Diwali 2026 Date: When Is Diwali, Lakshmi Puja & 5-Day Calendar Explained
Published October 10, 2026 · Updated October 10, 2026 · By EventBuzz Team
Diwali, the Festival of Lights, is the brightest week of the year for millions of families: homes washed and decorated, rows of oil lamps glowing at dusk, sweets exchanged between neighbours, and fireworks stitched across the sky. If you are planning celebrations, travel or time off, this guide gives you the Diwali 2026 date, the complete five-day calendar, and a simple explanation of Lakshmi Puja so you can join in with confidence.
The Diwali 2026 Five-Day Calendar
Diwali is not a single day but a five-day arc, each with its own meaning. Here is the 2026 calendar at a glance:
- Day 1, Dhanteras — Friday, November 6, 2026: The festival opens with prayers for health and prosperity. Families traditionally buy something new for the home, often gold, silver or steel utensils. Our full Dhanteras 2026 guide covers the day in depth.
- Day 2, Naraka Chaturdashi (Choti Diwali) — Saturday, November 7, 2026: The "small Diwali". Homes are deep-cleaned, early diyas are lit, and families prepare sweets and decorations for the main night.
- Day 3, Diwali and Lakshmi Puja — Sunday, November 8, 2026: The main event. Lakshmi Puja is performed in the evening, houses blaze with diyas and lights, gifts and sweets are exchanged, and fireworks light the sky.
- Day 4, Govardhan Puja — Monday, November 9, 2026: A day of gratitude and feasting, marked by food offerings and, in many regions, the start of a new financial or business year.
- Day 5, Bhai Dooj — Tuesday, November 10, 2026: The festival closes by celebrating the bond between brothers and sisters, with sisters praying for their brothers' wellbeing over a shared meal.
Because Diwali follows the Hindu lunar calendar, the exact start and end times (tithi) of each observance shift by location. The dates above are the widely used calendar dates for 2026; check your local temple notice or family panchang for precise puja windows in your city.
What Is Lakshmi Puja?
Lakshmi Puja, performed on the main Diwali evening, honours Goddess Lakshmi, the deity of prosperity, fortune and wellbeing, alongside Lord Ganesha, who is worshipped first as the remover of obstacles. Families clean and decorate a puja space, place idols or images on a clean cloth, and offer flowers, sweets, fruits, coins and lit diyas. Doors and windows are opened and lamps are placed at entrances, on balconies and along pathways to welcome prosperity into the home. In simple terms: the cleaning, lighting and decorating you see everywhere at Diwali are not just festive, they are the point — the home is made bright and welcoming for blessings to enter.
Why Is Diwali Celebrated?
Diwali carries several beloved stories. In the Ramayana tradition, it marks the return of Lord Rama to Ayodhya after fourteen years of exile and his victory over Ravana; the city is said to have welcomed him with rows of lamps, which is why diyas line homes today. Other traditions honour Goddess Lakshmi's emergence and blessings, Lord Krishna's victory over the demon Narakasura (remembered on Choti Diwali), and, in Jain and Sikh traditions, their own sacred milestones on the same night. Across all of them, the shared thread is the same: light over darkness, good over evil, and hope renewed at the start of a new cycle.
How Diwali Is Celebrated Today
Modern Diwali blends devotion with pure joy. In the days before, homes get a deep clean and a fresh coat of paint, entrances gain rangoli art (see our Rangoli Designs for Diwali guide), and kitchens fill with mithai. On the main evening, families dress in new clothes, perform Lakshmi Puja, light diyas and candles everywhere, exchange gifts and sweet boxes, and step outside for sparklers and fireworks. Businesses open new account books, friends host card parties and dinners, and entire streets glow in one continuous festival of light. If you are decorating this year, our Diwali Decoration Ideas at Home guide keeps it simple and beautiful.
Key Diwali 2026 Dates to Save
- Dhanteras: Friday, November 6, 2026
- Choti Diwali (Naraka Chaturdashi): Saturday, November 7, 2026
- Diwali and Lakshmi Puja: Sunday, November 8, 2026
- Govardhan Puja: Monday, November 9, 2026
- Bhai Dooj: Tuesday, November 10, 2026
Ready to greet everyone? Send warm wishes from our Happy Diwali Wishes 2026 hub, or find lines in Hindi in the Diwali Wishes in Hindi collection.
Frequently Asked Questions
When is Diwali in 2026?
Diwali 2026 falls on Sunday, November 8, 2026. The five-day festival begins with Dhanteras on Friday, November 6 and ends with Bhai Dooj on Tuesday, November 10, 2026.
On which day is Lakshmi Puja in 2026?
Lakshmi Puja is performed on the main Diwali day, Sunday, November 8, 2026, in the evening. Exact auspicious timings (muhurat) vary by city, so confirm the window with your local temple or family calendar.
What are the five days of Diwali?
In order: Dhanteras, Naraka Chaturdashi (Choti Diwali), Diwali with Lakshmi Puja, Govardhan Puja, and Bhai Dooj. Each day has its own focus, from prosperity and preparation to gratitude and the sibling bond.
Why do people light diyas at Diwali?
Diyas symbolise light driving out darkness and ignorance. Traditionally they welcomed Lord Rama home to Ayodhya and today they invite prosperity and positivity into the home during Lakshmi Puja.
Is Diwali a public holiday?
Diwali is a major public holiday in India and is officially recognised in several other countries with large Hindu, Jain, Sikh and Nepali communities. Many businesses elsewhere close early or mark it informally; check your local calendar for 2026 observances.
Conclusion
Save the date: Diwali lights up Sunday, November 8, 2026, in the middle of a five-day celebration from Friday, November 6 to Tuesday, November 10. Clean a corner, line up your diyas, and explore the rest of our Diwali series below to plan every day of the festival.
Happy Diwali 2026 — may your home be bright all year.
Diwali Celebration Picks
Diyas, lights and decorations to brighten your Diwali 2026.
Prices shown at the time of publishing and can change. Links take you to AliExpress, where shipping and delivery details are shown.