At a glance
- Main Indian Diwali holiday: Sunday, 8 November 2026.
- Use a named calendar for the surrounding observances.
- Confirm puja timing for your city and tradition.
Diwali 2026 falls on Sunday, 8 November in India. The IIRS–ISRO holiday calendar confirms the civil holiday. A holiday date tells you when an institution observes the occasion; it does not provide a city-specific Lakshmi Puja muhurat.
The festival dates need a named calendar
Different calendars can assign neighbouring observances differently. This matters particularly for Naraka Chaturdashi, Govardhan Puja and the New Year celebrations after Diwali. The table below reports the named sources as they stand, so you can see where a local check is useful.
| Occasion | 2026 date in the cited source | What to check locally |
|---|---|---|
| Dhanteras | Friday, 6 November : BAPS calendar | Your household’s prayer time and regional practice. |
| Naraka Chaturdashi / South Indian Deepavali | Sunday, 8 November : IMD Rashtriya Panchanga | Early-morning observance and the relevant local tithi. |
| Diwali and Kali Puja | Sunday, 8 November : IMD calendar | The tradition and location for an evening or night ritual. |
| Govardhan / Bali Puja | Monday, 9 November : IMD calendar | Your community’s observance; Annakut programmes may use another day. |
| Kartika Sukladi / Gujarati New Year | Tuesday, 10 November : IMD; Bestu Varas and Annakut on 10 November in BAPS calendar | The local New Year and temple programme. |
| Bhai Dooj / Bhai Beej | Wednesday, 11 November : IMD and BAPS calendars | Family arrangements and any preferred ritual window. |
Sources: IMD Rashtriya Panchanga and BAPS calendar. BAPS lists Kali Chaudash on 7 November; that is another reason not to merge every regional name into one fixed date.
Why five festival days can span more than five dates
A tithi is a lunar-calendar division rather than a fixed midnight-to-midnight civil day. A religious observance may depend on which tithi is present at sunrise, in the evening or during another relevant period. The familiar sequence from Dhanteras to Bhai Dooj describes related occasions; it does not require every family to hold one event on each of five consecutive Gregorian dates.
The five-days guide explains the meaning of each part without making every regional custom follow the same schedule. Maharashtra, Gujarat, Bengal, southern India and communities abroad bring their own emphasis to the season.
How to check a puja muhurat
- Select the location where the ritual will happen. Use the correct city and country, rather than the location of a relative or the website publisher.
- Confirm the year and the named observance. Dhanteras, Lakshmi Puja and Kali Puja do not automatically use the same window.
- Read the time zone and date carefully. A late-night window can cross midnight; a time copied without its date loses essential context.
- Ask the temple or family priest whose tradition you follow. This is especially useful when two calendars use different conventions.
- Plan preparation around the confirmed window. Finish food, seating and offerings beforehand so the prayer itself remains unhurried.
Planning a celebration outside India
Use a calendar calculated for your location. A temple may also schedule a public gathering on a practical weekend even when household worship follows another date. For example, the BAPS Los Angeles programme lists Annakut and New Year on 9 November. It is a local programme, not a replacement for every other calendar.
Keep the dates separate in your plans
Record the religious observance, the family gathering and any public event as separate diary entries. Add the location and the organiser’s link to each. Before travelling, recheck the event’s current status: a festival date cannot guarantee that a particular performance, market or fireworks display will take place.
Frequently asked questions
Is Diwali on 8 or 9 November in 2026?
The main Indian Diwali holiday is Sunday, 8 November 2026. Neighbouring festival observances and overseas community programmes can fall on different dates; check the named occasion and location.
Is there one Lakshmi Puja time for everyone?
No. Ritual timing depends on location and the calendar convention followed. Use a current local panchang or the temple guiding your observance.
Why is Annakut listed on different dates?
Annakut can appear in a religious calendar or in a particular temple’s event programme. Those are different kinds of schedules, and local conventions also matter.
Sources & further reading
- IIRS/ISRO Holiday Calendar of the Year 2026 ↗
- Rashtriya Panchanga: Principal Festivals and Anniversaries, 2026–2027 ↗
- BAPS: 2026 festival calendar ↗
- BAPS Los Angeles Diwali Festival of Lights 2026 ↗
Calendar and event information checked 5 November 2026. Recheck local arrangements before attending.