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

Every year, the weeks before Diwali bring the same flurry of questions. Is it the 8th or the 9th? When exactly is the puja in my city? And why do the five days never seem to land on five consecutive dates? This year, the calendar has a few quirks, so it helps to have everything in one place.

Diwali 2026 date is Sunday, 8 November. The Lakshmi Puja muhurat in New Delhi is 5:54 PM to 7:50 PM, and the five days of the festival run from Dhanteras on Friday, 6 November to Bhai Dooj on Wednesday, 11 November.

Is Diwali on 8 or 9 November 2026?

Diwali falls on Kartik Amavasya, the new moon night, and the Lakshmi Puja is done in the evening when Amavasya covers Pradosh Kaal, the period after sunset. In 2026, the Amavasya tithi begins at about 11:28 AM on Sunday, 8 November and ends at about 12:31 PM on Monday, 9 November. Since it has ended well before sunset on the 9th, the evening puja belongs to Sunday, 8 November. A few pages that list 9 November are going by the Amavasya present at sunrise that day, which is not the rule for this puja.

Lakshmi Puja Muhurat 2026 by City

The puja is done within Pradosh Kaal, ideally while the fixed sign Vrishabha (Taurus) is rising, a stable moment traditionally preferred for welcoming Lakshmi into the home. These are approximate local timings for 8 November:

Delhi: 5:54 PM to 7:50 PM

Mumbai: 6:27 PM to 8:27 PM

Kolkata: 5:20 PM to 7:18 PM

Chennai: 6:07 PM to 8:09 PM

Bangalore: 6:17 PM to 8:20 PM

Hyderabad: 6:07 PM to 8:08 PM

Pune: 6:24 PM to 8:24 PM

Ahmedabad: 6:22 PM to 8:20 PM

Jaipur: 6:03 PM to 7:59 PM

Noida: 5:54 PM to 7:49 PM

Timings differ by a minute or two between sources, so confirm yours on HiAstro's Panchang. Families abroad should use their local sunset, since Pradosh Kaal starts then, and can follow the same sequence of puja steps. Many start the Ganesha puja slightly before the muhurat opens, so that the Lakshmi puja itself falls inside it.

The 5 Days of Diwali 2026: Complete Calendar

Day 1: Dhanteras, Friday, 6 November. The day for worshipping Dhanvantari, Kubera and Lakshmi, buying something auspicious, and lighting the Yama Deepam. The Delhi puja muhurat is about 6:02 PM to 7:57 PM.

Day 2: Choti Diwali and Naraka Chaturdashi, Saturday, 7 and Sunday, 8 November. Chaturdashi tithi runs from about 10:48 AM on 7 November to 11:28 AM on 8 November. Many homes light small diyas on the evening of 7 November, while the traditional pre-dawn oil bath (abhyanga snan) falls on the morning of 8 November, when Chaturdashi is present at sunrise. This is why calendars list either date, and both are correct for different parts of the observance. In Tamil Nadu, Deepavali is traditionally celebrated on this morning.

Day 3: Diwali and Lakshmi Puja, Sunday, 8 November. The main night of the festival, with Lakshmi and Ganesha worship, rows of diyas, and, in Bengal and the east, Kali Puja.

Day 4: Govardhan Puja, Tuesday, 10 November. Also called Annakut or Balipratipada, it marks Krishna lifting Mount Govardhan, with a mountain of food offered in thanks. Most calendars place it on 10 November, since the Pratipada tithi begins after Amavasya ends on the afternoon of the 9th, so it is the tithi at sunrise on the 10th. A few list 9 November.

Day 5: Bhai Dooj, Wednesday, 11 November. The day sisters apply tilak to their brothers. Most calendars place it on 11 November, though some show 10 November. Confirm with your Panchang.

Read more https://www.hiastro.in/blog/what-to-buy-on-dhanteras-2026-based-on-your-zodiac-sign

Why Aren't the Five Days on Consecutive Dates?

Hindu festivals follow tithis, and a tithi can start or end at any time of the day, so it may span two calendar dates or leave one date without its own festival. This year, Amavasya runs into 9 November, so Govardhan Puja lands on the 10th, and 9 November has no dedicated puja. This is normal and happens in many years.

A Note on Astrology and Diwali

Venus, the planet of wealth and comfort, is retrograde through Diwali week and turns direct around 13 to 14 November, so some astrologers advise extra care with large financial commitments and major jewellery purchases at this time. The Diwali puja itself is unaffected. As always, timings and customs vary by region and family, so follow your own tradition and local Panchang.

Make Diwali Personal

For a personalised view of which days and muhurats are most favourable in your own chart this Diwali, speak with an astrologer on HiAstro or generate your free Kundli, and check your city's exact Diwali 2026 date and timings before you plan.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. What is the Diwali 2026 date?

Diwali 2026 is on Sunday, 8 November. The Lakshmi Puja is done that evening, during Amavasya.

2. What is the Lakshmi Puja muhurat in 2026?

In New Delhi, it is 5:54 PM to 7:50 PM. In Mumbai it is about 6:27 PM to 8:27 PM, and in Kolkata about 5:20 PM to 7:18 PM.

3. Is Diwali on 8 or 9 November 2026?

The main Lakshmi Puja is on 8 November, since Amavasya covers the evening Pradosh Kaal that day. Amavasya ends at about 12:31 PM on 9 November.

4. What are the five days of Diwali in 2026?

Dhanteras (6 November), Choti Diwali and Naraka Chaturdashi (7 to 8 November), Diwali (8 November), Govardhan Puja (10 November) and Bhai Dooj (11 November).

5. When is Choti Diwali 2026?

Diyas are lit on the evening of 7 November, and the Naraka Chaturdashi pre-dawn oil bath is on the morning of 8 November.

6. Why is there a gap between Diwali and Govardhan Puja this year?

Amavasya continues until 9 November afternoon, so the Pratipada tithi at sunrise falls on 10 November, which is when Govardhan Puja is observed.

7. When is Bhai Dooj 2026?

Most calendars place Bhai Dooj on Wednesday, 11 November, though some list 10 November. Check your local Panchang.