2026 Diwali (Lakshmi Puja) · Mumbai

Diwali, the Hindu festival of lights, honours Goddess Lakshmi and the victory of light over darkness. In 2026 the main day, Lakshmi Puja, falls on Sunday, 8 November, on the new moon (Amavasya) of the lunar month Ashwin in the Amanta calendar, also called Kartik in the Purnimanta calendar.

When is Diwali in 2026, 2027 and 2028?

Diwali is set by the moon, not the solar calendar, so its date moves by up to three weeks each year. The deciding rule is simple: Lakshmi Puja is held on the evening when Amavasya is running during pradosh, the period just after sunset.

Dates are calculated for Mumbai (IST). Another city can occasionally land on a different day, and the puja window always moves with your local sunset, so use the calculator at the top of this page for your own location.

Significance and story

Diwali comes from the Sanskrit deepavali, "a row of lamps". On the darkest night of the month, families fill their homes, doorways and balconies with small clay lamps, and the effect is a whole town glowing against the night. The lamps stand for knowledge pushing away ignorance and hope pushing away hard times.

Rama comes home to Ayodhya

The best-known story comes from the Ramayana. After fourteen years in exile and the defeat of Ravana, Rama returned to Ayodhya with Sita and Lakshmana. The people of the city lit rows of lamps along the streets to guide them home, and Diwali keeps that welcome alive.

Lakshmi and the churning of the ocean

Another thread links Diwali to Lakshmi, the goddess of wealth and good fortune. In the Puranas she rose from the churning of the cosmic ocean (Samudra Manthan) and chose Vishnu as her consort. Many families believe she visits clean, well-lit homes on Diwali night, which is why the spring cleaning, fresh paint and rangoli all happen in the days before.

Krishna and Narakasura

In South India and parts of the west, the focus is Krishna's defeat of the demon Narakasura, who had imprisoned thousands of people. His fall is marked at dawn on Naraka Chaturdashi, which is why Deepavali in Tamil Nadu and Karnataka is often celebrated a day before North India's Lakshmi Puja.

Five days of celebration

Diwali is really a five-day festival. It opens with Dhanteras, when people buy metal utensils or gold. Next comes Naraka Chaturdashi (Chhoti Diwali), then Lakshmi Puja on Amavasya, then Govardhan Puja and Annakut, and it closes with Bhai Dooj, when sisters pray for their brothers.

How to do Lakshmi Puja on Diwali (vidhi)

The puja is done in the evening, during pradosh while Amavasya prevails. Many households prefer the part of that window that falls in Sthir Lagna (a "fixed" ascendant such as Taurus), believing it helps Lakshmi stay. Check the live times for your city above before you begin.

1. Clean the house thoroughly during the day and draw a rangoli at the entrance, often with small footprints leading inside to welcome Lakshmi.
2. Bathe, wear fresh or new clothes, and set up a low wooden platform (chowki) covered with a red or yellow cloth in the north-east of the room.
3. Place a kalash (a pot of water topped with mango leaves and a coconut) on a small heap of rice, with idols or pictures of Ganesha and Lakshmi beside it. Many families also add Saraswati and Kubera.
4. Light a ghee lamp, sprinkle a little water to purify the space, and take a sankalpa: say your name, family name and the purpose of the puja.
5. Worship Ganesha first with kumkum, rice, flowers and a sweet, since every puja begins with him.
6. Worship Lakshmi with water, kumkum, turmeric, rice, lotus or red flowers, incense, coins, new account books or valuables, and offerings of sweets, puffed rice (kheel) and batasha.
7. Recite a Lakshmi mantra or stotra such as the Shri Suktam, or simply chant "Om Shreem Mahalakshmyai Namah" with devotion.
8. Perform aarti for Ganesha and Lakshmi together, then share the prasad with everyone at home.
9. Light diyas throughout the house, at the doorstep, near water sources and on balconies. Many families keep one lamp burning through the night.

Regional variations

• North India: Lakshmi-Ganesha puja at dusk is the heart of the night, followed by lamps, sweets and visits to relatives. Ayodhya's riverbank lamp festival draws large crowds.
• Gujarat: Traders worship fresh account books in Chopda Pujan, and the day after Diwali is Bestu Varas, the Gujarati New Year.
• Maharashtra: The festival starts with Vasu Baras (cow worship) and includes Diwali Padwa, a day for husbands and wives, and Bhau Beej. Homes make faral, a tray of snacks such as chakli and karanji.
• West Bengal, Odisha and Assam: The new moon night is Kali Puja, when Goddess Kali is worshipped, often through the night, rather than Lakshmi.
• Tamil Nadu and Karnataka: Deepavali begins before dawn with an oil bath and new clothes, marking Narakasura's defeat. Firecrackers follow at first light.
• Jain and Sikh communities: Jains mark the nirvana of Lord Mahavira on this night, and Sikhs celebrate Bandi Chhor Divas, the release of Guru Hargobind from Gwalior Fort.

Frequently asked questions

Updated on 16 October 2026. Dates are calculated for Mumbai (IST); the calculator above gives timings for your city.