Diwali 2026 spans five days of specific muhurats — Dhanteras (buying auspicious items), Naraka Chaturdashi (pre-Diwali cleansing), Lakshmi Puja (main Diwali night), Govardhan Puja (Vishnu-worship day), Bhai Dooj (sibling bond). Each has its own auspicious time window. This guide walks the five days' classical muhurat rules, what to do on each, and honest guidance for the specific 2026 dates.
Diwali 2026 dates overview
The five days of Diwali 2026 fall in early November:
- Dhanteras — Friday, Nov 6, 2026 (Kartik Krishna Trayodashi, which begins 10:31 AM IST — the day is fixed at pradosh, so sunrise that morning is still Dwadashi)
- Naraka Chaturdashi / Chhoti Diwali — Sunday, Nov 8, 2026 (Kartik Krishna Chaturdashi, which runs 10:48 AM IST on the 7th to 11:28 AM IST on Nov 8 — the abhyanga snan is fixed by the Chaturdashi prevailing pre-dawn)
- Lakshmi Puja / Diwali — Sunday, Nov 8, 2026 (Kartik Krishna Amavasya, the darkest night, which begins 11:28 AM IST — this day too is fixed at pradosh, so sunrise is still Chaturdashi)
- Govardhan Puja / Annakut — Tuesday, Nov 10, 2026 (Kartik Shukla Pratipada)
- Bhai Dooj — Wednesday, Nov 11, 2026 (Kartik Shukla Dwitiya)
The sequence skips the 7th and the 9th this year, and neither gap is a slip. Two observances share Nov 8: Chaturdashi holds through that morning's pre-dawn, which is what fixes the oil bath, and Amavasya arrives at 11:28 AM and stays through the evening, which is what fixes Lakshmi Puja. Amavasya then runs on into the 9th but ends at 12:32 PM, before pradosh opens, so the 9th carries nothing; and Shukla Pratipada does not reach a sunrise until Nov 10, which is where Govardhan Puja falls. Five observances, four dates, a six-day span.
If you were expecting Chhoti Diwali on the 7th, you are reading a different rule rather than a wrong one. This page follows the almanac convention that fixes Naraka Chaturdashi by the Chaturdashi tithi prevailing before dawn — and in 2026 that pre-dawn is Nov 8's, which is why the abhyanga snan sits beside Diwali here. Kali Chaudas, the western and Gujarati observance of the same stretch of the fortnight, is anchored instead to nishita kaal, the deep middle of the night, and that falls on the night of the 7th. So the colloquial "Chhoti Diwali" evening on the 7th and the almanac's Naraka Chaturdashi on Nov 8 are both being kept correctly, by two different anchors. Your family calendar may follow the other one; a regional panchang will tell you which.
Dates and tithi timings per Drik Panchang for New Delhi (IST), cross-checked against this site's own ephemeris. Tithi start and end times are single instants, but sunrise/sunset windows for pujas depend on your local geography — verify Pradosh Kaal + Nishita Kaal for your city.
1. Dhanteras — the buying muhurat
Dhanteras is the classical day for buying gold, silver, brass, utensils, vehicles, and property tokens. Muhurat rules:
- Best hours: pradosh kaal (evening, roughly 6-8 PM local time)
- Perform Dhanvantari puja for health, Lakshmi puja for wealth
- Light 13 diyas at doorstep
2. Naraka Chaturdashi — the cleansing muhurat
Pre-dawn oil bath (Abhyanga Snan) is the primary muhurat. Symbolic cleansing of past karma before Lakshmi's arrival. Light lamps at doorstep in evening (Yamadeepdaan). In 2026 this is the morning of Nov 8 — the same calendar day as the Lakshmi Puja below, which comes that evening.
3. Lakshmi Puja — the main Diwali muhurat
The primary Diwali night. Auspicious time windows:
- Pradosh Kaal Lakshmi Puja — evening, roughly 6-8 PM local time (most families follow this)
- Nishita Kaal Puja — midnight (traditional for tantric householders)
- Mahanishita Kaal Puja — deep night (for specialised sadhaks)
Business owners traditionally perform Chopda Pujan (worshipping the new account books) on this day.
Pradosh Kaal (roughly 6-8 PM) is derived from local sunset, not clock time. Cities 500 miles apart can differ by 15-25 minutes. Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, and Chennai all have different Pradosh windows on the same date. Look up your city's exact Pradosh Kaal via Drik Panchang or a local pandit — don't just use "6-8 PM" as the puja window for a major life-decision puja like Lakshmi Puja on Diwali.
4. Govardhan Puja — the food-offering muhurat
Annakut (mountain of food) offering to Krishna/Govardhan. Cook a variety of foods, arrange as a mountain, offer, then distribute as prasad. Morning muhurat is preferred.
5. Bhai Dooj — the sibling muhurat
Sisters apply tilak to brothers, brothers give gifts, they eat together. Muhurat is traditionally afternoon (Aparahnakaal). Symbolises the classical Yama-Yamuna sibling bond.
Personal factors during Diwali
- Check your current Sade Sati phase — Diwali is a good muhurat for Sade Sati mitigation (Shani-shanti)
- Check your Rahu Kaal on each of the 5 days — avoid these hours for major activities
- Business Chopda Pujan: choose the muhurat based on your business's start-time astrology when possible
Pradosh Kaal + Nishita Kaal windows are location-dependent (based on your local sunrise/sunset). Verify exact windows for your city via Drik Panchang or use our upcoming Muhurat Finder tool.
Reading Diwali muhurat honestly
The 5-day Diwali sequence is one of the most well-observed muhurat cycles in Hindu tradition. Follow the classical rules, do the pujas at the right hours, but don't stress about micro-precision. The intention + attention + community observance matter more than exact-to-the-minute timing.
Skanda Purana (Vaishnava Kartik Mahatmya), Padma Purana (Lakshmi Puja vidhi), Bhavishya Purana (5-day festival sequence). Pradosh/Nishita muhurat windows per Muhurtha Chintamani.
For a chart-specific interpretation grounded in your actual placements, generate your free Janma Kundli on Shubh Bhagya. For deeper practice, consult a qualified traditional astrologer or family priest.
