Diwali 2026 will be celebrated on Sunday, November 8, 2026 across India. Known as Deepavali or the Festival of Lights, this five-day festival begins with Dhanteras on Friday, November 6 and concludes with Bhai Dooj on Wednesday, November 11. If you are wondering Diwali kab hai, the main Lakshmi Puja and Badi Diwali festivities fall on Kartik Amavasya.
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Key Takeaways
- Diwali 2026 (Badi Diwali) falls on Sunday, November 8, 2026 during Kartik Amavasya.
- The 5-day Deepavali festival begins on Friday, November 6 (Dhanteras) and ends on Wednesday, November 11 (Bhai Dooj).
- Lakshmi Puja shubh muhurat on November 8 is from 05:54 PM to 07:50 PM during Pradosh Kaal and Vrishabha Sthir Lagna.
- Choti Diwali (Naraka Chaturdashi) is on Saturday, November 7, exactly one day before Badi Diwali.
- Amavasya tithi begins at 11:27 AM on November 8 and ends at 12:31 PM on November 9, making Sunday evening ideal for Lakshmi Pujan.
Diwali Kab Hai: When is Diwali in 2026?
When people search for "when is Diwali" or "Diwali kab hai", they are looking for the exact date of Badi Diwali (the main day of Lakshmi Pujan). In 2026, Diwali falls on Sunday, November 8, 2026.
The date of Diwali is calculated using the Hindu lunar calendar (Vikram Samvat). Deepavali is observed every year on the new moon night (Amavasya) of the Hindu month of Kartik.
Kartik Amavasya Tithi Timings for 2026
- Amavasya Tithi Begins: Sunday, November 8, 2026, at 11:27 AM
- Amavasya Tithi Ends: Monday, November 9, 2026, at 12:31 PM
According to Vedic panchang rules, Lakshmi Puja must be performed when Amavasya tithi overlaps with the evening Pradosh Kaal. Since this auspicious overlap happens on the evening of November 8, the entire country will celebrate Badi Diwali on Sunday, November 8.
Diwali Dates in 2026: Complete 5-Day Festival Calendar
Diwali is not just a single-day event; it is a five-day festive season celebrated with distinct rituals each day. Here is the complete calendar of Diwali dates in 2026:
| Day | Festival Name | 2026 Date | Hindu Tithi | Key Ritual |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Day 1 | Dhanteras (Dhantrayodashi) | Friday, November 6, 2026 | Krishna Trayodashi | Buying gold, silver, utensils, and Kubera Puja |
| Day 2 | Choti Diwali (Naraka Chaturdashi) | Saturday, November 7, 2026 | Krishna Chaturdashi | Abhyanga Snan, lighting 14 yamadeeps |
| Day 3 | Badi Diwali (Lakshmi Puja) | Sunday, November 8, 2026 | Kartik Amavasya | Goddess Lakshmi & Lord Ganesha Puja, diyas, feasts |
| Day 4 | Govardhan Puja (Annakut) | Tuesday, November 10, 2026 | Shukla Pratipada | Nature worship, preparing 56 bhog offerings |
| Day 5 | Bhai Dooj (Yama Dwitiya) | Wednesday, November 11, 2026 | Shukla Dwitiya | Sister-brother tika ritual, exchanging blessings |
[!NOTE] In 2026, there is a one-day tithi adjustment between Badi Diwali and Govardhan Puja, which places Govardhan Puja on Tuesday, November 10, followed by Bhai Dooj on Wednesday, November 11.
Badi Diwali 2026: Choti Diwali vs Badi Diwali
A frequent point of discussion among families during the festive week is the difference between Choti Diwali and Badi Diwali.
- Choti Diwali (Saturday, November 7, 2026): Also called Naraka Chaturdashi, Roop Chaudas, or Kali Chaudas. It marks Lord Krishna and Satyabhama defeating the demon Narakasura. People take an herbal dawn bath (Abhyanga Snan) and light 14 oil lamps in the evening to dispel negative energies.
- Badi Diwali (Sunday, November 8, 2026): This is the climax of Deepavali. On this day, Lord Rama returned to Ayodhya after 14 years of exile and defeating Ravana. The entire home is illuminated with clay diyas, rangoli patterns adorn the entrance, and families perform Lakshmi-Ganesha puja for spiritual and material wealth.
