Traditional clay diyas illuminating a vibrant flower petal rangoli on Diwali night.
Diwali, also known as Deepavali, is India's grandest festival of lights, celebrating the triumph of light over darkness and good over evil. If you are planning your holiday calendar, shopping trips, travel vacations, or home makeover, knowing the exact date and auspicious tithi timings is essential.
Auspicious brass Lakshmi Puja thali prepared for Pradosh Kaal worship with fresh marigolds and offerings.
Why is Diwali on November 8, 2026?
Unlike Gregorian calendar holidays that remain fixed on specific dates (such as Christmas on December 25), Diwali is determined by the Hindu lunisolar calendar (Vikram Samvat). Deepavali is celebrated annually on the Amavasya (New Moon Day) of the Kartik month.
In 2026, the Kartik Amavasya tithi begins on the afternoon of Saturday, November 7, and prevails throughout the evening and night of Sunday, November 8, 2026. Because Vedic traditions mandate that Lakshmi Puja must be performed during Pradosh Kaal (the post-sunset period) while Amavasya is active, the primary Diwali celebrations occur on Sunday evening, November 8.
Diwali 2026 Complete 5-Day Festival Schedule
Diwali is not just a single-day festival; it is a five-day spiritual and cultural extravaganza. Here is the complete breakdown of the 2026 festival week:
| Festival Day | Date | Day of Week | Spiritual Significance |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. Dhanteras | November 6, 2026 | Friday | Auspicious metal, gold, brass utensil buying; Dhanvantari Jayanti |
| 2. Choti Diwali | November 7, 2026 | Saturday | Naraka Chaturdashi; cleansing rituals & evening lamp lighting |
| 3. Grand Diwali | November 8, 2026 | Sunday | Main Lakshmi-Ganesha Puja, festive sweets, deepavali lighting |
| 4. Govardhan Puja | November 9, 2026 | Monday | Annakut celebration, honoring Lord Krishna lifting Govardhan Hill |
| 5. Bhai Dooj | November 10, 2026 | Tuesday | Yama Dwitiya; sacred sibling tilak ceremony & blessings |
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Performing Lakshmi Puja during the auspicious Pradosh Kaal with a stable ascendant (Sthir Lagna like Taurus or Vrishabha) is believed to invite everlasting prosperity and happiness into one's home and business:
- Lakshmi Puja Muhurat Window (Universal): 05:40 PM to 07:35 PM IST
- Pradosh Kaal Duration: 05:30 PM to 08:05 PM IST
- Vrishabha (Taurus) Sthir Lagna: 05:45 PM to 07:42 PM IST
- Nishita Kaal Muhurat (For Tantrik & Midnight Puja): 11:38 PM to 12:31 AM (Nov 9)
City-Wise Diwali 2026 Lakshmi Puja Muhurat Timings
Because sunrise and sunset times vary across geographical longitudes in India, here are the exact verified muhurat timings for major Indian metro cities:
| City | Sunset | Pradosh Kaal | Lakshmi Puja Muhurat | Auspicious Choghadiya |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Delhi NCR | 05:32 PM | 05:32 PM - 07:28 PM | 05:40 PM - 07:35 PM | Shubh (05:32 PM - 07:08 PM) |
| Mumbai | 06:03 PM | 06:03 PM - 08:00 PM | 06:12 PM - 08:08 PM | Amrit & Chala (06:03 PM - 07:38 PM) |
| Bengaluru | 05:54 PM | 05:54 PM - 07:50 PM | 06:01 PM - 07:56 PM | Shubh (05:54 PM - 07:28 PM) |
| Kolkata | 04:56 PM | 04:56 PM - 06:52 PM | 05:02 PM - 06:58 PM | Shubh & Labh (04:56 PM - 06:34 PM) |
| Chennai | 05:43 PM | 05:43 PM - 07:38 PM | 05:50 PM - 07:45 PM | Shubh (05:43 PM - 07:18 PM) |
| Hyderabad | 05:42 PM | 05:42 PM - 07:38 PM | 05:48 PM - 07:44 PM | Amrit (05:42 PM - 07:18 PM) |
| Pune | 06:01 PM | 06:01 PM - 07:57 PM | 06:08 PM - 08:04 PM | Shubh (06:01 PM - 07:36 PM) |
| Ahmedabad | 05:56 PM | 05:56 PM - 07:53 PM | 06:04 PM - 08:01 PM | Labh (05:56 PM - 07:32 PM) |
| Jaipur | 05:39 PM | 05:39 PM - 07:35 PM | 05:45 PM - 07:40 PM | Shubh (05:39 PM - 07:15 PM) |
| Lucknow | 05:22 PM | 05:22 PM - 07:18 PM | 05:29 PM - 07:25 PM | Shubh & Amrit (05:22 PM - 06:58 PM) |
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Diwali on Sunday this year (2026)?
Yes! Diwali falls directly on Sunday, November 8, 2026. This creates a rare, highly convenient 5-day continuous holiday weekend from Friday (Dhanteras) through Tuesday (Bhai Dooj).
How many days are left until Diwali 2026?
You can track real-time days, hours, and minutes remaining on our live Diwali Countdown Timer on UtsavHub.