Diwali 2026: Date, Lakshmi Puja Muhurat and the Full Five-Day Guide
Diwali 2026 lands on Sunday, 8 November, right in the middle of a two-day weekend this year — which honestly makes the planning a little easier than usual. It's the night of Kartik Amavasya, when Goddess Lakshmi is believed to visit homes that are clean, lit, and open to her. If you'd rather have someone experienced lead the Lakshmi Puja than look up mantras on your phone at 6 PM, Book a Pandit on Prayfullit and we'll match you with someone for your city.
Here's everything you need: the exact muhurat, why that window is chosen the way it is, the full five-day spread from Dhanteras to Bhai Dooj, and the puja steps in order.
Diwali 2026 at a Glance
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Festival | Diwali / Deepavali |
| Date | Sunday, 8 November 2026 |
| Tithi | Kartik Amavasya |
| Lakshmi Puja Muhurat (Delhi) | approx. 5:47 PM – 7:13 PM |
| Pradosh Kaal (Delhi) | approx. 5:25 PM – 8:02 PM |
| Vrishabha (Taurus) Lagna | falls inside the Pradosh window — considered ideal for wealth rituals |
| Amavasya Tithi Ends | approx. 9:47 PM, 8 November |
City muhurat times shift by 15–45 minutes depending on your local sunset — Kolkata's window opens earliest in the evening, Mumbai's latest. Pull the exact figure for your city from Drik Panchang before this goes live; the table above is a Delhi reference point, not a universal one.
Why This Particular Evening Window?
This is the part most Diwali articles skip, and it's worth explaining because it actually answers the "why this time and not another" question people search for.
Lakshmi Puja isn't scheduled by clock time alone — it needs two things to line up. First, Amavasya tithi has to be active. Second, that has to overlap with Pradosh Kaal, the roughly two-hour stretch right after sunset. Where those two windows intersect is the muhurat. Some years also see a Sthira Lagna (a "fixed" ascendant, usually Taurus or Leo) fall inside that overlap, which is treated as extra favourable for wealth-related worship because "fixed" signs are associated with things staying put — in this case, prosperity staying in the house.
The Legend Behind Lakshmi Puja
The story ties back to the churning of the ocean, Samudra Manthan. Goddess Lakshmi is said to have emerged from the ocean of milk on Dhanteras and, two days later on Diwali night, chosen Lord Vishnu as her consort. That's the reasoning families give for why this particular night — not any other night of the year — is treated as her most receptive hour for a visit.
The Full Five-Day Diwali 2026 Calendar
| Day | Date (2026) | Festival | What It Marks |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 6 November (Fri) | Dhanteras | Buying gold/silver, Dhanvantari worship |
| 2 | 7 November (Sat) | Naraka Chaturdashi (Choti Diwali) | Early morning oil bath, ends Narakasura's tyranny |
| 3 | 8 November (Sun) | Diwali / Lakshmi Puja | Main night — Lakshmi and Ganesh worship |
| 4 | 9 November (Mon) | Govardhan Puja | Krishna lifting Govardhan hill; Annakut offering |
| 5 | 10 November (Tue) | Bhai Dooj | Brother-sister bond, tilak ceremony |
Regional variation matters here — some parts of North India merge Choti Diwali and the main Lakshmi Puja onto one evening depending on how the tithi falls locally, and Govardhan Puja timing can shift by a day in a few states. Check this sequence against Drik Panchang for whichever city you're publishing for.
Diwali Puja Vidhi, Step by Step
- Clean and light the home well before sunset — Lakshmi is said to enter the cleanest, brightest home first, so this isn't just tidying, it's part of the ritual.
- Set up the altar with Lakshmi and Ganesh idols side by side, plus a small silver or brass coin if you have one.
- Light the main diya right as Pradosh Kaal begins, then the rest of the diyas around the home and entrance.
- Offer flowers, sweets and akshat (rice) to both deities, and place the day's earnings or new purchases near the altar to be "blessed."
- Recite the Lakshmi aarti, followed by the Ganesh aarti.
- For business owners: this is also when Chopda Pujan happens — new account books are opened and worshipped, marking the start of the financial year in several trading communities.
- Close the evening with fireworks or diyas outside, and sweets shared with neighbours.
Book a Pandit for Diwali 2026 with Prayfullit
If you'd rather not manage mantras, timing and setup on your own, Prayfullit can arrange a pandit for:
- Lakshmi-Ganesh Puja at home
- Chopda Pujan for shops and businesses
- Combined Dhanteras-to-Diwali puja packages
Book Your Pandit for Diwali or Talk to Our Team — slots go fast the closer it gets to the date.
Closing Thought
Eight days from Dhanteras to Bhai Dooj, and the whole thing hinges on one evening — 8 November — when Amavasya, Pradosh Kaal and (this year) a fixed lagna all line up. Book Your Pandit on Prayfullit if you want that evening handled by someone who's done it before, or browse our Diwali puja essentials to put together everything yourself.