If your calendar asks whether Diwali is on Saturday or Sunday in 2026, Sunday, November 8 is the official Badi Diwali public holiday across India.
Diwali 2026 Shubh Muhurat: Lakshmi Puja Timings
Performing Lakshmi Puja during an auspicious shubh muhurat is believed to invoke stability and everlasting prosperity (Sthir Lakshmi). Vedic astrology prioritizes Pradosh Kaal combined with a fixed ascendant (Vrishabha Sthir Lagna).
Main Lakshmi Puja Muhurat (New Delhi Reference)
- Lakshmi Puja Shubh Muhurat: 05:54 PM to 07:50 PM (November 8, 2026)
- Total Muhurat Duration: 1 hour 56 minutes
- Pradosh Kaal Window: 05:31 PM to 08:09 PM
- Vrishabha Lagna (Sthir Lagna): 05:54 PM to 07:50 PM
- Maha Nishita Kaal (Midnight Muhurat): 11:39 PM to 12:31 AM (Nov 8 - 9)
City-Wise Lakshmi Puja Muhurat 2026
Puja timings vary by several minutes across states due to local sunset timings:
- New Delhi: 05:54 PM to 07:50 PM
- Mumbai: 06:28 PM to 08:24 PM
- Bengaluru: 06:14 PM to 08:10 PM
- Kolkata: 05:12 PM to 07:08 PM
- Jaipur: 06:01 PM to 07:57 PM
- Ahmedabad: 06:22 PM to 08:18 PM
- Chennai: 06:03 PM to 07:59 PM
The 5 Days of Diwali 2026 Explained
Each day of the festival carries its own historical and spiritual meaning:
1. Dhanteras (Friday, November 6, 2026)
Dhanteras marks the birth of Lord Dhanvantari, the physician of the gods who emerged during the churning of the cosmic ocean (Samudra Manthan) carrying a pot of nectar. People purchase brass utensils, gold coins, or silver jewellery. Lighting a four-wick lamp (Yamadeep) outside the main doorway ensures health and protection.
2. Naraka Chaturdashi / Choti Diwali (Saturday, November 7, 2026)
This day cleanses impurities before welcoming Goddess Lakshmi. Homes are washed, doorways decorated with mango leaf torans, and oil lamps lit across hallways.
3. Badi Diwali & Lakshmi Puja (Sunday, November 8, 2026)
The centerpiece of the festival. Families wear traditional attire, set up a puja altar with idols of Goddess Lakshmi and Lord Ganesha, and open their account books (Chopda Pujan) for business blessings. Sweets like kaju katli, besan ladoo, and chakli are distributed to neighbours and relatives.
4. Govardhan Puja (Tuesday, November 10, 2026)
During Govardhan Puja, devotees recreate Mount Govardhan using cow dung or flowers to remember Lord Krishna lifting the hill on his little finger to shield the people of Vrindavan from torrential storms. Temples offer Annakut, a feast comprising 56 vegetarian delicacies (Chhappan Bhog).
5. Bhai Dooj (Wednesday, November 11, 2026)
The festival ends with the celebration of the sibling bond. Sisters apply an auspicious vermilion tika on their brothers' foreheads and pray for their longevity, while brothers offer protective pledges and thoughtful gifts.
Step-by-Step Diwali Lakshmi Puja Vidhi
You can perform an authentic Lakshmi Puja at home with these straightforward steps:
- Purify the Space: Clean the puja room and sprinkle holy water (Gangajal) across the altar and yourself while reciting chanting prayers.
- Establish the Altar: Lay a red or yellow silk cloth over a raised wooden platform (Chowki). Place idols or pictures of Goddess Lakshmi and Lord Ganesha side by side.
- Kalash Sthapana: Fill a copper or brass pot with water, supari, a silver coin, and five mango leaves, topping it with a peeled coconut wrapped in red mauli string.
- Offerings (Panchopchar Puja): Offer fresh flowers, rolil, akshat (unbroken rice grains), dhoop, and seasonal fruits. Offer batasha, kheer, or sweets as naivedya.
- Aarti & Deep Daan: Light an oil diya made of pure ghee and sing the Shri Lakshmi Aarti followed by Ganesh Aarti. Distribute the prasad and place lit diyas around the home.