Quick answer
- Diwali 2026
- Sunday, 8 November 2026
- Tithi
- Kartik AmavasyaAswayuja Amavasya (amanta)
- Observed for
- Prosperity, well-being and new beginnings
- Dhanteras
- Fri, 6 Nov · Pradosh 05:43 PM – 08:14 PM
- Naraka Chaturdashi
- Sun, 8 Nov · Before sunrise 04:42 AM – 06:18 AM
What is it? The festival of lights, celebrated on the new moon of Kartik with Lakshmi Puja in the evening.
Why is it observed? It celebrates Rama’s return to Ayodhya, Lakshmi’s emergence from the ocean of milk and Krishna’s victory over Narakasura — light over darkness.
How is it observed? Cleaning and decorating the home, lighting diyas, Lakshmi-Ganesha puja at Pradosh Kaal, sweets and visits to family.
Diwali 2026 date & muhurat
| Amavasya tithi begins | Sun, 8 Nov, 11:28 AM |
|---|---|
| Amavasya tithi ends | Mon, 9 Nov, 12:32 PM |
| Sunset | 05:42 PM |
| Lakshmi Puja (Pradosh Kaal) | 05:42 PM – 08:13 PMPradosh Kaal while the tithi lasts. Many families also look for the fixed Vrishabha lagna within it; ask your pandit. |
| Pradosh Kaal | 05:42 PM – 08:13 PM |
| Nishita Kaal | 11:35 PM – 12:25 AM |
| Rahu Kalam (avoid) | 04:17 PM – 05:42 PM |
Day by day
- Fri, 6 Nov
Dhanteras · Pradosh 05:43 PM – 08:14 PM
Dhanvantari and Lakshmi puja; new utensils or gold are bought, and a lamp is lit for Yama (Yama Deepam) at dusk.
- Sun, 8 Nov
Naraka Chaturdashi · Before sunrise 04:42 AM – 06:18 AM
Abhyanga snan (oil bath) before sunrise; the main Deepavali day in much of South India.
- Sun, 8 Nov
Lakshmi Puja · Pradosh 05:42 PM – 08:13 PM
Lakshmi and Ganesha puja in the evening; homes are lit with diyas.
- Tue, 10 Nov
Govardhan Puja · Sunrise 06:18 AM
Govardhan puja and Annakut in the North; Bali Pratipada and the new year in Gujarat.
- Tue, 10 Nov
Bhai Dooj · Aparahna 01:08 PM – 03:25 PM
Sisters apply tilak to their brothers and pray for their well-being.
Why is Diwali observed?
Religious
Goddess Lakshmi, who rose from the churning of the ocean of milk, is welcomed into clean, lamp-lit homes on Amavasya night, together with Ganesha, the remover of obstacles.
Rama’s return
Ayodhya lit rows of lamps (deepa-avali) to welcome Rama, Sita and Lakshmana home after fourteen years of exile — the origin of the festival’s name.
For business
Many traders begin new account books (chopda puja) on Diwali, making it the start of the financial year in parts of North and West India.
Across faiths
Jains mark Mahavira’s nirvana on Diwali, and Sikhs celebrate Bandi Chhor Divas, the release of Guru Hargobind Ji.
The stories of the festival of lights
Characters: Goddess Lakshmi, Lord Vishnu, Lord Rama, Sita and Lakshmana, Lord Krishna and Satyabhama, Narakasura
When the devas and asuras churned the ocean of milk for the nectar of immortality, many treasures rose from its depths. Among them was Goddess Lakshmi, seated on a lotus, who chose Vishnu as her consort. She is welcomed into homes on Diwali as the goddess of prosperity and well-being.
After fourteen years of exile and the defeat of Ravana, Rama returned to Ayodhya with Sita and Lakshmana on the new moon of Kartik. The people lit rows of lamps along every street to welcome them home — a deepa-avali, a row of lights.
Narakasura, a powerful asura, oppressed the three worlds and imprisoned thousands. Krishna, with Satyabhama, fought and killed him on Chaturdashi. Before he died, Narakasura asked that the day be celebrated with lights — so the South celebrates Deepavali with an oil bath before dawn on Naraka Chaturdashi.
Message: Light the lamp within as well as without: welcome prosperity with cleanliness, gratitude and generosity.
Diwali puja vidhi
Before the puja
- 1Clean and decorate the house; draw rangoli at the entrance.
- 2Set up a clean platform with a red cloth for Lakshmi and Ganesha.
- 3Bathe and wear new or clean clothes in the evening.
During the puja
- 1Begin at Pradosh Kaal. Sprinkle water to purify yourself and the place, and take the sankalp.
- 2Install a kalash, and place Lakshmi to the right of Ganesha.
- 3Worship Ganesha first, then Lakshmi, with the sixteen offerings — water, roli, akshat, flowers, fragrance, lamp, naivedya and more.
- 4Offer coins, jewellery or account books to the goddess to be blessed.
- 5Chant Lakshmi mantras and sing the aarti.
- 6Light diyas throughout the house, starting from the puja room.
