Day 1
Dhanteras
Friday, November 6, 2026
Buy gold, silver & new utensils. Worship Lord Dhanvantari & Kuber. Light the Yamraj diya.
Full Guide →
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Shubh Deepawali — November 8, 2026
Diwali Puja 2026
Complete Guide
Lakshmi Puja Vidhi · Muhurat · Mantras · Samagri
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Lakshmi Puja Muhurat: 6:53 PM – 8:16 PM IST, Nov 8
Dhanteras
Nov 6, Fri
Chhoti Diwali
Nov 7, Sat
Diwali
Nov 8, Sun
Govardhan
Nov 9, Mon
Bhai Dooj
Nov 10, Tue
Most Important
Lakshmi Puja Muhurat 2026
The most auspicious time to perform Lakshmi Puja on Diwali night
Pradosh Kaal — Main Muhurat
6:53 PM – 8:16 PM
Sunday, November 8, 2026 (IST)
Duration: 1 hour 23 minutes. This is the most auspicious time when Goddess Lakshmi visits homes that are lit, clean, and joyful.
Nishita Kaal
11:39 PM – 12:31 AM
Late night auspicious muhurat
Mahanishita Kaal
11:39 PM – 12:31 AM
For tantric puja only
Diwali 2026 Dates
Five Days of Deepawali
The festival of lights spans five joyous days, each with its own rituals and significance
Day 2
Naraka Chaturdashi
Saturday, November 7, 2026
Also known as Chhoti Diwali. Lord Krishna defeated demon Narakasura. Light diyas before sunrise.
Day 3 ⭐ MAIN
Diwali — Lakshmi Puja
Sunday, November 8, 2026
Muhurat: 6:53 PM – 8:16 PM IST
Perform Lakshmi Puja, light diyas, burst crackers, exchange sweets.
Day 4
Govardhan Puja
Monday, November 9, 2026
Worship Mount Govardhan and Lord Krishna. Annakut (mountain of food) offerings. Also Padwa / New Year in some regions.
Day 5
Bhai Dooj
Tuesday, November 10, 2026
Celebrate the bond between brothers and sisters. Sisters apply tilak and pray for their brothers' long life.
Complete Guide
Everything You Need for Diwali
Detailed guides for every aspect of the Diwali celebration
Lakshmi Puja Vidhi
Complete 16-step Shodashopachara puja procedure with mantras for each step. Traditional ritual for welcoming Goddess Lakshmi into your home.
Puja Muhurat 2026
Exact auspicious timings for all 5 festival days. Pradosh Kaal, Nishita Kaal, and regional muhurat variations explained.
Diwali Mantras
Complete Sanskrit mantras for Lakshmi Puja — Shri Suktam, Mahalakshmi Ashtakam, Ganesh mantra, Kuber mantra — with transliteration and meaning.
Puja Samagri List
Complete printable shopping list with all 50+ items needed for Diwali puja — organized by category with quantities.
Dhanteras Guide
What to buy, Yamraj diya ritual, Kuber puja, and Dhanteras 2026 muhurat. November 6, 2026.
Sacred Chants
Essential Diwali Mantras
Chant these powerful mantras during your Lakshmi Puja for blessings of prosperity
Ganesh Vandana
Begin every puja with Ganesh
Vakratunda Mahakaya
Suryakoti Samaprabha
Nirvighnam Kuru Me Deva
Sarva Karyeshu Sarvada
O Lord Ganesh, with a curved trunk and mighty body, radiant as a million suns — grant me an obstacle-free path in all my endeavours.
Full Mantras →Mahalakshmi Mantra
Primary mantra for wealth & prosperity
Om Shreem Hreem Shreem
Kamale Kamalalaye
Praseed Praseed
Om Shreem Hreem Shreem
Mahalakshmyai Namah
I bow to Maa Mahalakshmi, who dwells in the lotus, who grants prosperity, beauty, and abundance.
Full Mantras →Kuber Mantra
For business, wealth, and treasure
Om Yakshaya Kuberaya
Vaishravanaya
Dhanadhanyadhipataye
Dhanadhanyasamriddhim Me
Dehi Dapaya Svaha
O Kuber, Lord of Yakshas and Treasurer of the Gods — grant me wealth, grain, and abundance.
Full Mantras →
Diwali Guide
How to Celebrate Diwali 2026
A brief overview of the Diwali preparation and celebration
- Clean and Decorate (Days Before) Deep clean your entire home — Goddess Lakshmi visits only clean homes. Decorate with rangoli at the entrance, string lights (diyas or fairy lights), and flowers. Hang mango leaf torans on doorways.
- Buy Puja Samagri (Dhanteras Day — Nov 6) Purchase all puja items: Lakshmi and Ganesh idols or new coins, diyas, ghee, incense, flowers, and sweets. Also buy gold or silver for prosperity (Dhanteras tradition).
- Prepare the Altar (Diwali Morning — Nov 8) Set up your puja space with a red cloth. Place the Lakshmi and Ganesh idols on elevated platforms. Arrange coins, jewellery, account books (Diwali is the new year for businesses), and puja items.
