5 Days of Diwali 2026: Dates, Times & Deities for Each
Diwali is not one day. It is five, and each one has its own date, its own puja, and its own deity waiting at the door. Dhanteras opens the five days with Lakshmi and Kubera. Naraka Chaturdashi follows with an early morning bath and a prayer to Krishna. Then comes the night everyone waits for, Lakshmi Puja, followed by Govardhan Puja for Krishna's hillock, and finally Bhai Dooj, which closes the five days with a tilak and no deity at all.
Calendars do not always agree on these dates. One site will tell you Lakshmi Puja falls on one night, another will move it a day either way. That confusion comes from the tithi, the lunar day that decides when each puja window opens and closes. Miss that window and the ritual loses its timing, even if your intent is right.
Below, each of the five days is laid out in order: the date, the puja time, and what it asks of you before you light a single diya.
TL;DR
- Lakshmi Puja, the day that matters most for most households, falls on Sunday, November 8, 2026, not November 9 as several calendars print.
- Dhanteras opens the five days on November 6, with its evening puja honoring Lakshmi, Kubera, and Dhanvantari together.
- Govardhan Puja is the date calendars disagree on most: by the sunrise rule it falls on Tuesday, November 10, though many print the 9th.
- Bhai Dooj closes the sequence on November 11 in most panchangs (some list November 10), the only day with no presiding deity, just a sibling's tilak.
The 5 Days of Diwali 2026: Confirmed Dates and Deities
Lakshmi Puja falls on Sunday, November 8, 2026, not November 9. The reason is the Amavasya Tithi, the new-moon lunar day that fixes Lakshmi Puja. It is present during Pradosh Kaal, the evening twilight window when the puja happens, on November 8. On November 9, the Amavasya Tithi ends at about 12:31 PM, well ahead of that evening's sunset. That overlap, not a printing error, is why the main worship lands a day earlier than many calendars show.
The diwali puja 2026 calendar covers five days in total: Dhanteras on November 6, Naraka Chaturdashi on November 7, Lakshmi Puja on November 8, Govardhan Puja on November 10, and Bhai Dooj on November 11. Each day carries its own deity, its own puja window, and its own ritual. The sections below walk through each day's diwali 2026 date and time in order.
| Day | Date | Deity |
|---|---|---|
| Dhanteras | Nov 6 | Lakshmi, Kubera, Dhanvantari |
| Naraka Chaturdashi | Nov 7 (evening), Nov 8 (bath) | Krishna, Yamraj |
| Lakshmi Puja | Nov 8 | Lakshmi, Ganesha |
| Govardhan Puja | Nov 10 | Krishna |
| Bhai Dooj | Nov 11 | None, sibling tilak |
Dhanteras 2026 Date and Time: Puja for Lakshmi, Kubera, Dhanvantari
Dhanteras 2026 falls on Friday, November 6. Pradosh Kaal, the window when the main puja is performed, opens at sunset and runs a little over two hours that evening [1].
Three deities share the evening: Goddess Lakshmi, Lord Kubera, and Lord Dhanvantari. Kubera is the treasurer of the gods, and Lord Dhanvantari is the physician of the gods and the father of Ayurveda. Dhanvantari is honored first for a reason rooted in mythology. He emerged from the Samudra Manthan, the churning of the Ocean of Milk, bearing the nectar of immortality, and tradition places his arrival two days before Lakshmi rose from the same churning [1]. That is why his worship opens the sequence that ends with hers on November 8.
Many households also perform a separate ritual called Yamadeepdan. A four-wick earthen lamp holds mustard oil. You light it and place it facing south outside the main entrance. It is set specifically for Yama, the god of death, to ward off untimely death in the household [1].
Date & Puja Muhurat: Friday, November 6, 2026, during Pradosh Kaal, roughly two hours after sunset.
Deity Honored: Goddess Lakshmi, Lord Kubera, and Lord Dhanvantari.
What the Ritual Needs: A ghee diya and incense at the main altar, plus a separate south-facing mustard-oil lamp for Yamadeepdan.
Naraka Chaturdashi 2026: Krishna Puja Date and Abhyang Snan Time
Naraka Chaturdashi, also called Choti Diwali 2026, spans two civil dates rather than one. The Chaturdashi tithi runs from about 10:48 AM on Saturday, November 7, to about 11:28 AM the next morning. That is why the day splits in two [2].
Evening rites fall on November 7, centered mostly on lamp-lighting and final preparations for the next day's main puja. The pre-dawn Abhyang Snan, a ritual oil bath, happens the following morning, November 8, the same day as Lakshmi Puja itself.
Lord Krishna is honored for defeating the demon Narakasura. Yamraj, the god of death, is prayed to before dawn for protection from untimely death.
Date & Puja Muhurat: Evening rites on November 7; the Abhyang Snan window falls between roughly 5:38 AM and 6:40 AM on November 8 [3].
Deity Honored: Lord Krishna and Yamraj.
What the Ritual Needs: Sesame oil for the body before bathing, new clothes afterward, and a lit diya placed outside the main door facing south.
Lakshmi Puja Vidhi at Home: Timing and What You Need
The main Lakshmi Puja, sometimes written Laxmi Pujan Diwali 2026, falls on Sunday, November 8. On that day, you worship Goddess Lakshmi and Lord Ganesha together at home.
The puja window is Pradosh Kaal, lasting roughly one hour and fifty-six minutes after sunset. The exact start and end time shifts by city. Check a local panchang for your own diwali muhurat 2026, rather than relying on a single printed time.
