Diwali 2026 Complete Guide: 6–10 November, Lakshmi Puja Muhurat, Rangoli & City-Wise Celebrations
Diwali is the biggest and brightest festival of the year — a celebration of light over darkness and good over evil. In 2026 the five-day festival runs from 6 November (Dhanteras) to 10 November (Bhai Dooj), with the main Diwali and Lakshmi Puja on Sunday, 8 November.
This guide is more than dates — it covers the Lakshmi Puja muhurat and vidhi, rangoli and diya decoration, Diwali sweets, eco-friendly tips, and how Diwali is celebrated in cities like Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, Bengaluru and Chennai — all in one place.
Diwali 2026: the full five-day calendar (6–10 November)
Diwali is not a single-day festival — it spans five days, each with its own puja and tradition:
- Dhanteras — 6 November 2026 (Fri): Dhanvantari and Kubera puja, buying utensils/gold-silver is auspicious, Yam Deepam in the evening
- Chhoti Diwali / Naraka Chaturdashi — 7 November 2026 (Sat): abhyang snan, decorating the house and preparing diyas
- Main Diwali / Lakshmi Puja — 8 November 2026 (Sun): Lakshmi-Ganesh puja, diyas, rangoli and sweets
- Govardhan Puja / Annakut — 9 November 2026 (Mon): worship of Govardhan hill and food offerings
- Bhai Dooj / Yama Dwitiya — 10 November 2026 (Tue): the festival of brothers and sisters, tilak and gifts
Lakshmi-Ganesh Puja 2026: muhurat and vidhi
The main Diwali is on Sunday, 8 November 2026. Pradosh kaal — the period after sunset — is the most auspicious time for Lakshmi Puja. This depends on each city's sunset, so check your city's exact muhurat with our Muhurat Finder and avoid starting during rahukaal.
The vidhi in short: clean the home and puja area, draw a rangoli and light ghee diyas. Set up the kalash and begin with Ganesha, then offer flowers, akshat, sweets and a coin to Lakshmi ji. Recite the Lakshmi Suktam/aarti, distribute prasad, and keep doors and windows open late into the night to welcome Lakshmi.
Why Diwali is celebrated — the regional legends
In North India, Diwali marks Lord Rama's return to Ayodhya after 14 years of exile — the people lit ghee diyas to welcome him. In South India it celebrates Lord Krishna slaying the demon Narakasura (Naraka Chaturdashi).
In western India and Gujarat it is tied to the arrival of Goddess Lakshmi and the new year (Bestu Varas), while in Bengal the Diwali new-moon night is Kali Puja. Every legend shares one meaning: the victory of light over darkness.
Rangoli, diyas and decoration ideas
Rangoli is the signature of Diwali — a lotus, diya or peacock rangoli at the main door is seen as a welcome to Goddess Lakshmi. A flower rangoli (marigold and rose petals) is a beautiful, eco-friendly alternative to coloured powders.
Ghee or oil diyas are the most auspicious; place them at the main door, tulsi, windows and along the roofline. Mixing clay diyas with LED string lights gives both a traditional and a modern look.
City-wise Diwali 2026 — muhurat and celebrations
The pradosh-kaal Lakshmi Puja muhurat shifts slightly by each city's sunset. Below is a rough guide and each city's flavour — always check the Muhurat Finder for the exact time:
- Delhi-NCR: pradosh kaal from around 5:40 pm; grand lighting at Connaught Place and markets, green-cracker rules in force.
- Mumbai: sunset is later, so the muhurat is ~30–40 minutes after Delhi; Marwari-Gujarati chopda puja and new-year preparations.
- Kolkata: the Diwali night here is Kali Puja — pandals, Dipanwita and the baji (firecracker) bazaar give it a distinct colour.
- Bengaluru & Chennai: in the south, Naraka Chaturdashi is the main day, with the pre-dawn oil-bath (abhyang snan) tradition.
- Hyderabad: Lakshmi Puja alongside Dhanteras shopping and large fireworks markets.
- Ahmedabad-Surat: the day after Diwali is Bestu Varas (Gujarati new year), with chopda puja as the biggest event.
- Jaipur: its market light decorations are famous nationwide — the Johari Bazaar deepotsav is a sight to see.
- Pune: Lakshmi Puja with the faral (Diwali snacks) and akash kandil (sky lantern) tradition.
Diwali sweets and dishes
Homes fill with sweets and namkeen at Diwali — besan ladoo, kaju katli, motichoor ladoo, gujiya, chakli, mathri and shakarpare are the most popular. Maharashtra has its faral, the south its murukku, and Gujarat its mathia-chorafali.
For fasting or lighter fare, dry fruits and jaggery-based sweets are a good option. Sharing sweets with neighbours and relatives is the real meaning of Diwali's sweetness.
Tips for a safe, eco-friendly Diwali
- Choose green crackers and burst them only within the permitted hours; keep children under adult supervision.
- Use clay diyas and flower rangoli — kinder to the environment and a help to local artisans.
- Keep a bucket of water nearby, wear cotton clothing, and pour cool water immediately on any burn.
- Be mindful of the elderly, the sick and pets — avoid loud crackers.
- Check the wiring of string lights and put out all diyas and candles before going to sleep.
Diwali shopping and samagri
The full Lakshmi-Ganesh puja samagri — kalash, mango/ashoka leaves, kumkum-haldi-akshat, ghee diyas, dhoop-camphor, lotus/marigold flowers, sweets, a coin and a puja thali — is listed with quantities and prices in our Diwali puja samagri list and Lakshmi puja samagri list. For Dhanteras, see the Dhanvantari puja samagri list.
Estimate the whole festival budget with the budget calculator. You can also read our samagri-focused Diwali Lakshmi Puja samagri guide.
Frequently Asked Questions
When is Diwali 2026?
The five-day Diwali 2026 festival runs from 6 November (Dhanteras) to 10 November (Bhai Dooj). The main Diwali and Lakshmi Puja is on Sunday, 8 November 2026.
When is the Lakshmi Puja 2026 muhurat?
Lakshmi Puja is most auspicious in the pradosh kaal (after sunset) on the evening of 8 November 2026. The time depends on each city's sunset — check your city's exact muhurat with the Muhurat Finder.
When is Dhanteras 2026?
Dhanteras is on Friday, 6 November 2026. It is traditional to do Dhanvantari puja and buy utensils, gold-silver or something new on this day.
Is the Diwali puja muhurat the same in every city?
No — pradosh kaal is based on sunset, so the muhurat differs by a few minutes across Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, Bengaluru and Chennai. Check your city with the Muhurat Finder.
When is Bhai Dooj 2026?
Bhai Dooj (Yama Dwitiya) is on Tuesday, 10 November 2026 — sisters apply a tilak and pray for their brothers' long life.
How can I celebrate an eco-friendly Diwali?
Choose green crackers or a cracker-free Diwali, use clay diyas and flower rangoli, and decorate with lamps rather than electric lights — better for the environment and for local artisans.
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