Diwali 2026: Date, Lakshmi Puja Muhurat, 5 Days and Significance

Diwali sneaks up on you. One week the house is normal. The next, there's a ladder in the hallway, mithai boxes stacked on the dining table, and a family WhatsApp group arguing about which evening to do the puja.

So let's settle that first. Diwali 2026 is on Sunday, 8 November. Below you'll find the muhurat, the five days in order, who gets worshipped (with aartis), a plain-English puja vidhi and a few safety tips. Skim what you need.

Diwali 2026 at a Glance

The timings above are for New Delhi and come from commonly used panchangs. Sunset is different where you live, so look up your own muhurat or ask your family pandit ji.

What Is Diwali?

Deepavali means "a line of lamps." It falls on the Amavasya of the month of Kartika, usually in October or November, when there's no moon at all. Total darkness, so people fill it with light.

Yes, the textbook version is "good over evil." But ask people and they'll tell you about ghee in the kitchen, a floor that's just been mopped, a stiff new kurta, or an uncle arriving with far too many sweet boxes.

Why Do People Celebrate Diwali?

Ask in different places and you'll hear different stories. They all sit together without fighting.

Rama comes home

Across much of North India, Diwali is tied to Rama's return to Ayodhya after 14 years in exile and Ravana's defeat. The city welcomed him with lamps everywhere. The diyas on your balcony are a small echo of that welcome.

Lakshmi arrives

Lakshmi, goddess of prosperity, appeared when the gods and demons churned the ocean. The belief is that she goes from house to house on Diwali night, and stays only where it's clean and bright.

Krishna and Narakasura

In the south and parts of the west, the day before Diwali matters most. It's said to be the day Krishna defeated Narakasura. Families get up in the dark, massage oil into the skin, bathe and light lamps before sunrise.

Jains, Sikhs and others

Jains remember this night as Lord Mahavira's nirvana. Sikhs celebrate Bandi Chhor Divas for Guru Hargobind Ji's release from Gwalior fort. Some Buddhist communities in Nepal join in too. Different histories, same lamp.

The 5 Days of Diwali 2026, in Order

The festival begins two days before the main night and ends two days after. Dates below are for India.

This follows Drik Panchang for India. Some calendars, especially for the UK and North America, show Choti Diwali on 7 November, Govardhan Puja on 9 November and Bhai Dooj on 10 November. Use the calendar for where you live.

Day 1: Dhanteras

Clean the house, light a small lamp outside the door, and pray to Lakshmi, Kuber and Dhanvantari. Buy something new. It can be a gold coin or a steel katori; nobody is checking. Full details are in our Dhanteras 2026 guide.

Day 2: Naraka Chaturdashi (Choti Diwali)

An early start. Oil bath, fresh clothes, a few lamps. Some homes pray to Hanuman or Kali on this day.

Day 3: Diwali and Lakshmi Puja

The big evening. After sunset the family does Lakshmi-Ganesh Puja, every corner gets a diya and the sweets come out. In many business communities, new account books are opened today.

Day 4: Govardhan Puja

Krishna lifted Mount Govardhan to shelter his village from a storm. To remember it, many homes cook a big spread of vegetarian dishes, called Annakut, and offer it to God before eating. If you like the cow-and-calf side of the season, read about Govatsa Dwadashi too.

Day 5: Bhai Dooj

Sisters put a tilak on their brothers' foreheads and wish them a long life. Brothers hand over a gift. Short, sweet, a bit noisy. A good way to end.

Lakshmi Puja Muhurat on Diwali 2026

The puja happens in the evening, after sunset, while Amavasya is still on. The best window is Pradosh Kaal, and inside it, most people prefer Vrishabha Kaal for the main puja.

Running late?

Guests arrive, the kids won't sit still, the gas is on. It happens in every house. Do the puja that same evening as soon as you get ten calm minutes. A short prayer said properly beats a perfect timing said in a hurry.

Who Is Worshipped on Diwali? Gods, Goddesses and Their Aartis

Lakshmi gets the headlines, but she isn't alone. Here's who is prayed to, and when. Use the aarti links to sing along.

More about each deity is in the God section of Mobile Mandir, and every aarti with lyrics is on the aarti page.

How to Do Lakshmi Puja at Home

Every family has its own order. If yours is different, stick with yours. This is the common version.

1. Tidy up. Sweep, wipe the entrance, draw a small rangoli.

2. Set the chowki. Clean red or yellow cloth on top. Lakshmi and Ganesha go on it. A kalash with water, a coin and a betel nut sits beside them.

3. Make your sankalp. Sit still for a moment and say what you're asking for. Health, peace, a steady year.

4. Start with Ganesha. A flower, a sweet.

5. Move to Lakshmi. Tilak, flowers, rice, fruit, sweets. Light the diya and chant.

6. Do the aarti. Slow circles with the lamp. Sing together, even if it's off-key.

7. Light the house. A diya at the door, one on each window, one near the tulsi.

8. Hand out prasad. Elders first.

Puja Samagri Checklist

Nothing kills the mood like hunting for the matchbox mid-puja. Keep these items ready before the muhurat starts, and adjust the list to your family’s custom.

Keep these ready

• Lakshmi and Ganesha idols or pictures

• Clean chowki, red or yellow cloth

• Diyas, cotton wicks, ghee or oil

• Roli, kumkum, haldi, rice

• Kalash, water, mango leaves

• Fresh flowers and a garland

• Fruit and sweets

• Incense and camphor

• Betel nut and a few coins

• A thali for the aarti

Getting the House Ready

A clean, calm house makes the puja easier. Here’s a simple timeline so nothing piles up on Diwali afternoon.

The Little Traditions

• Diyas wherever light can reach: the doorstep, window ledges, the balcony wall.

• Rangoli in coloured powder, rice flour or just flower petals. Crooked lines are fine.

• Sweets that depend on where you live. Ladoo in one home, gujiya in another, shankarpali in a third.

• Something new to wear. If the budget is tight, a freshly pressed kurta does the job.

• Visits and gifts. Dry fruits and mithai travel across the city in the next few days.

• Giving. Food, clothes or sweets for people who don't have much.

Diwali Around India

Same festival, many flavours. Here’s how different parts of India light up their Diwali.

Keep Diwali Safe

A few things worth doing

• Keep diyas away from curtains, dupattas, garlands and small hands.

• Never leave a lit lamp alone in a room.

• Clay diyas are a better pick than plastic ones. They break down naturally.

• Think about cutting down on crackers. Check your city's rules too, as some areas restrict them.

• Keep pets in a quiet room. Loud bangs scare them badly.

• Park a bucket of water near the puja area.

Diwali Dos and Don'ts

A few quick reminders to keep the festival safe, simple and stress-free.

Before You Light That First Diya

Diwali isn't a spending contest. It's a few days to clean up, sit with people you love, and say thank you out loud. This year the main night is Sunday, 8 November, with the Lakshmi Puja muhurat for New Delhi at 5:54 PM to 7:50 PM.

Sort your samagri a day early, check your own city's timing, and send this page to the cousin who asks you the date every single year. Got a Diwali recipe or song that only comes out once a year? Write it down this time. And if you'd like a quiet end to the evening, try a few rounds of Naam Jaap.

Want daily devotion on your phone? Try temple darshan, aarti and bhajan and Naam Jaap, or download the Mobile Mandir app from the App Store or Google Play.

From all of us at Mobile Mandir, Happy Diwali to you and your family.