Diwali 2026 falls on Sunday, 8 November 2026, the day of Lakshmi Puja. Dhanteras is on Friday, 6 November, Govardhan Puja on Tuesday, 10 November and Bhai Dooj on Wednesday, 11 November. Because of how the tithis fall this year, there is an extra day between Lakshmi Puja and Govardhan Puja, so the festival stretches across six days rather than the usual five. The full calendar and the Lakshmi Puja muhurat for major cities are below.
All dates and New Delhi timings come from the Drik Panchang 2026 Diwali calendar. Your local panchang may differ by a few minutes, and some regions observe certain days on a different date.
Diwali 2026 calendar at a glance
| Day | Date | Festival |
|---|---|---|
| Thursday | 5 November 2026 | Govatsa Dwadashi / Vasu Baras |
| Friday | 6 November 2026 | Dhanteras (Dhantrayodashi), Yama Deepam |
| Saturday | 7 November 2026 | Kali Chaudas, Hanuman Puja |
| Sunday | 8 November 2026 | Narak Chaturdashi, Lakshmi Puja (Diwali), Kali Puja, Chopda Puja |
| Monday | 9 November 2026 | Amavasya continues (Diwali Snan, Devpuja) |
| Tuesday | 10 November 2026 | Govardhan Puja, Annakut, Bali Pratipada, Gujarati New Year |
| Wednesday | 11 November 2026 | Bhai Dooj, Bhau Beej, Yama Dwitiya, Chitragupta Puja |
In Bengal, Odisha and Assam the same night is also observed as Kali Puja 2026; see the Nishita muhurat and city timings.
Dhanteras 2026: Friday, 6 November
According to Drik Panchang, the Dhanteras puja muhurat in New Delhi is 6:02 PM to 7:57 PM (Vrishabha Kaal), and Pradosh Kaal runs from 5:33 PM to 8:09 PM. Trayodashi tithi begins at 10:30 AM on 6 November and ends at 10:47 AM on 7 November. Yama Deepam, the lamp lit facing south in the evening, falls on the same day.
Dhanteras is also the traditional day for buying gold, silver and utensils. If you’re planning a purchase, read our guide on what to check before buying gold this Dhanteras. Many families also time a new vehicle for this week, and our roundup of Diwali offers on scooters and cars covers what dealers are offering.
Choti Diwali and Narak Chaturdashi: 7 and 8 November
This year needs a little care. Chaturdashi tithi begins at 10:47 AM on Saturday, 7 November and ends at 11:27 AM on Sunday, 8 November. Drik Panchang lists Kali Chaudas, which is observed mainly in Gujarat, on the night of 7 November, with a muhurat from 11:39 PM to 12:31 AM. It lists Narak Chaturdashi, the day of the early-morning abhyang snan, on 8 November, the same day as Lakshmi Puja.
So whether your family marks “Choti Diwali” on Saturday or does both on Sunday depends on local custom. In Tamil Nadu, Deepavali (Narak Chaturdashi) is also on Sunday, 8 November.
Lakshmi Puja 2026: Sunday, 8 November
The main Diwali puja is done in the evening during Pradosh Kaal, ideally while the fixed Vrishabha lagna is rising. For New Delhi, Drik Panchang’s Diwali muhurat page gives these timings:
- Lakshmi Puja muhurat: 5:54 PM to 7:50 PM
- Pradosh Kaal: 5:31 PM to 8:09 PM
- Nishita Kaal muhurat: 11:39 PM to 12:31 AM (9 November)
- Amavasya tithi: 11:27 AM on 8 November to 12:31 PM on 9 November
Lakshmi Puja and Dhanteras muhurat by city
| City | Dhanteras puja (6 Nov) | Lakshmi Puja (8 Nov) |
|---|---|---|
| New Delhi | 6:02 PM – 7:57 PM | 5:54 PM – 7:50 PM |
| Mumbai | 6:35 PM – 8:35 PM | 6:27 PM – 8:27 PM |
| Kolkata | 5:28 PM – 7:26 PM | 5:20 PM – 7:18 PM |
| Chennai | 6:14 PM – 8:10 PM | 6:07 PM – 8:09 PM |
| Bengaluru | 6:25 PM – 8:20 PM | 6:17 PM – 8:20 PM |
| Hyderabad | 6:15 PM – 8:13 PM | 6:07 PM – 8:08 PM |
| Pune | 6:32 PM – 8:31 PM | 6:24 PM – 8:24 PM |
| Ahmedabad | 6:30 PM – 8:28 PM | 6:22 PM – 8:20 PM |
| Jaipur | 6:11 PM – 8:07 PM | 6:03 PM – 7:59 PM |
For Lakshmi Puja, Drik Panchang lists Chandigarh at 5:52 PM to 7:46 PM, Noida at 5:54 PM to 7:49 PM and Gurgaon at 5:55 PM to 7:51 PM. In Bengal, the same night is Kali Puja. Gujarati business families perform Chopda Puja on their account books that evening, and the stock exchanges hold their special muhurat trading session on the afternoon of Sunday, 8 November.
Why 9 November is a gap day
Amavasya lasts until 12:31 PM on Monday, 9 November, and Pratipada begins straight after. Govardhan Puja is done in the morning (pratahkala), so it falls on Tuesday, 10 November, when Pratipada is present at sunrise. Drik Panchang marks Monday only for Diwali Snan and Devpuja. If you’re taking leave, plan for Friday to Wednesday rather than a tight five days.
Govardhan Puja 2026: Tuesday, 10 November
The Govardhan Puja pratahkala muhurat is 6:40 AM to 8:50 AM. Pratipada tithi runs from 12:31 PM on 9 November to 2:00 PM on 10 November. The same day is Annakut, Bali Pratipada (Padwa) in Maharashtra and the Gujarati New Year.
Bhai Dooj 2026: Wednesday, 11 November
The Bhai Dooj tilak time (Aparahna) is 1:10 PM to 3:20 PM. Dwitiya tithi runs from 2:00 PM on 10 November to 3:53 PM on 11 November. The festival is also called Bhau Beej and Yama Dwitiya, and Chitragupta Puja is held on the same day.
After Diwali: what comes next
The festival season doesn’t end with Bhai Dooj. Chhath Puja runs from 13 to 16 November. Dev Deepawali in Varanasi lights up the ghats on Kartik Purnima. If you’d rather travel during Diwali week itself, the Rann Utsav tent city in Kutch lists Diwali week (8 to 14 November) among its special-date periods.
Frequently asked questions
What is the date of Diwali in 2026?
Diwali (Lakshmi Puja) is on Sunday, 8 November 2026.
When is Dhanteras 2026?
Friday, 6 November 2026. The puja muhurat in New Delhi is 6:02 PM to 7:57 PM.
Is Govardhan Puja on 9 or 10 November 2026?
Tuesday, 10 November. Pratipada begins only at 12:31 PM on 9 November, so the morning puja shifts to the next day.
When is Bhai Dooj 2026?
Wednesday, 11 November 2026, with the tilak time from 1:10 PM to 3:20 PM.
When is Diwali in 2027?
Drik Panchang lists Diwali on Friday, 29 October 2027.
Featured image: Slyronit / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0.