Festival Guide · Kartik Amavasya

Diwali 2026: Date, Lakshmi Puja Muhurat and Puja Vidhi

Diwali (Deepavali) 2026 falls on Sunday, 8 November 2026. Amavasya prevails through the evening Pradosh Kaal that day, so Lakshmi Puja is performed on the evening of 8 November. Timings below are computed from real Sun and Moon positions for New Delhi.

Key timings (New Delhi, IST)

Diwali / Lakshmi Puja	Sunday, 8 November 2026
Amavasya tithi	8 Nov, 11:28 AM → 9 Nov, 12:31 PM
Sunset (New Delhi)	5:31 PM
Pradosh Kaal (best Lakshmi Puja window)	≈ 5:31 PM – 7:55 PM
Naraka Chaturdashi / Choti Diwali	Sunday, 8 November 2026 (morning)
Govardhan Puja	Tuesday, 10 November 2026

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Why Diwali is on 8 November 2026

Diwali is celebrated on the Amavasya (new-moon) of the lunar month Kartik (Ashwin in the purnimanta system). The rule for Lakshmi Puja is that Amavasya must be present in the evening, in the Pradosh Kaal after sunset. In 2026 Amavasya begins at 11:28 AM on 8 November and ends at 12:31 PM on 9 November, so it covers the whole evening of 8 November and none of the evening of 9 November. That makes 8 November the Diwali night without any ambiguity.

Lakshmi Puja muhurat

The preferred time for Lakshmi-Ganesh Puja is the Pradosh Kaal, the period of roughly two hours and twenty-four minutes after sunset. In New Delhi that is about 5:31 PM to 7:55 PM. Many families also choose a Sthir Lagna (fixed ascendant) such as Vrishabha within this window. Your exact lagna timings depend on your city, so use the Churki app or the Panchang page for your location.

Nishita Kaal (the middle of the night) is also traditional for Tantric and Kali worship, but home Lakshmi Puja is normally done in Pradosh.

Choti Diwali (Naraka Chaturdashi) 2026

Chaturdashi runs from 10:48 AM on 7 November to 11:28 AM on 8 November. Because it is present at moonrise (about 5:36 AM) on 8 November, Naraka Chaturdashi and the Abhyanga Snan (ritual oil bath) fall on the morning of 8 November, between moonrise and sunrise (about 5:36 AM – 6:38 AM in New Delhi). The same day then continues into Diwali night.

Lakshmi Puja vidhi (step by step)

Clean the house and decorate the entrance with rangoli and diyas.
Place a clean cloth on a raised platform and set the idols or pictures of Lakshmi and Ganesh, with a kalash of water, a coconut and mango leaves.
Light a ghee lamp and take the sankalp (resolve) to worship with devotion.
Worship Ganesh first, then offer Lakshmi flowers (lotus is preferred), roli, rice, sweets and fruit.
Recite the Lakshmi Ashtottara or Shri Suktam and perform the aarti.
Light diyas in every room, at the doorstep and in the courtyard.

What changes by city

Tithi start and end times are the same everywhere in the world, but sunset, and therefore the Pradosh window, shifts by city. Cities in the east see an earlier sunset and cities in the west a later one. Always use your own city's sunset. Traditions also differ; where two calendars disagree, follow your family pandit.

Frequently asked questions

When is Diwali in 2026?

Diwali (Lakshmi Puja) is on Sunday, 8 November 2026.

What is the Lakshmi Puja muhurat on Diwali 2026?

In New Delhi the Pradosh Kaal window is about 5:31 PM to 7:55 PM on 8 November 2026. Timings vary by city.

When is Choti Diwali 2026?

Choti Diwali (Naraka Chaturdashi) is on the morning of 8 November 2026, the same calendar day as Diwali.

When is Govardhan Puja in 2026?

Govardhan Puja is on Tuesday, 10 November 2026.

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More festival guides

Times are for New Delhi in Indian Standard Time and computed from real Sun and Moon positions (Lahiri ayanamsha). Other cities differ in sunrise, sunset and moonrise; traditions differ too, so confirm puja timing with your local pandit.