Diwali 2026: Date, Lakshmi Puja Muhurat and 5-Day Calendar

Diwali, the festival of lights, falls on the Amavasya (new moon) of the lunar month Ashwin in the amanta calendar, which is Kartika in the purnimanta calendar used in North India. Homes are cleaned, lamps are lit at dusk, and Goddess Lakshmi is worshipped along with Lord Ganesha and Kubera for prosperity in the coming year. For traders it traditionally marks the start of new account books (Chopda Pujan, or Sharda Puja in Gujarat).

Lakshmi Puja is performed in the evening Pradosh kaal, the first three of the fifteen night muhurtas after sunset, while Amavasya prevails. Within Pradosh, the part in which the fixed (sthir) Vrishabha lagna rises is the most preferred, because a fixed lagna is believed to make Lakshmi stay in the home; this page calculates that window for each city. Families who worship Goddess Kali or follow tantric practice also use Mahanishita kaal, the muhurta around midnight.

• Lord Rama returned to Ayodhya on this new moon after defeating Ravana, and the city lit lamps to welcome him
• Goddess Lakshmi emerged from the churning of the ocean, and she is believed to visit clean, well-lit homes on this night
• In Bengal, Odisha and Assam the same night is Kali Puja
• Jains mark the nirvana of Lord Mahavira, and Sikhs celebrate Bandi Chhor Divas

Vrishabha (Taurus) is a fixed (sthir) sign. Tradition holds that worship done in a fixed lagna makes the goddess remain in the home, so the overlap of Pradosh kaal and Vrishabha lagna is treated as the best time for Lakshmi Puja. Simha (Leo), also a fixed sign, usually rises around midnight and is used in Nishita kaal puja.

• North India: Lakshmi Puja in Pradosh, lamps and Ramlila traditions recalling Rama's return
• Gujarat: Chopda Pujan of new account books on Diwali, and the Gujarati New Year (Bestu Varas) the next lunar day
• Maharashtra: Lakshmi Puja, followed by Padwa (Bali Pratipada) for married couples
• Bengal, Odisha and Assam: Kali Puja on the night of Amavasya
• South India: Deepavali is celebrated on the morning of Naraka Chaturdashi with an oil bath, new clothes and crackers
• Nepal: Tihar, with Lakshmi Puja on the same Amavasya

Mahanishita kaal is the muhurta around local midnight on Diwali night. It is used for Kali Puja and for tantric and mantra sadhana. For household Lakshmi Puja, the Pradosh and Vrishabha lagna window in the evening is the usual choice.

Previous: Naraka Chaturdashi (Choti Diwali)Next: Govardhan Puja

Amavasya runs from 11:32 am, 8 Nov to 12:33 pm, 9 Nov (Indian Standard Time).

Each city's muhurat is calculated from its own sunrise, sunset, tithi and rising lagna (Lahiri ayanamsa). Lagna windows usually agree with printed panchangs to within a few minutes; tithi times are approximate, usually within about 30 minutes. Cities outside India show their local date and time. For a havan or a family-specific muhurat, confirm with your purohit.

Many families, especially in Gujarat and Rajasthan, choose the puja or shopping time on Diwali from the Choghadiya. Amrit, Shubh and Labh are the good periods; for Lakshmi puja, Labh, Amrit and Shubh in the evening are traditionally preferred.