After the puja
- 1Distribute prasad and sweets.
- 2Keep a lamp burning through the night if your family does.
- 3Visit elders and exchange sweets.
Diwali puja samagri
Essential
| Item | Quantity | Purpose |
|---|---|---|
| Lakshmi and Ganesha idols or picture | 1 set | Worship |
| Red cloth and a wooden platform (chowki) | 1 | Seat for the deities |
| Kalash, coconut and mango leaves | 1 | Kalash sthapana |
| Roli, kumkum, turmeric, akshat and mauli | A little of each | Puja |
| Lotus or red flowers and garlands | As needed | Offering to Lakshmi |
| Clay diyas, ghee or oil and wicks | 11 or more | Lighting the home |
| Sweets, kheel-batashe and fruits | As needed | Naivedya |
| Coins or jewellery | A few | To be blessed by the goddess |
Optional
| Item | Quantity | Purpose |
|---|---|---|
| Account books (bahi-khata) | — | Chopda puja for traders |
| Shri Yantra | — | Worship along with Lakshmi |
Traditional / regional
| Item | Quantity | Purpose |
|---|---|---|
| Gingelly oil and herbal paste (nalugu) | — | Abhyanga snan on Naraka Chaturdashi in the South |
| Items for Kedareswara vratham | — | Telugu families who keep the vratham on Deepavali Amavasya |
Do's and don'ts
✅ Do
- Clean and light the whole house, including dark corners.
- Perform Lakshmi Puja at Pradosh Kaal.
- Share sweets and give to those in need.
- Use eco-friendly diyas and handle fireworks safely, if at all.
❌ Avoid
- Leave the house dark or dirty on Diwali night.
- Quarrel or speak harshly at home.
- Let lamps burn unattended near curtains or children.
- Gamble away money you cannot afford — a custom best left alone.
Diwali mantras
Ganesha vandana
वक्रतुण्ड महाकाय सूर्यकोटि समप्रभ।
निर्विघ्नं कुरु मे देव सर्वकार्येषु सर्वदा॥
తెలుగు లిపిలో
వక్రతుణ్డ మహాకాయ సూర్యకోటి సమప్రభ।
నిర్విఘ్నం కురు మే దేవ సర్వకార్యేషు సర్వదా॥
vakratuṇḍa mahākāya sūryakoṭi samaprabha| nirvighnaṃ kuru me deva sarvakāryeṣu sarvadā||
Meaning: O Ganesha of the curved trunk and mighty body, radiant as a million suns — remove the obstacles from all my undertakings, always.
Lakshmi Gayatri
ॐ महालक्ष्म्यै च विद्महे विष्णुपत्न्यै च धीमहि।
तन्नो लक्ष्मीः प्रचोदयात्॥
తెలుగు లిపిలో
ఓం మహాలక్ష్మ్యై చ విద్మహే విష్ణుపత్న్యై చ ధీమహి।
తన్నో లక్ష్మీః ప్రచోదయాత్॥
oṃ mahālakṣmyai ca vidmahe viṣṇupatnyai ca dhīmahi| tanno lakṣmīḥ pracodayāt||
Meaning: We meditate on Mahalakshmi, consort of Vishnu; may Lakshmi inspire and guide us.
Mahalakshmi mantra
ॐ श्रीं ह्रीं श्रीं कमले कमलालये प्रसीद प्रसीद श्रीं ह्रीं श्रीं ॐ महालक्ष्म्यै नमः॥
తెలుగు లిపిలో
ఓం శ్రీం హ్రీం శ్రీం కమలే కమలాలయే ప్రసీద ప్రసీద శ్రీం హ్రీం శ్రీం ఓం మహాలక్ష్మ్యై నమః॥
oṃ śrīṃ hrīṃ śrīṃ kamale kamalālaye prasīda prasīda śrīṃ hrīṃ śrīṃ oṃ mahālakṣmyai namaḥ||
Meaning: O Kamala, who dwells in the lotus, be pleased — salutations to Mahalakshmi.
