Diwali 2026 Date: November 10 — Full Panchang, Dhanteras, Lakshmi Puja & Bhai Dooj
Diwali 2026 complete guide: the five-day festival calendar, Lakshmi puja muhurat, Dhanteras auspicious timings and what the Diwali date means in Vedic astrology.
Diwali 2026: five-day festival calendar
Diwali is not just one day but a five-day festival of lights, starting with Dhanteras and ending with Bhai Dooj. In 2026, the festival runs from November 8 to November 12.
| Day | Date 2026 | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Dhanteras (Dhanvantari Trayodashi) | November 8, 2026 (Sun) | Auspicious day to buy gold, silver, vehicles, new items; Yama Deepam at dusk; Lakshmi Puja |
| Chhoti Diwali (Narak Chaturdashi) | November 9, 2026 (Mon) | Roop Chaturdashi; early-morning oil bath; fireworks in the evening; Lord Krishna killed Narakasura |
| Diwali (Kartik Amavasya) | November 10, 2026 (Tue) | Main Diwali; Lakshmi-Ganesha puja at pradosh kaal (dusk); lighting of diyas and fireworks; accounts-closing day (Chopda Puja in Gujarat) |
| Govardhan Puja (Padwa) | November 11, 2026 (Wed) | Annakut; offerings of food to Govardhan hill; Vikram Samvat new year in some traditions; Balipratipada in Maharashtra |
| Bhai Dooj (Yama Dwitiya) | November 12, 2026 (Thu) | Sisters invite brothers for meals and apply tilak; Yama is worshipped for long life of brothers |
Dates are based on the Kartik Amavasya tithi for Vikram Samvat 2083. Exact puja muhurat times vary by city. The Diwali and Dhanteras timing can shift by a day in some panchang traditions.
Diwali Lakshmi puja 2026: when and how
The most important element of Diwali is the Lakshmi-Ganesha puja performed on the evening of November 10, 2026. The classical window is Pradosh Kaal (the twilight period starting at sunset), when Goddess Lakshmi is said to visit homes that are clean, lit with lamps, and prepared for her arrival.
| Muhurat window | Approx. timing | Significance |
|---|---|---|
| Pradosh Kaal | Just after sunset, November 10 | The main Lakshmi Puja window on Diwali evening; lasts 1-2 hours |
| Sthir Lagna | Varies by city | When Taurus or Scorpio ascendant rises, a stable lagna for inviting Lakshmi to stay in the home |
| Nishita Kaal | Midnight window, November 10-11 | Tantric tradition worships Kali on Diwali night during Nishita Kaal |
To find the exact Pradosh Kaal and Sthir Lagna for your city on November 10, 2026, consult your local panchang or ask a Vyom Vaani astrologer to calculate it from your coordinates.
Diwali 2026 in Vedic astrology: Kartik Amavasya
Diwali falls on Kartik Amavasya, the new moon (darkest night) of the Hindu month of Kartik. In Jyotish, Amavasya is when the Moon is closest to the Sun, making it a powerful time for introspective practices, ancestor worship (Pitru Tarpan), and lighting lamps to dispel darkness. Kartik is considered one of the holiest months in the Hindu calendar.
From a Vedic perspective, Diwali marks the period when Lord Rama returned to Ayodhya after 14 years of exile and defeating Ravana. In 2026, Jupiter is in Cancer (exalted), which is a particularly auspicious position for festivals of prosperity, family and abundance. Diwali puja performed during Jupiter's exaltation period is traditionally considered very favorable for attracting lasting Lakshmi (prosperity).
Dhanteras 2026: auspicious buying day
Dhanteras (Dhanvantari Trayodashi) on November 8, 2026 is considered the most auspicious day of the year to purchase gold, silver, new utensils, electronics, or vehicles. The name comes from "Dhan" (wealth) and "Teras" (thirteenth day). Buying something new on Dhanteras is believed to multiply prosperity throughout the year. Dhanteras 2026 falls on a Sunday, making it a convenient shopping day. The evening puja (Yama Deepam) involves lighting a lamp facing south to protect family members from untimely death.
Frequently asked questions
Diwali 2026 date kya hai? (2026 mein Diwali kab hai?)
