TL;DR: Diwali 2026 falls on Sunday, 8 November 2026. The Lakshmi Puja Shubh Muhurat is approximately 6:29 PM to 8:29 PM IST. The full five-day festival runs from Dhanteras (6 Nov) to Bhai Dooj (11 Nov), with no eclipse anywhere near this year's dates. This guide gives the exact dates for all five days, the muhurat, the puja vidhi, and the Lakshmi mantra.
Diwali 2026 — quick answer
Main Diwali date: Sunday, 8 November 2026 (Kartik Amavasya).
Lakshmi Puja Muhurat: ~6:29 PM – 8:29 PM IST (Pradosh Kaal).
Festival span: Friday, 6 Nov – Wednesday, 11 Nov 2026.
Eclipse this year: None near Diwali — nothing to plan around.
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Save your streak → install AstroJapWhen is Diwali 2026?
Diwali — the Festival of Lights — is celebrated on Kartik Amavasya, the new moon of the Kartik month, when Goddess Lakshmi is invited into a well-lit, freshly cleaned home. In 2026 this falls on Sunday, 8 November. Like other tithi-based festivals, the date is the same across India regardless of regional calendar variations.
Lakshmi Puja Shubh Muhurat
The most widely followed muhurat for Lakshmi Puja on 8 November 2026 is the evening Pradosh Kaal window, approximately 6:29 PM to 8:29 PM IST. Some traditions — particularly traders performing Chopda Pujan (worship of new account books) — prefer the later Nishita Kaal (midnight) muhurat instead. Both are valid; pick the one your family tradition follows, and confirm exact minute-level timing with a city-specific panchang since it shifts slightly with local sunset time.
The 5 days of Diwali 2026
| Day | Date (2026) | Significance |
|---|---|---|
| Dhanteras | Friday, 6 Nov | Buying gold/utensils; worship of Dhanvantari and Kubera. |
| Naraka Chaturdashi / Choti Diwali | Saturday, 7 Nov | Early oil bath; small diyas lit to mark Krishna's defeat of Narakasura. |
| Lakshmi Puja (main Diwali) | Sunday, 8 Nov | Main puja night — Lakshmi and Ganesh worship, diyas, fireworks. |
| Govardhan Puja | Monday, 9 Nov | Worship of Govardhan Hill; Annakut food offering. |
| Bhai Dooj | Wednesday, 11 Nov | Sibling festival — sisters pray for brothers' long life, akin to Raksha Bandhan. |
Is there a grahan (eclipse) around Diwali 2026?
No. 2026 has two solar eclipses (17 February and 12 August) and two lunar eclipses (3 March and 28 August) — all of them months away from November. There is no eclipse, and therefore no Sutak Kaal, anywhere near Diwali 2026. Every muhurat across the five days stands exactly as calculated, with nothing to work around.
Lakshmi Puja vidhi, step by step
- Clean the home thoroughly before sunset — Lakshmi is said to avoid unclean, dark homes.
- Set up the altar with idols or images of Lakshmi and Ganesh together — Ganesh is always worshipped alongside Lakshmi to remove obstacles first.
- Light diyas throughout the home, especially at entrances and windows, to invite Lakshmi in.
- Offer kumkum, rice, flowers, and sweets to the idols; place coins or a small amount of cash near the altar to represent wealth.
- Chant the Lakshmi mantra 108 times (below), followed by aarti with the whole family present.
- Keep diyas lit through the night where possible — an unbroken light is considered to hold Lakshmi's presence in the home.
Mantra to chant during Lakshmi Puja
ॐ श्रीं महालक्ष्म्यै नमः
Om Shreem Mahalakshmiyei Namah
Meaning: "Salutations to the great Goddess Lakshmi." "Shreem" is Lakshmi's beej (seed) sound for wealth and abundance. Chant 108 times during the puja, ideally on a lotus-seed (Kamal Gatta) mala.
For the complete 3-step Diwali routine — Ganesh to remove obstacles, Lakshmi to attract wealth, Kubera to retain it — see the mantras for money, wealth and prosperity guide.
Complete your 108 Lakshmi jap without losing count
AstroJap counts every Om Shreem Mahalakshmiyei Namah of your Diwali sankalpa
Set your Diwali sankalpa once — AstroJap's digital 108-bead mala tracks the count across all five days, keeps your streak, and recommends the right wealth mantra for your own Kundli.
Install AstroJap free →Frequently asked questions
What is the exact date of Diwali 2026?
Diwali 2026 — the main Lakshmi Puja day — falls on Sunday, 8 November 2026, on the night of Kartik Amavasya (new moon).
What is the Lakshmi Puja shubh muhurat time for Diwali 2026?
The primary Lakshmi Puja Muhurat on 8 November 2026 is approximately 6:29 PM to 8:29 PM IST, covering the Pradosh Kaal (dusk) window most families use. Exact minute-level timing varies by city, so check a local panchang if your family also wants the Nishita Kaal (midnight) muhurat, which some traditions and business owners prefer for the main puja.
What are the 5 days of Diwali 2026 and their dates?
The five-day festival runs from Friday, 6 November to Wednesday, 11 November 2026: Dhanteras (6 Nov), Naraka Chaturdashi / Choti Diwali (7 Nov), Lakshmi Puja / main Diwali (8 Nov), Govardhan Puja (9 Nov), and Bhai Dooj (11 Nov). Bhai Dooj lands two civil days after Diwali rather than one because of how the Dwitiya tithi falls this year — always confirm with your local panchang if your family observes it a day earlier.
Is there a grahan (eclipse) around Diwali 2026?
No. The two solar eclipses of 2026 fall on 17 February and 12 August, and the two lunar eclipses fall on 3 March and 28 August — none of them are anywhere near 8 November. Diwali 2026 has no eclipse or Sutak Kaal to plan around; the Lakshmi Puja muhurat stands exactly as calculated.
Which mantra should be chanted during Lakshmi Puja?
The primary mantra is the Lakshmi beej mantra "Om Shreem Mahalakshmiyei Namah," chanted 108 times during the puja. Many families pair it with the Ganesh mantra "Om Gan Ganapataye Namah" first (to remove obstacles) and the Kubera mantra afterward (to help retain the wealth invoked) — see the AstroJap guide to money and wealth mantras for the full 3-step routine.
Can Lakshmi Puja be done at night instead of the evening Pradosh window?
Yes — many households, especially business owners doing Chopda Pujan (account-book worship), prefer the Nishita Kaal (midnight) muhurat over the evening Pradosh window. Both are considered valid; the evening Pradosh Kaal window (approximately 6:29–8:29 PM) is the more commonly followed choice for home puja. Check your local panchang for the exact Nishita Kaal timing in your city if you plan to do puja at midnight instead.