Many households narrow the window further to the Vrishabha Lagna, the span when Taurus rises on the horizon. Astrologers treat it as a fixed sign, so inviting Lakshmi during that span is meant to ask her to settle into the home rather than move on with the turning sky.
Begin by invoking Ganesha, the remover of obstacles, before turning to Lakshmi. Close the puja with aarti and the sharing of prasad among the family.
Date & Puja Muhurat: Sunday, November 8, 2026, during Pradosh Kaal, roughly 5:30 PM to 8 PM depending on your city.
Deity Honored: Goddess Lakshmi, worshipped with Lord Ganesha.
What the Ritual Needs: A red cloth, raised platform, diyas, incense, and sweets for aarti and prasad.
For the full step-by-step vidhi, from samagri checklist to the exact sequence of offerings, see our complete Lakshmi Puja guide.
Govardhan Puja 2026: Krishna's Hillock & Annakut
Govardhan Puja lands on Tuesday, November 10, 2026, not November 9 as printed on many calendars. The reason is the Pratipada Tithi, the first lunar day after the new moon, which must be running at sunrise. In 2026, it doesn't begin until 12:31 PM on November 9 and lasts until 2:00 PM the following day. So sunrise on the 10th is the one it actually governs. That leaves November 9 as a gap day with no festival of its own. Calendars printing the 9th are usually counting "the day after Diwali" without checking that boundary, so if your family temple follows a different panchang, go with theirs.
In parts of Maharashtra, the day is also known as Diwali Padwa 2026 and doubles as a celebration of the bond between husband and wife.
The day honors Lord Krishna. He lifted Govardhan Hill on his finger to shelter villagers from days of torrential rain. Devotees mark the story by shaping a small hillock from cow dung or clay. They prepare Annakut, an offering stacked with 56 or 108 separate dishes laid out like a mountain of food for Krishna.
Date & Puja Muhurat: Tuesday, November 10, 2026, during the morning window, roughly 6:40 AM to 8:50 AM.
Deity Honored: Lord Krishna, worshipped here as Govardhan Dhari, protector of Braj.
Bhai Dooj 2026 Date: No Presiding Deity, Just the Tilak
Bhai Dooj 2026 falls on Wednesday, November 11, closing the five-day sequence that began with Dhanteras. The same tithi mechanic that pushed Govardhan Puja later applies here too. The Dwitiya tithi begins around 2:00 PM on November 10, but it governs the afternoon of November 11. That is why most panchangs place the puja on that day [4], though some list November 10, so confirm with your local panchang.
Unlike every other day in this sequence, Bhai Dooj has no presiding deity. It is a ritual between siblings, rooted in the story of Yama, the lord of death, finally visiting his sister Yamuna after a long absence. She welcomed him with a tilak and a feast. He blessed any brother who receives a sister's tilak on this day. That is why it is also known as Yama Dwitiya [4].
For your own bhai dooj 2026 timing, the tilak window typically falls in the early afternoon; check a local panchang since it shifts with sunrise.
Date & Puja Muhurat: November 11, 2026, with the tilak window falling in the early afternoon (aparahna).
What the Ritual Needs: A thali with roli or kumkum, rice, a diya, sweets, and a gift from brother to sister in return for the tilak.
What to Do Before Every Day's Diwali Puja
A few preparations apply across all 5 days of Diwali 2026, no matter which deity that evening honors. Clean the home first, including the kitchen and puja room. People believe Lakshmi visits the cleanest houses first.
Bathe and wear clean, preferably new clothes before each day's puja; white, yellow, and red are considered auspicious colors for the occasion. Keep the routine simple: starting each day's ritual with intention matters more than ceremony.
Stocking the Right Items for Each Day
The 5 days of Diwali 2026 now carry a confirmed date and deity each, from Dhanvantari on Dhanteras to the sibling blessing on Bhai Dooj. If you're picking up idols or a puja kit for November 8, source them from somewhere that certifies what you're buying. Uncertified copies are easiest to buy by mistake during Diwali week.
We at Dharmik ritually bless every Rudraksha, Tulsi mala, and puja item in Vrindavan before it ships. Each one is backed by its own certificate. Dhanteras opens the 2026 sequence on November 6. Browse our collection to have everything ready before then.
Frequently asked questions
What are the different days of Diwali?
Diwali 2026 runs five days, each honoring its own deity. They are Dhanteras (Nov 6), Naraka Chaturdashi (Nov 7), Lakshmi Puja (Nov 8), Govardhan Puja (Nov 10), and Bhai Dooj (Nov 11).
What is the real date of Diwali in 2026?
The main Lakshmi Puja falls on Sunday, November 8, 2026. It is not November 9, as some calendars print. It comes down to when the Amavasya tithi overlaps the evening puja window.
Is Diwali a public holiday in India in 2026?
Yes. Diwali is a gazetted national holiday in India, and in the year 2026, the main Lakshmi Puja holiday falls on a Sunday. Most offices are already closed that day.
Is Bhai Dooj the same as Raksha Bandhan?
No. Raksha Bandhan falls in August and centers on a sacred thread. Bhai Dooj closes Diwali in November with a tilak instead, and both honor siblings, but they're separate festivals.
What should I do if I miss the Lakshmi Puja Pradosh Kaal window?
Many households perform Lakshmi Puja during Nishita Kaal, around midnight, instead, or the next morning. People consider a sincere puja done late far better than skipping it altogether.
