Diwali 2026दीवाली

Hindu date: Kartika Amavasya (Ashwin Amavasya in the Amanta calendar).

Lakshmi Puja is done in Pradosh Kaal, the first part of the night after sunset, while Amavasya prevails, so Diwali is the evening that has Amavasya at Pradosh. When Amavasya runs into the next day, Govardhan Puja moves a day later.

Dates are calculated for New Delhi. In other cities, and especially outside India, the tithi changes at a different local time, so a festival can fall a day earlier or later. Month names follow the Purnimanta calendar used in North India, where a month ends on Purnima. How we calculate

Diwali (Deepavali, "a row of lamps") is the central night of the five days from Dhanteras to Bhai Dooj. In North India it marks Lord Rama's return to Ayodhya after fourteen years of exile and the defeat of Ravana, when the city lit lamps to welcome him. In the South it is linked with Krishna's victory over Narakasura, and in Bengal, Odisha and Assam the same night is Kali Puja.

The main worship is Lakshmi Puja with Ganesha. Lakshmi is welcomed into a clean, bright home on the darkest night of the month, so lamps are kept burning through the evening. For many business families Diwali also opens the new account books (Chopda Puja).