Yama, lord of death) at the entrance in the evening for protection of the household.

→ Full guide: Dhanteras 2026: Date, Puja Muhurat, Kya Kharidein, Vidhi & Significance

Choti Diwali (Naraka Chaturdashi): The Second Day

In 2026 Naraka Chaturdashi falls on the same Sunday (Nov 8) as Diwali itself — the day begins with the abhyang snan (ritual oil bath) at dawn, commemorating Krishna's victory over Narakasura, and closes with Lakshmi Puja at night. Gujarat and western India keep the related Kali Chaudas rites on the night of Nov 7.

→ Full guide: Narak Chaturdashi 2026: Date, Abhyang Snan Muhurat, Kali Chaudas & Puja Vidhi

Govardhan Puja & Bhai Dooj

Govardhan Puja (Nov 10): commemorates Krishna lifting Govardhan Hill to shelter Vrindavan from Indra's storm. Devotees build a small hill of cow dung or mud, decorate it, and offer Annakut — a mountain of food.

→ Full guide: Govardhan Puja 2026: Annakut Vidhi

Bhai Dooj (Nov 11): sisters apply tilak on their brothers' foreheads and pray for their long life; brothers give gifts and pledge protection. It mirrors the Yama–Yami legend of sibling devotion.

→ Full guide: Bhai Dooj 2026: Date, Tilak Muhurat, Puja Vidhi & Significance

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the exact date of Diwali 2026? Sunday, November 8, 2026 — the night of Kartik Amavasya — is the main Lakshmi Puja date across most of India.

What is the shubh muhurat for Lakshmi Puja 2026? The Pradosh Kaal window on Nov 8 evening, roughly 6:00–8:30 PM IST, overlapping Vrishabha Lagna. Exact timings vary by city (see table above).

Why do some calendars show Diwali on November 7? International calendars show Nov 7 because the tithi table shifts with local sunrise — in the USA/UK/Canada, Narak Chaturdashi genuinely falls on Nov 7. In India, Lakshmi Puja is Nov 8 (Amavasya at sunset). In South India the pre-dawn abhyang snan itself is the main celebration — a tradition difference, not an error.

Can I do Lakshmi Puja in the morning? The shastra-prescribed time is Pradosh Kaal after sunset. Morning Choghadiya muhurats (Shubha, Labha, Amrita) exist as a fallback, but the evening Amavasya window is ideal.

What should I buy on Dhanteras? Gold, silver, new utensils — and traditionally a new broom, symbolising sweeping out poverty and inviting Lakshmi in.

Planning the festival precisely? Check the Daily Panchang for tithi and muhurat, or find your city's exact window with the Muhurat Finder on SanatanTools.