Diwali 2026 falls on Sunday, 8 November, according to most calendars. Lakshmi Puja, the main evening ritual, is held on the new-moon day of the Hindu month of Kartik. Guides and almanacs agree on the date, though they differ on exact timings.
Dhanteras, which opens the five-day festival, falls on Friday, 6 November in most listings. One guide gives Saturday, 7 November. Bhai Dooj, which closes the festival, is generally put at 11 November, though some sources say 10 or 11 November depending on the region.
The Lakshmi Puja muhurat on 8 November is given as roughly 5:54 pm to 7:50 pm IST for New Delhi in some guides, and about 6:27 pm to 8:29 pm in others. The auspicious window depends on local sunset and on the panchang used, so people should confirm the timing for their own city with a local priest or a trusted panchang.
The festival season has other dates close behind. Chhath Puja is listed for 12 to 15 November 2026. Indian Railways is running special trains for Diwali and Chhath, and demand for tickets to Uttar Pradesh and Bihar is high.
Dates in this article are drawn from published almanacs and festival guides and are not an official government notification.
Sources: Wikipedia: Diwali; Wikipedia: Dhanteras.
Featured image: Diyas lit for Diwali (cropped). Photo by humdingor, licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
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