Om Jai Lakshmi Mata — Aarti of Goddess Lakshmi
ॐ जय लक्ष्मी माता, मैया जय लक्ष्मी माता।
तुमको निशदिन सेवत, हरि विष्णु विधाता॥
उमा, रमा, ब्रह्माणी, तुम ही जग-माता।
सूर्य-चन्द्रमा ध्यावत, नारद ऋषि गाता॥
दुर्गा रूप निरंजनि, सुख सम्पत्ति दाता।
जो कोई तुमको ध्यावत, ऋद्धि-सिद्धि धन पाता॥
तुम पाताल-निवासिनि, तुम ही शुभदाता।
कर्म-प्रभाव-प्रकाशिनि, भवनिधि की त्राता॥
जिस घर में तुम रहतीं, सब सद्गुण आता।
सब सम्भव हो जाता, मन नहीं घबराता॥
तुम बिन यज्ञ न होते, वस्त्र न कोई पाता।
खान-पान का वैभव, सब तुमसे आता॥
शुभ-गुण मन्दिर सुन्दर, क्षीरोदधि-जाता।
रत्न चतुर्दश तुम बिन, कोई नहीं पाता॥
महालक्ष्मीजी की आरती, जो कोई जन गाता।
उर आनन्द समाता, पाप उतर जाता॥
తెలుగు లిపిలో
ఓం జయ లక్ష్మీ మాతా, మైయా జయ లక్ష్మీ మాతా।
తుమకో నిశదిన సేవత, హరి విష్ణు విధాతా॥
ఉమా, రమా, బ్రహ్మాణీ, తుమ హీ జగ-మాతా।
సూర్య-చన్ద్రమా ధ్యావత, నారద ఋషి గాతా॥
దుర్గా రూప నిరంజని, సుఖ సమ్పత్తి దాతా।
జో కోఈ తుమకో ధ్యావత, ఋద్ధి-సిద్ధి ధన పాతా॥
తుమ పాతాల-నివాసిని, తుమ హీ శుభదాతా।
కర్మ-ప్రభావ-ప్రకాశిని, భవనిధి కీ త్రాతా॥
జిస ఘర మేం తుమ రహతీం, సబ సద్గుణ ఆతా।
సబ సమ్భవ హో జాతా, మన నహీం ఘబరాతా॥
తుమ బిన యజ్ఞ న హోతే, వస్త్ర న కోఈ పాతా।
ఖాన-పాన కా వైభవ, సబ తుమసే ఆతా॥
శుభ-గుణ మన్దిర సున్దర, క్షీరోదధి-జాతా।
రత్న చతుర్దశ తుమ బిన, కోఈ నహీం పాతా॥
మహాలక్ష్మీజీ కీ ఆరతీ, జో కోఈ జన గాతా।
ఉర ఆనన్ద సమాతా, పాప ఉతర జాతా॥
In English letters
Om jai Lakshmi Mata, maiya jai Lakshmi Mata,
Tumko nishdin sevat, Hari Vishnu Vidhata.
Meaning: Victory to Mother Lakshmi, whom Vishnu and Brahma serve day and night. The aarti praises her as Uma, Rama and Brahmani, mother of the world, giver of happiness and wealth; wherever she dwells every virtue comes and nothing is impossible. She was born of the ocean of milk, and whoever sings her aarti is filled with joy and freed of sin.
Diwali across India
North India
Five days from Dhanteras to Bhai Dooj, remembering Rama’s return, with Lakshmi-Ganesha puja on Amavasya evening.
South India
The main day is Naraka Chaturdashi, with an oil bath before dawn, new clothes and sweets; Telugu families who keep it perform the Kedareswara vratham on Amavasya.
West Bengal and Odisha
Kali Puja on Amavasya night; in Odisha, jute sticks are lit to call the ancestors (Bada Badhi).
Gujarat
Diwali ends the year; the next day, Bestu Varas, is the Gujarati New Year.
Maharashtra
Vasu Baras, Dhantrayodashi, Naraka Chaturdashi, Lakshmi Puja, Padwa and Bhau Beej.
Perform Diwali puja with Rutviju
Online pujas are performed at the temple in your name — you receive photos and video from the pandit. Offline pujas are performed at your home by a verified pandit.
Sources & method
- Vishnu Purana and Bhagavata Purana for the churning of the ocean and Lakshmi’s emergence.
- Bhagavata Purana, Canto 10, for Krishna’s victory over Narakasura.
- Skanda Purana for the Yama Deepam of Dhanteras.
- The aarti is a popular devotional hymn in Hindi.
Dates and muhurtams on this page are calculated for Hyderabad from the positions of the Sun and Moon (Lahiri ayanamsa, IST). Printed panchangams can differ by a minute or two, and a few festivals are kept on different days in different traditions — follow your family's panchangam and pandit where they differ.
Frequently asked questions
When is Diwali 2026?
Diwali 2026 is on Sunday, 8 November 2026. Kartik Amavasya (Aswayuja Amavasya in the amanta calendar) runs from Sun, 8 Nov, 11:28 AM to Mon, 9 Nov, 12:32 PM, IST, as calculated for Hyderabad.
Is the Diwali date the same in every city?
Usually, but not always. Sunrise, sunset and moonrise differ from city to city, and the festival is kept on the day its tithi prevails at the right time of day, so the muhurtams — and occasionally the date — can change. Choose your city above to see local timings.
What is the best time for Lakshmi Puja?
Pradosh Kaal — the first part of the night after sunset — while Amavasya lasts. The table above shows it for your city. Many families also look for the fixed Vrishabha lagna within Pradosh Kaal.
Is Naraka Chaturdashi the same day as Diwali?
Sometimes. Naraka Chaturdashi follows Chaturdashi at dawn, and Lakshmi Puja follows Amavasya at dusk, so they fall on the same day in some years and on consecutive days in others. The day-by-day list above shows this year’s dates.
Can I book a Lakshmi Puja at home?
Yes. Book a verified pandit for Lakshmi Puja at home, or a puja performed in your name at a temple, from the booking section on this page.