Flame
Set diyas on a tray or metal plate, away from curtains, dupattas and children's reach. Keep a bucket of water or sand near the door, and never leave a puja diya alone in a closed room.
Deepawali (Diwali) 2026 falls on Sunday 8 November 2026. Lakshmi Puja muhurat in New Delhi is 5:54 PM to 7:50 PM IST. The five days run from Dhanteras on 6 November to Bhai Dooj on 11 November, with Govardhan Puja on 10 November, and Dev Deepawali in Varanasi follows on 24 November. It is the first Diwali since UNESCO inscribed Deepavali as intangible cultural heritage in December 2025.
Two kinds of night
In a village the light is low and warm: rows of clay diyas along a wall, a lamp at the well, one in the cattle shed, one at the shrine. Each is filled, wicked and lit by hand, and by midnight most have burned down. The darkness of Amavasya is still there between them, which is the point.
In the city the light is continuous. Strings of LEDs climb balconies and fall down the faces of buildings; programmable strips cycle colours; shop fronts compete. It is easy to be sniffy about it, but the impulse is the same one: to make the house findable and welcoming on the darkest night of Kartik, so Lakshmi, and everyone else, can find the way in.
Most homes now do both: clay diyas for the puja and the doorstep, electric lights for the façade. That is a sensible split. Real flame belongs where someone is watching it; LEDs can stay on through the night for the akhand jyoti feeling without the risk.
On 10 December 2025 UNESCO inscribed Deepavali on its Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity, at the committee's twentieth session held at the Red Fort in New Delhi. It is India's sixteenth element on the list, recorded under social practices, rituals and festive events.
The light markets
From mid-October whole streets turn into walls of bulbs, and Chandni Chowk in Delhi is the most famous of them. Buy early, test every string in the shop, and look for local makers of clay diyas alongside.
Light it safely
Wiring
Check old strings for cracked insulation before you hang them, don't chain too many on one socket, and use outdoor-rated lights outside. Switch everything off when you go to sleep, or use a timer.
Clothes
Sarees, kurta-pyjamas and lehengas in bright, traditional colours are the Diwali uniform. For the puja and around diyas, cotton and silk are safer than loose synthetics.
Fireworks
Follow the rules your city sets for 2026, which can include limits on hours or types; watch from a distance and keep pets indoors.
When to switch them on
| City | Muhurat |
|---|---|
| New Delhi | 5:54 PM – 7:50 PM |
| Jaipur | 6:03 PM – 7:59 PM |
| Chennai | 6:07 PM – 8:09 PM |
| Pune | 6:24 PM – 8:24 PM |
Source: Drik Panchang (Pradosh Kaal with Vrishabha Kaal). Delhi Pradosh Kaal is 5:31–8:09 PM; the Mahanishita Kaal window for night puja is 11:39 PM to 12:31 AM.
| Date | Observance | What to know |
|---|---|---|
| DhanterasDhantrayodashi, Yama Deepam | Lakshmi–Kuber puja 6:02–7:57 PM IST (New Delhi). Trayodashi runs from 10:30 AM on 6 Nov to about 10:47 AM on 7 Nov. | |
| Choti DiwaliNaraka Chaturdashi, Kali Chaudas, Hanuman Puja | Some panchangs place the Naraka Chaturdashi oil bath on the morning of 8 Nov; follow your family calendar. | |
| Diwali : Lakshmi PujaKali Puja in Bengal, Sharda Puja in Gujarat | Lakshmi–Ganesh puja 5:54–7:50 PM IST in New Delhi, inside Pradosh Kaal 5:31–8:09 PM. | |
| Govardhan PujaAnnakut, Bali Pratipada, Gujarati New Year | Drik Panchang lists 10 Nov for most Indian cities; some calendars and places outside India keep it on 9 Nov. | |
| Bhai DoojBhai Phonta, Bhau Beej, Bhai Tika | Kartik Shukla Dwitiya. The tilak is traditionally done in the afternoon (aparahna). | |
| Dev Deepawali, VaranasiKartik Purnima | Fifteen days after Diwali the ghats of Kashi are lined with lamps. A few listings give 25 Nov; Drik Panchang and most guides give 24 Nov. |
The gallery
Diwali wishes from our readers
As the festival of lights brightens our homes and hearts, may this Diwali bring endless joy, prosperity and happiness to you and your loved ones. May the light of the diyas remove the darkness in your life and light your path with peace, wisdom and success.
May Goddess Lakshmi bless your home with wealth, health and happiness, and may Lord Ganesha remove every obstacle from your path. Let's remember what Diwali teaches us: light over darkness, knowledge over ignorance, and hope over despair.
May the days ahead be as colourful as the rangoli on your doorstep, as sweet as the laddoos shared with friends and family, and as radiant as the lights in the sky. Wishing you and your loved ones a Diwali full of love, light and peace.
Happy Deepawali 2026! May Lakshmi ji walk in through an open door, and may every diya you light on 8 November keep glowing all year.
शुभ दीपावली! आपके घर में सुख, समृद्धि और ढेर सारी रोशनी आए।
This year the whole world recognises the festival we grew up with. Wishing you a bright, safe and sweet Diwali 2026.
From Dhanteras to Bhai Dooj, may all five days bring you good health, good company and very good mithai.
Deepawali 2026: questions people ask
When is Diwali in 2026?
The main day of Diwali, the night of Lakshmi Puja, is Sunday 8 November 2026, on Kartik Amavasya. The festival opens with Dhanteras on Friday 6 November and closes with Bhai Dooj on Wednesday 11 November.
What is the Lakshmi Puja muhurat for Diwali 2026?
Drik Panchang gives 5:54 PM to 7:50 PM IST for New Delhi on 8 November, the Vrishabha Kaal inside Pradosh Kaal (5:31 PM to 8:09 PM). Jaipur is 6:03 to 7:59 PM, Chennai 6:07 to 8:09 PM and Pune 6:24 to 8:24 PM. Check a panchang for your own city.
Is Diwali 2026 on 8 or 9 November?
8 November. Amavasya also touches the sunrise of 9 November, but Lakshmi Puja is done in the evening, and the Amavasya that covers the evening puja window falls on the 8th.
When is Govardhan Puja in 2026?
Drik Panchang lists Tuesday 10 November for most Indian cities, because Pratipada only reaches sunrise on the 10th. Some calendars, some cities and most of the western hemisphere keep it on Monday 9 November.
When is Bhai Dooj in 2026?
Wednesday 11 November 2026, on Kartik Shukla Dwitiya.
When is Dev Deepawali 2026 in Varanasi?
Tuesday 24 November 2026, on Kartik Purnima, fifteen days after Diwali. A few listings give 25 November, so confirm locally before booking a boat.
Is Diwali a UNESCO heritage?
Yes. Deepavali was inscribed on UNESCO's Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity on 10 December 2025, making Diwali 2026 the first since that recognition.
Is Diwali on the same day in the USA and India in 2026?
Yes, the Lakshmi Puja night is Sunday 8 November in both, though the muhurat follows local sunset. The days around it can differ, so use a panchang set to your city.
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