Diwali 2026: All Five Days, Dates and How Each State Celebrates

Diwali is not one day but a string of festivals, each with its own meaning, that together light up the darkest night of the month of Kartika. Across India the same days carry different names and different stories: in Ayodhya they celebrate the return of Lord Rama, in Chennai families wake before dawn for an oil bath, in Kolkata the night belongs to Goddess Kali, and in Ahmedabad the day after Diwali is New Year. This guide sets out the 2026 dates in one place and then travels state by state.

Diwali 2026 at a Glance

In 2026, Diwali and Lakshmi Puja fall on Sunday, 8 November. The festive period begins with Dhanteras on Friday, 6 November and ends with Bhai Dooj on Wednesday, 11 November, with Chhath Puja following in Bihar and the east. The timings below are for New Delhi in IST.

The Five Days in Detail

Dhanteras: Friday, 6 November

Trayodashi begins on 6 November at 10:31 am and ends on 7 November at 10:48 am, so Dhanteras is observed on the evening of Friday, 6 November. The day honours Dhanvantari, the physician of the gods, who is said to have emerged from the churning of the ocean with a pot of nectar. Families clean their homes, draw rangoli at the entrance, and buy something new, often utensils, silver or gold. In the evening many homes light a lamp facing south for Yama, known as Yama deepdaan, as a prayer for the long life of the family. Read more on our Dhanteras page.

Kali Chaudas and Naraka Chaturdashi: 7 and 8 November

Chaturdashi runs from 7 November, 10:48 am to 8 November, 11:28 am. Its night, Saturday 7 November, is observed as Kali Chaudas in Gujarat. Its dawn, on Sunday 8 November, is Naraka Chaturdashi, the day Lord Krishna, with Satyabhama, is said to have defeated the demon Narakasura. People wake before sunrise, apply oil and ubtan and take a ritual bath. In much of North India the Chaturdashi is also known as Roop Chaudas or Chhoti Diwali.

In 2026 there is an unusual overlap: the Naraka Chaturdashi morning and the Lakshmi Puja evening fall on the same day, Sunday 8 November. So families in the South will have their Deepavali bath at dawn on the same day that North Indian families perform Lakshmi Puja at dusk. Local Panchangs may differ slightly on how they name these days, so follow the calendar your family uses. See also our Naraka Chaturdashi page.

Diwali and Lakshmi Puja: Sunday, 8 November

Amavasya begins on 8 November at 11:28 am and ends on 9 November at 12:32 pm. Lakshmi Puja is done in pradosh kaal, the period just after sunset, when Amavasya is in force. In New Delhi, pradosh kaal on 8 November is from 5:31 pm to 7:55 pm. The exact muhurat differs by city, since it depends on local sunset. Families worship Lakshmi and Ganesha, often with Kubera, light rows of diyas, share sweets and visit relatives. Many traders worship their new account books. Read more on our Diwali page.

Monday, 9 November

Amavasya continues until 12:32 pm. In most places there is no main festival on this day, though some people observe a holy bath and charity (snan-daan) on the Amavasya morning.

Govardhan Puja and New Year: Tuesday, 10 November

On Kartika Shukla Pratipada, families in North India celebrate Govardhan Puja and Annakut, remembering how Lord Krishna lifted Govardhan hill to shelter the people of Braj. A small hill of cow dung or food is made and worshipped, and temples offer a "mountain" of many dishes to the deity. The same day is Bestu Varas, the Gujarati New Year, and Bali Pratipada or Diwali Padwa in Maharashtra and Karnataka. See our Govardhan Puja page.

Bhai Dooj: Wednesday, 11 November

On Bhai Dooj, sisters apply tilak to their brothers, perform aarti and pray for their well-being, and brothers give gifts in return. The day is linked to the story of Yamuna welcoming her brother Yama. It is called Bhau Beej in Maharashtra and Bhai Phonta in Bengal. Read more on our Bhai Dooj page.

How Each State Celebrates Diwali

North India: Uttar Pradesh, Delhi, Haryana and Beyond

In the North, Diwali is above all the celebration of Lord Rama's return to Ayodhya after fourteen years of exile and the defeat of Ravana. People light lamps to welcome him home, as the people of Ayodhya did. Ayodhya's Deepotsav, when lakhs of diyas are lit along the ghats of the Saryu, has become one of the most watched celebrations in the country. Homes are cleaned and painted, markets are full for weeks, and Lakshmi-Ganesha puja in the evening is followed by lamps, sweets and visits. In Braj, around Mathura and Vrindavan, Govardhan Puja and Annakut are especially important.

Gujarat

In Gujarat, Diwali marks the close of the year in the traditional Vikram Samvat calendar. Kali Chaudas is kept on Chaturdashi night, with prayers to Mahakali and Hanuman for protection. On Diwali, businesses perform Chopda Pujan, the worship of new account books. The next day, Bestu Varas (Tuesday, 10 November in 2026), is New Year: people wear new clothes, visit temples and greet each other with "Saal Mubarak" and "Nutan Varshabhinandan". Many businesses reopen a few days later on Labh Pancham.

Maharashtra

The Maharashtrian Diwali begins with Vasu Baras, when a cow and her calf are worshipped. On Naraka Chaturdashi, families take the Abhyanga Snan before dawn with fragrant oil and utane, and in many homes a bitter karit fruit is crushed underfoot as a symbol of defeating Narakasura. Homes fill with faral, the Diwali snacks such as chakli, karanji, shankarpali and ladoo, and children often build small clay forts. On Diwali Padwa, wives perform aarti for their husbands and receive gifts, and the festival ends with Bhau Beej.

