🪔 Festivals
Diwali 2026: Dates, Five-Day Schedule and Lakshmi Puja Planning
A clear Diwali 2026 schedule: Dhanteras on 6 November, Diwali and Lakshmi Puja on 8 November, Govardhan Puja on 10 November, and Bhai Dooj on 11 November.
Diwali and Lakshmi Puja are on Sunday, 8 November 2026 in an India-based 2026 panchang listing. The Diwali period is not one identical ritual everywhere: its sequence, names, and puja timing vary by region and household. The following schedule is a useful starting point.
Diwali 2026 five-day schedule
| Date | Day / observance | Common focus |
|---|---|---|
| 6 November, Friday | Dhanteras | Cleaning, preparing the home, and in many families buying useful household or devotional items. |
| 7 November, Saturday | Kali Chaudas / Narak Chaturdashi observances | Regional traditions differ; some observe the main Narak Chaturdashi rituals on 8 November. |
| 8 November, Sunday | Diwali / Lakshmi Puja | Lamps, prayer, family gathering, and renewal. |
| 10 November, Tuesday | Govardhan Puja | Krishna traditions and offerings, with regional forms. |
| 11 November, Wednesday | Bhai Dooj | A sibling-focused family observance. |
The dates were checked against Drik Panchang’s India 2026 festival calendar. In particular, muhurat is local: do not use a puja time calculated for another city.
A simple Lakshmi Puja plan
Clean the puja space, arrange a lamp, water, flowers, and any customary offering, and use a short prayer with attention rather than trying to reproduce an elaborate ceremony from memory. If your household has a priest, temple, or established family method, follow that. The Diwali Lakshmi Puja guide offers a fuller home-puja framework.
The Diwali story and significance explains why the festival carries several connected stories and meanings. For Lakshmi devotion beyond the festival, see powerful Lakshmi mantras.
Important regional differences
In some regions, the day called Narak Chaturdashi, the new-year observance, Govardhan Puja, or Bali Pratipada may be emphasized differently. The Diwali amavasya date is widely shared, but the precise Lakshmi Puja window depends on local sunset and pradosh conditions. Confirm with the panchang used in your city or by your temple.
Frequently asked questions
What day is Diwali in 2026?
Diwali is Sunday, 8 November 2026 in this India-based calendar.
When is Dhanteras in 2026?
Dhanteras is Friday, 6 November 2026.
When is Bhai Dooj in 2026?
Bhai Dooj is Wednesday, 11 November 2026 in this calendar. Local panchang practice should be checked for ceremony timing.
See the autumn Hindu festivals 2026 guide and the complete Hindu festival calendar 2026 for the surrounding festival season.