- Perform Lakshmi Puja (6:53 PM – 8:16 PM) Follow the complete 16-step Shodashopachara vidhi. Light all diyas in the house. Perform the Lakshmi aarti with family. Chant the mantras. Distribute prasad.
- Light Diyas Throughout the Home Place diyas at every entrance, window, balcony, and rooftop. The lights guide Goddess Lakshmi to your home. Traditional clay diyas are most auspicious.
- Exchange Sweets and Gifts Visit family and neighbours with sweets (mithai) and dry fruits. Gift diyas, sweets, and home décor items to loved ones.
FAQs
Frequently Asked Questions
Everything you need to know about Diwali 2026
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Diwali 2026 falls on Sunday, November 8, 2026. The five-day festival runs from Dhanteras (November 6) through Bhai Dooj (November 10). Lakshmi Puja is performed on the main Diwali night of November 8.
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The most auspicious Lakshmi Puja muhurat for Diwali 2026 is 6:53 PM to 8:16 PM IST on November 8, 2026. This is the Pradosh Kaal period, lasting 1 hour 23 minutes. The alternative Nishita Kaal muhurat is 11:39 PM to 12:31 AM IST.
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Diwali celebrates several events: the return of Lord Rama to Ayodhya after 14 years of exile and defeating demon Ravana (the people lit diyas to welcome him), Lord Krishna's defeat of the demon Narakasura, the release of Goddess Lakshmi from demon captivity, and the new fiscal year in Hindu business tradition. It symbolizes the victory of light over darkness, knowledge over ignorance, and good over evil.
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The five days of Diwali 2026 are: Day 1 — Dhanteras (Nov 6, Friday): buy gold/silver, Kuber puja. Day 2 — Naraka Chaturdashi/Chhoti Diwali (Nov 7, Saturday): light diyas before sunrise. Day 3 — Diwali/Lakshmi Puja (Nov 8, Sunday): main puja night. Day 4 — Govardhan Puja/Padwa (Nov 9, Monday): worship of Mount Govardhan. Day 5 — Bhai Dooj (Nov 10, Tuesday): celebration of sibling bond.
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Essential Diwali puja samagri includes: Lakshmi and Ganesh idols, clay diyas (minimum 10-12), cotton wicks, pure cow ghee, incense sticks (agarbatti), camphor (kapoor), turmeric (haldi), kumkum (sindoor), unbroken rice (akshata), fresh flowers (lotus or marigold), panchamrit (milk, curd, ghee, honey, raw sugar), sandalwood paste, betel leaves and nuts, sweets, coins, and a red cloth. See our complete samagri list.
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For Lakshmi Puja, the worshipper should face east or north while the idol faces the worshipper (so the idol faces west or south). East is considered most auspicious as it is the direction of the rising sun. North is also auspicious as it is the direction of Kuber (God of Wealth). Avoid facing south during puja as it is associated with Yama (God of Death).
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Yes. The Pradosh Kaal muhurat (6:53 PM–8:16 PM) is the primary and most auspicious window. However, if you cannot complete puja during this time, the Nishita Kaal (11:39 PM–12:31 AM) is an equally powerful alternative, traditionally preferred by those following tantric traditions. The most important thing is devotion and sincere effort — Goddess Lakshmi blesses all pure-hearted worshippers regardless of slight timing variations.
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The most auspicious rangoli designs for Diwali are: Lotus flower (represents Goddess Lakshmi), Swastika symbol (symbol of good fortune), Diyas/lamps, Om symbol, Peacock (sacred bird of India), and geometric mandala patterns. Use vibrant colors — red, orange, yellow, white, and green. Place the main rangoli at the entrance and a smaller one near the puja altar. Using flowers (marigold petals, rose petals) adds extra sanctity.
The Festival
About Diwali — Festival of Lights
Deepawali — Victory of Light
Diwali (Deepawali) is the most celebrated Hindu festival, observed by over a billion people across India and worldwide. The word "Deepawali" means "row of lights" in Sanskrit — a reference to the clay diyas that illuminate homes, streets, and temples on this night.
The five-day festival celebrates the victory of light over darkness, knowledge over ignorance, and good over evil. On the main Diwali night (Amavasya — the new moon), Goddess Lakshmi, the deity of wealth and prosperity, is said to visit clean, lit, joyful homes and bless them with abundance.
Diwali also marks the Hindu new year for the Vikram Samvat calendar, making it an important time for new beginnings, settling accounts, and setting intentions for the year ahead.
Regional Traditions
North India: Celebrates Lord Ram's return to Ayodhya. Lakshmi-Ganesh puja is central. Firecrackers and sweets are a major part.
West India (Gujarat, Maharashtra): New Year begins on Diwali day. Business communities worship their account books (Chopda Puja). Dhantera has special importance.
South India: Focuses on Naraka Chaturdashi (Day 2). Early morning oil bath (abhyangasnan) before sunrise is the main ritual. Less emphasis on Lakshmi Puja.
East India (Bengal): Celebrates Kali Puja (worship of Goddess Kali) on Diwali night instead of Lakshmi Puja.
Worldwide: Indian diaspora celebrates with puja, diyas, rangoli, sweets, and cultural events in 150+ countries.