Tamil Nadu and the South

In Tamil Nadu, and broadly in the South, Deepavali is celebrated at dawn on Naraka Chaturdashi, which in 2026 is Sunday, 8 November. The story at the centre is Lord Krishna's victory over Narakasura. Families wake very early for an oil bath, often called Ganga snanam, wear new clothes, burst crackers and share sweets. A herbal Deepavali marundhu (lehiyam) is eaten to help digestion through the day of feasting. For newly married couples, the first Deepavali, called Thalai Deepavali, is celebrated at the bride's parental home with gifts and new clothes. In Andhra Pradesh and Telangana, Satyabhama's role in the defeat of Narakasura is especially remembered.

Karnataka

In Karnataka, Naraka Chaturdashi begins with an oil bath, and Lakshmi Puja is done on Amavasya. The third day, Bali Padyami (Tuesday, 10 November), honours King Bali, the generous ruler whom Lord Vishnu as Vamana sent to the underworld and who is believed to visit his people on this day. In villages, figures of Bali are made at the doorstep, and cattle are decorated and worshipped.

Kerala

Diwali is relatively low-key in Kerala compared with Onam or Vishu. Where it is celebrated, the focus is mainly on Naraka Chaturdashi, with an early bath, lamps and crackers, and the festival is more prominent among Tamil, Konkani and North Indian communities in the state.

West Bengal, Assam and Odisha

In Bengal and Assam, the Amavasya night is dedicated to Kali Puja, and in 2026 it is the night of Sunday, 8 November. Goddess Kali is worshipped through the night in homes and in community pandals. The evening before is Bhoot Chaturdashi, when families light fourteen lamps to guide the ancestors and eat a dish of fourteen leafy greens, choddo shaak. Read more on our Kali Puja page.

In Odisha, families perform the ritual of Kaunriya Kathi on Diwali evening, lighting bundles of jute sticks and calling out to their ancestors, inviting them to come in the darkness and return to heaven in the light. Kali Puja is also widely celebrated in Odisha and in Tripura.

Goa

In Goa, the heart of the festival is Naraka Chaturdashi. In the days before, neighbourhoods build huge effigies of Narakasura, and before dawn on Naraka Chaturdashi they are paraded and burnt, celebrating the victory of good over evil. Many villages and towns hold effigy competitions.

Punjab

In Punjab, Diwali coincides with Bandi Chhor Divas, the Sikh celebration of Guru Hargobind Sahib's release from Gwalior Fort along with 52 rulers who were held there. The Golden Temple in Amritsar is lit with thousands of lamps and lights, and the evening ends with fireworks. Hindu families in Punjab also celebrate Lakshmi Puja on the same night.

Other Faiths

• Jains observe Diwali as the day of Lord Mahavira's nirvana at Pavapuri. Lamps are lit as a symbol of the light of knowledge, and for many Jains the new year begins the following day.
• Sikhs celebrate Bandi Chhor Divas, the "day of liberation", with prayers, langar and illumination at gurdwaras.

Chhath Puja After Diwali

Six days after Diwali, Bihar, Jharkhand and eastern Uttar Pradesh celebrate Chhath Puja, the worship of the Sun and Chhathi Maiya. It is one of the most disciplined observances in the Hindu calendar.

Read more on our Chhath Puja page.

Safety and Eco-friendly Tips

• Keep diyas and candles away from curtains, dupattas, paper decorations and anywhere children can knock them over.
• Wear cotton clothes while lighting lamps and crackers, and keep a bucket of water or sand nearby.
• Pets, birds, elderly people, infants and anyone with breathing problems can be badly affected by loud crackers and smoke. Keep pets indoors in a quiet room and keep windows closed when the air is smoky.
• Rules on crackers, including green crackers and permitted hours, differ from city to city. Check your local administration's guidelines before buying.
• Choose clay diyas, natural colours for rangoli and flowers or reusable decorations, and share sweets in reusable boxes where you can.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why is Diwali on 8 November in 2026?

Lakshmi Puja is performed on the Kartika Amavasya when the new moon is in force during pradosh kaal, the time just after sunset. In 2026, Amavasya begins at 11:28 am on 8 November and ends at 12:32 pm on 9 November, so only the evening of 8 November has Amavasya at dusk.

Why do South Indians celebrate Deepavali on a different day from North Indians?

In the South, Deepavali is centred on Naraka Chaturdashi and celebrated at dawn, while in the North the focus is Lakshmi Puja on Amavasya evening. Usually they fall on consecutive days. In 2026 both happen on Sunday, 8 November, one at dawn and one at dusk.

What is the Lakshmi Puja muhurat for my city?

Lakshmi Puja is done in pradosh kaal, which begins at local sunset. In New Delhi it is 5:31 pm to 7:55 pm on 8 November. Because sunset changes with location, the window shifts in each city, so check your local timing.

When is Kali Puja in 2026?

Kali Puja is performed at midnight on Amavasya. In 2026 that is the night of Sunday, 8 November.

Tithi timings, sunset and pradosh kaal all shift a little from one city to another. You can check the Diwali timings for your own city in the Vedagya app or on our daily Panchang, and plan the five days with your family at an easy pace.