Festivals · 2026
Diwali 2026: Sunday, 8 November 2026
Diwali in 2026 falls on Sunday, 8 November 2026. Computed for Delhi (IST) from the drik-ganit panchang, by the rule: amavasya tithi prevailing at sunset (pradosh rule). Abhijit Muhurat runs 11:43 AM – 12:26 PM IST.
The date
Sunday, 8 November 2026
Abhijit Muhurat (shubh for all works) 11:43 AM – 12:26 PM IST
Pradosh Kaal (Lakshmi Puja) 5:30 PM – 7:54 PM IST
Rule: Amavasya tithi prevailing at sunset (pradosh rule)
Reference city: Delhi (IST)
Note from the computation: Classical rule: Amavasya tithi prevailing at sunset/pradosh (North-Indian Lakshmi Puja day). The engine table's 'Diwali (Deepavali)' row keys on Krishna Chaturdashi — see naraka-chaturdashi.
Shubh muhurat windows
The Lakshmi Puja muhurat is pradosh kaal — the roughly 2.5 hours after sunset while Amavasya prevails — listed above as the Pradosh Kaal window. The Abhijit Muhurat is the daytime shubh span; avoid Rahu Kaal for the puja sankalpa.
| Window | Time (IST) | City |
|---|---|---|
| Abhijit Muhurat (shubh for all works) | 11:43 AM – 12:26 PM | Delhi |
| Pradosh Kaal (Lakshmi Puja) | 5:30 PM – 7:54 PM | Delhi |
The Abhijit Muhurat is the midday window most digests treat as universally auspicious — Wednesdays excepted (what it is and why). Windows are computed for Delhi; your city's exact span shifts with local sunrise — check the city panchang or the Bela app.
What does Diwali celebrate?
Diwali (Deepavali), the Amavasya of Kartik, is the festival of lights: the night Rama returned to Ayodhya, the night Lakshmi is worshipped in every home and ledger, and the new-year night of the merchant community. Rows of lamps, Lakshmi-Ganesha puja in pradosh kaal, sweets and firecrackers mark it.
The story and significance of Diwali
Diwali is the darkest night made the brightest: Amavasya, moonless by definition, lit by a billion lamps. The classical rule fixes it by the Amavasya tithi prevailing at pradosh (sunset) — the window when Lakshmi is said to walk the earth.
The five-day arc runs Dhanteras, Naraka Chaturdashi, Diwali, Govardhan Puja and Bhai Dooj. For merchants it is the year's closing: chopda pujan — the worship of new account books — is done in the same evening window, and the new samvat opens the next day.
Diwali dates by year
| Year | Date | Day | Details |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 8 November 2026 | Sunday | This page |
| 2027 | 29 October 2027 | Friday | Diwali 2027 → |
Frequently asked questions
When is Diwali in 2026?
Diwali in 2026 falls on Sunday, 8 November 2026. The date is computed for Delhi from the rule: amavasya tithi prevailing at sunset (pradosh rule).
What does Diwali celebrate?
Diwali (Deepavali), the Amavasya of Kartik, is the festival of lights: the night Rama returned to Ayodhya, the night Lakshmi is worshipped in every home and ledger, and the new-year night of the merchant community. Rows of lamps, Lakshmi-Ganesha puja in pradosh kaal, sweets and firecrackers mark it.
What is the shubh muhurat on Diwali 2026?
The computed windows for 8 November 2026 (Delhi): Abhijit Muhurat — 11:43 AM to 12:26 PM IST; Pradosh Kaal — 5:30 PM to 7:54 PM IST. The Lakshmi Puja muhurat is pradosh kaal — the roughly 2.5 hours after sunset while Amavasya prevails — listed above as the Pradosh Kaal window. The Abhijit Muhurat is the daytime shubh span; avoid Rahu Kaal for the puja sankalpa.
Does the Diwali date change from city to city?
Yes, it can. Diwali is fixed by a tithi prevailing at a specific moment — sunrise, noon, sunset or midnight — and that moment is local. Moving west or east across longitudes can push the prevailing tithi across a civil-date boundary, so Mumbai, Kolkata or New York can observe a day apart from Delhi. Smarta and Vaishnava traditions also differ on some fasting days. The date above follows the popular North-Indian convention for Delhi; the Bela app recomputes for your exact location.
When is Diwali in 2027?
Diwali in 2027 falls on Friday, 29 October 2027. Full windows and notes are on the Diwali 2027 page, linked below.
Related
Every festival, computed the same honest way.
Exact dates, muhurat windows and the classical rule behind each one — for your own city, not just Delhi.
