The festival of lights

Diwali

Diwali, or Deepavali, falls on the new moon night of Kartika (Ashvina where months run from new moon to new moon). Homes are lit with diyas to welcome Lakshmi, goddess of wealth and wellbeing, and to remember Rama’s return to Ayodhya.

Diwali 2026
Sunday 8 November 2026
New Delhi
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For New Delhi, Sunday 8 November 2026

Lakshmi Puja muhurat

5:55 pm to 7:51 pm

The puja is best done in the evening (Pradosh Kaal) while the new moon tithi (Amavasya) holds and Vrishabha, a fixed sign, is rising. Tradition holds that worship in a fixed sign helps Lakshmi stay in the home.

Worked out for your city. Panchangs can differ by a minute or so.

Pradosh Kaal
5:31 pm to 8:09 pm
Vrishabha Kaal
5:55 pm to 7:51 pm
Amavasya begins
11:28 am
Amavasya ends
12:32 pm, 9 Nov
Full panchang for this day →

The five days of Diwali

From Dhanteras to Bhai Dooj

This year Diwali and Naraka Chaturdashi (Choti Diwali) fall on the same day, Sunday 8 November, so the five days run from Friday 6 November to Wednesday 11 November.

  1. Friday 6 November 2026

    Dhanteras

    Dhanteras puja6:03 pm to 7:58 pm

    Honours Dhanvantari, god of medicine. People buy something new in metal and light a lamp for Yama at dusk.

  2. Sunday 8 November 2026

    Diwali, Lakshmi Puja

    Lakshmi Puja5:55 pm to 7:51 pm

    The new moon night. Lakshmi and Ganesha are worshipped in the evening and every home is lit.

  3. Sunday 8 November 2026

    Naraka Chaturdashi

    Abhyang Snan5:41 am to 6:38 am

    Choti Diwali. An oil bath before sunrise remembers Krishna’s victory over Narakasura. In the South this is the main day of Deepavali.

  4. Tuesday 10 November 2026

    Govardhan Puja

    Morning puja6:40 am to 8:50 am

    Krishna lifting Govardhan hill. An annakut, a mountain of food, is offered. In Gujarat it is New Year.

  5. Wednesday 11 November 2026

    Bhai Dooj

    Tilak time1:10 pm to 3:20 pm

    Sisters pray for their brothers’ long life and apply a tilak.

What Diwali remembers

Rama comes home

After fourteen years in exile and his victory over Ravana, Rama returned to Ayodhya with Sita and Lakshmana. Tradition says the people lit rows of lamps to welcome them, and lamps have marked the night ever since.

Lakshmi visits

Lakshmi is said to have risen from the ocean of milk when the gods and asuras churned it. Many believe that on Diwali night she visits homes that are clean, bright and welcoming.

Krishna and Narakasura

Krishna, with Satyabhama, defeated the demon Narakasura and freed the people he had held captive. Naraka Chaturdashi, the day before or the same day as Diwali, remembers that victory.

Kali, Mahavira and the Gurus

In Bengal, Odisha and Assam the same new moon night is Kali Puja. Jains mark it as the day Mahavira attained nirvana, and Sikhs celebrate Bandi Chhor Divas, the release of Guru Hargobind from Gwalior Fort.

Lakshmi Puja at home

A simple Lakshmi Puja at home. Families do it in many ways; follow your own tradition where it differs.

  1. Clean the home and draw a rangoli at the entrance to welcome Lakshmi.
  2. Set up the altar: a red or yellow cloth on a raised stand, with images or idols of Lakshmi and Ganesha.
  3. Place a kalash beside them: a pot of water with mango leaves and a coconut on top.
  4. At the muhurat, light a ghee diya and begin with a prayer to Ganesha, who removes obstacles.
  5. Offer flowers, kumkum, rice, sweets and coins. Many families also place account books or valuables before Lakshmi.
  6. Sing the Lakshmi aarti, "Om Jai Lakshmi Mata", waving the lamp before the altar.
  7. Light diyas all around the home. Some families keep one lamp burning through the night.

What you need

  • Images or idols of Lakshmi and Ganesha
  • A red or yellow cloth
  • A kalash with mango leaves and a coconut
  • Diyas, ghee or oil, and cotton wicks
  • Flowers, kumkum, turmeric and rice
  • Sweets, fruit and a few coins
  • Incense and camphor

Prayers for the night

Diwali wishes to share

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Across India

Customs vary by region and family

North India

Lakshmi Puja in the evening, with lamps, rangoli and fireworks for Rama’s homecoming.

Bengal, Odisha and Assam

Kali Puja on the new moon night, with lamps to guide the ancestors.

Gujarat

The day after Diwali is New Year, Bestu Varas, with Govardhan Puja and annakut.

Maharashtra

Celebrations begin with Vasu Baras, honouring cows and calves, two days before Dhanteras.

South India

Deepavali is kept at dawn on Naraka Chaturdashi, with an oil bath, new clothes and sweets.

Diwali in the coming years

New Delhi, India time

  1. 2026Sunday 8 November 2026Lakshmi Puja 5:55 pm to 7:51 pm
  2. 2027Friday 29 October 2027Lakshmi Puja 6:35 pm to 7:06 pm
  3. 2028Tuesday 17 October 2028Lakshmi Puja 7:20 pm to 8:20 pm

Questions

When is Diwali in 2026?

Sunday 8 November 2026, in New Delhi. Most of India keeps it the same day; in a few places it can fall a day apart, so the dates above are worked out for your city.

What is the Lakshmi Puja muhurat?

In New Delhi, 5:55 pm to 7:51 pm. It is when the evening (Pradosh Kaal), the new moon tithi (Amavasya) and Vrishabha, a fixed sign, rising all overlap. The timings above are for your city.

Why is Diwali celebrated?

It remembers Rama’s return to Ayodhya, welcomes Lakshmi into the home, and marks the victory of light over darkness. Krishna’s victory over Narakasura is remembered the day before or the same day.

Is Diwali on Amavasya?

Yes. Lakshmi Puja is done on the evening when the Amavasya tithi holds during Pradosh Kaal, at the end of the lunar month.

What are the five days of Diwali?

Dhanteras: Friday 6 November 2026. Diwali: Sunday 8 November 2026. Naraka Chaturdashi: Sunday 8 November 2026. Govardhan Puja: Tuesday 10 November 2026. Bhai Dooj: Wednesday 11 November 2026.

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