West Bengal
Kali Puja night is also a sweet-shop night: sandesh, rosogolla and mishti doi for the family, and more for Bhai Phonta a few days later.
A sweeter Deepawali 2026
Diwali is on Sunday 8 November. Here's what every corner of India puts in the mithai box, and when to make it.
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.
Eight states, eight sweet boxes
Gujarat
Diwali ends the year and Bestu Varas (Tue 10 Nov) starts the next, so the faral tin is full: mohanthal, ghughra and more.
Rajasthan
Ghee-rich classics such as mawa kachori, churma laddoo and besan chakki travel well as Diwali gifts.
Maharashtra
The Diwali faral platter: karanji, chakli, shankarpali, besan laddoo and anarse, made at home days ahead.
Tamil Nadu
Deepavali starts with the early oil bath, then new clothes, mysore pak, adhirasam and murukku.
Andhra Pradesh
Ariselu and kajjikayalu are the festival favourites in Andhra homes.
Karnataka
Holige (obbattu) and Mysore pak are the classic Deepavali sweets, with Bali Padyami on the day after Amavasya.
Bihar
Thekua and anarsa begin to appear for Diwali and carry on to Chhath, which follows a few days later.
A sweet for each of the five days
6 NovFridayDhanteras
Dhanteras: buy the dry fruits and silver; start the laddoos.
7 NovSaturdayChoti Diwali
Choti Diwali: finish frying the namkeen; pack gift boxes.
8 NovSundayDiwali
Diwali: kheel–batashe, laddoo and barfi on the puja thali.
10 NovTuesdayGovardhan Puja
Govardhan: the Annakut, a hill of food offered and shared.
11 NovWednesdayBhai Dooj
Bhai Dooj: the sister feeds her brother his favourite sweet.
Annakut, the mountain of food
On Govardhan Puja, Tuesday 10 November 2026 (9 November in some calendars and outside India), kitchens cook dozens of dishes and heap them into a hill for Krishna, remembering how he lifted Govardhan to shelter the people of Braj. Temples serve the Annakut to everyone who comes, and homes share it with neighbours.
Gifting sweets well
Gifts for family
Think about the person, not the price: a puja set for parents, a small personalised piece of jewellery for a sibling, a warm blanket for grandparents, or something handcrafted and a box of local delicacies. The thought behind it is what is remembered.
Gifts for employees and clients
Corporate Diwali gifting is a thank-you. Hampers of mithai, dry fruits and artisanal snacks remain the favourite; branded stationery, a good pen, useful tech, eco-friendly products, wellness kits, home décor, vouchers and engraved mementos all work. Small businesses can add festive offers or limited editions for customers.
Buy local, and share
Choosing local potters, florists, sweet-makers and craftspeople keeps the money in your own neighbourhood. Set aside a share of the festival budget for people who need it: sweets, clothes or diyas for families who cannot buy them.
Order boxes before Dhanteras: sweet shops are busiest on 6–8 November. Ask for dry-fruit or baked options for anyone travelling, and label boxes with ingredients for guests who avoid nuts or dairy.
When to set the thali
| 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.
Lay a clean cloth on a plate and arrange a diya, incense, flowers, fruit, dry fruits and sweets. Laddoos, barfi and kheer are the usual offerings, and the same sweets go round to family and neighbours afterwards.
All the dates
| 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. |
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.
From the mithai counter
Sweet wishes to send
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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