2026 mein Diwali November 10, 2026 (Mangalvaar) ko hai. Yeh Kartik Amavasya (Kartik maas ki amavas) ke din manai jaati hai. Is saal ka Diwali Panchang: Dhanteras November 8, Chhoti Diwali November 9, Diwali November 10, Govardhan Puja November 11, Bhai Dooj November 12.
When is Diwali 2026 date in India?
Diwali 2026 falls on November 10, 2026 (Tuesday). This is Kartik Amavasya, the new moon of the Hindu month of Kartik. The five-day Diwali festival runs from Dhanteras (November 8) through Bhai Dooj (November 12). Lakshmi-Ganesha puja is performed in the pradosh kaal (dusk to about 1.5 hours after sunset) on November 10.
Dhanteras 2026 date: when is Dhanteras?
Dhanteras 2026 is on November 8, 2026 (Sunday), two days before Diwali. Dhanteras is considered the most auspicious day of the year to buy gold, silver, jewellery, or new utensils. It is also called Dhanvantari Trayodashi and Yama Deepam. A lamp is lit at dusk facing south on Dhanteras evening to ward off early death.
Diwali puja 2026 muhurat: what is the best time for Lakshmi puja?
Diwali Lakshmi puja is performed in the pradosh kaal: starting from sunset on November 10, 2026, and lasting about 1.5 to 2 hours. The exact window in your city depends on your local sunset time. Within this window, an astrologer can identify the Sthir Lagna (stable ascendant, usually Taurus or Scorpio), which is the most auspicious moment for the puja. For a personalized muhurat, a Vyom Vaani astrologer can calculate it from your city's panchang.
Why does Diwali date change every year?
Diwali always falls on Kartik Amavasya, the new moon (amavas) in the Hindu month of Kartik. Because the Hindu calendar is lunar-solar, the corresponding Gregorian date shifts by about 11 days each year, though intercalary months keep it in the October-November range. Recent Diwali dates: 2024 (November 1), 2025 (October 21), 2026 (November 10). It does not fall on the same Gregorian date each year.
Diwali 2026 mein Lakshmi puja kab aur kaise karein?
Diwali 2026 mein Lakshmi puja November 10, 2026 ko shaam ko Pradosh Kaal mein karni chahiye, jo sunset ke baad shuru hota hai aur lagbhag 1.5-2 ghante tak rehta hai. Puja ka saman: Lakshmi-Ganesha ki murti ya photo, diya, roli, chawal, phool, mithai, kamal ke phool ya lotus seeds, kaudia aur sweets. Ghar ko saaf karein, diye jalayein, aur puja ghar mein Lakshmi ka aahvaan karein. Chopda Puja (accounts-ledger opening) bhi isi din hoti hai, khas kar Gujarat aur Rajasthan mein.
Govardhan Puja 2026 kab hai?
Govardhan Puja 2026 November 11, 2026 (Budhvaar) ko hai, ek din baad Diwali ke. Is din Annakut (bhojan ke pahad) ke roop mein bade prasad chadhaye jaate hain aur Govardhan parvat (Krishna ne jise apni ungli par uthaya tha) ki puja hoti hai. Gujarat mein ise Naya Saal (Vikram Samvat 2083) bhi maante hain.
Want the exact Lakshmi puja muhurat for your city on Diwali 2026 (November 10)? A Vyom Vaani astrologer can calculate Pradosh Kaal and Sthir Lagna from your local panchang on WhatsApp.
What is the significance of Govardhan Puja on the day after Diwali?
Govardhan Puja falls on Kartik Shukla Pratipada, November 11, 2026, the day after Diwali. It commemorates Lord Krishna lifting the Govardhan hill to shelter the Braj community from Indra's rain. Devotees create a small mound of cow dung representing the hill and offer 56 varieties of food (Chhappan Bhog). The day is also celebrated as Annakut (mountain of food) in temples, especially prominent in Mathura, Vrindavan, and Nathdwara.
What is the difference between Choti Diwali and Badi Diwali?
Choti Diwali (also called Naraka Chaturdashi or Roop Chaudas) falls on the 14th lunar day, November 9, 2026. It commemorates Lord Krishna's victory over the demon Narakasura. Badi Diwali, the main festival on Amavasya, November 10, 2026, is when Lakshmi Puja is performed and the main fireworks happen. Both involve lighting diyas, but the scale, ritual, and mythology differ: Choti Diwali marks a victory; Badi Diwali welcomes the goddess of wealth.