Diwali 2026 — Date, Muhurat, Lakshmi Puja Timings

Diwali, the festival of lights, is celebrated by Hindus worldwide to mark the return of Lord Rama to Ayodhya after 14 years of exile. It's also celebrated as the day Goddess Lakshmi was born from the churning of the ocean (Samudra Manthan). On this day, homes are cleaned, decorated with diyas (oil lamps), and Lakshmi Puja is performed to invoke prosperity for the coming year.

The most auspicious time for Lakshmi Puja on Diwali 2026 is during Pradosh Kaal — the period just after sunset. For most Indian cities this falls between 6:30 PM and 8:00 PM local time, but exact timings vary by city. Use our panchang tool below to see the precise Pradosh Kaal, Amavasya tithi timings, and Nishita Kaal for your city.

Three muhurats are traditionally considered for Lakshmi Puja on Diwali: Pradosh Kaal (after sunset, most widely followed), Amavasya Tithi (the lunar day itself, regardless of time), and Nishita Kaal (the midnight moment, primarily for Tantric practitioners). For most families, Pradosh Kaal is the right choice.

Diwali 2026 falls on Amavasya (new moon) of Kartik month. The five-day Diwali celebration starts with Dhanteras on November 6, 2026 (Friday), followed by Choti Diwali (Nov 7), Diwali proper (Nov 8), Govardhan Puja (Nov 9), and Bhai Dooj (Nov 10).