Quick answer: Deepavali 2026 falls on Sunday 8 November in India (Drik Panchang), the same day as Naraka Chaturdashi. In Kerala it is celebrated mainly in the early morning, with an oil bath, new clothes, a temple visit, sweets and crackers. It is especially important for Tamil Brahmin, Konkani and other communities with links to neighbouring states, and is generally quieter than Onam or Vishu. Calculated Lakshmi Puja muhurat: Kochi 6:28 PM to 8:27 PM, Thiruvananthapuram 6:27 PM to 8:26 PM.

Deepavali 2026 dates for Kerala

DayDate (India)Notes
DhanterasFri 6 NovObserved mainly by North Indian and Konkani families
Naraka ChaturdashiSun 8 Nov (pre-dawn)Oil bath, new clothes
Deepavali / Lakshmi PujaSun 8 Nov (evening)Lamps; Lakshmi puja in some communities
Bali Padyami / Govardhan PujaTue 10 NovKept by Konkani and Kannada families
Bhai DoojWed 11 NovMainly North Indian families
ThrikarthikaTue 24 NovKerala's own festival of lamps

Source: Drik Panchang (India). Because the Chaturdashi tithi prevails at dawn on Sunday 8 November, the oil bath and Deepavali fall on the same day in 2026.

The Deepavali morning in Kerala

As in Tamil Nadu, Kerala's Deepavali is a morning festival for most of the communities who keep it. The day remembers Krishna's victory over Narakasura, as traditionally told.

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  • Oil bath: before sunrise, elders apply warm gingelly (sesame) oil to the head and body of each family member, followed by a bath with hot water and herbal powders. Many families regard this bath as an especially sacred one on this day.
  • New clothes: children and adults wear new clothes, often bought for the day and first offered at the family shrine.
  • Temple visit: many visit the local temple in the morning; check each temple's official website for current timings.
  • Sweets and snacks: the morning is for sweets, often homemade, shared with neighbours and friends.
  • Crackers: in many homes, crackers are burst in the morning and again at dusk, within local rules.

Read the story in Narakasura and Krishna: the origin of Naraka Chaturdashi and the bath ritual in Naraka Chaturdashi 2026.

Community traditions

Kerala's Deepavali is shaped by the diversity of its Hindu communities. Customs vary between families, but some broad patterns are widely recognised:

  • Tamil Brahmin families, including those of Palakkad and the agraharams of Thiruvananthapuram, keep the Tamil pattern: the pre-dawn oil bath, new clothes, Deepavali lehiyam (a digestive herbal paste) and sweets. Many also observe the Kedara Gowri vratam.
  • Konkani families, including Gowda Saraswat Brahmin communities in Kochi and other towns, observe a sequence much like coastal Karnataka and Goa, with Naraka Chaturdashi, Lakshmi puja, Bali Pratipada and lamps.
  • Gujarati, Marwari and other North Indian families in Kochi and elsewhere celebrate Lakshmi puja on Amavasya evening and the new business year in their own traditions.
  • Telugu, Kannada and other communities keep their own family customs, and in districts bordering Tamil Nadu the festival is widely celebrated.
  • In many Malayali homes, Deepavali is marked simply with an oil bath, a lamp, sweets and crackers for the children.

For the Kedara vratam, see Kedar Gauri vrat 2026: Deepavali nombu; for Bali Pratipada, the legend of Bali Raja and Diwali in South India.

Why Deepavali is quieter in many Malayali homes

Kerala's great home festivals are Onam, the harvest festival linked with the legend of King Mahabali, and Vishu, the new year with its Vishukkani. Kerala's own festival of lamps, Thrikarthika, comes a fortnight after Deepavali. As a result, Deepavali in many traditional Malayali households has historically been a lighter observance than in Tamil Nadu or North India. That is a broad pattern, not a rule: Deepavali is celebrated widely across the state today, with shops, schools and families all joining in.

Lakshmi Puja muhurat 2026: Kochi and Thiruvananthapuram

CityLakshmi Puja, Sun 8 Nov 2026 (IST)Dhanteras puja, Fri 6 Nov 2026 (IST)Source
Kochi6:28 PM to 8:27 PM6:35 PM to 8:27 PMCalculated (HinduTone, Drik method)
Thiruvananthapuram6:27 PM to 8:26 PM6:35 PM to 8:26 PMCalculated (HinduTone, Drik method)

Calculated with the Drik method (Pradosh Kaal with a fixed Vrishabha lagna). Lakshmi puja on the Amavasya evening is followed mainly by Konkani, Gujarati, Marwari and North Indian families in Kerala; many Malayali and Tamil families focus on the morning. Confirm times with your priest or on Drik Panchang. More cities: Lakshmi Puja muhurat 2026 India city-wise and Diwali 2026 date and Lakshmi Puja muhurat.

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Thrikarthika: Kerala's own festival of lamps

About a fortnight after Deepavali, Kerala celebrates Thrikarthika, on the day of the Karthika star in the month of Vrischikam, when homes and temples are lit with rows of lamps (karthika vilakku) in honour of the Goddess and, in many traditions, Lord Subrahmanya. In 2026, Thrikarthika falls on Tuesday 24 November, the same day as Karthigai Deepam in Tamil Nadu (Drik Panchang). See Thrikarthika 2026: Kerala's karthika vilakku and Karthigai Deepam 2026.

Vrischikam begins on Tuesday 17 November 2026, which also marks the start of the Sabarimala Mandala season, so the weeks after Deepavali are busy ones for many Kerala families.

Crackers and safety

Rules on the sale, storage and use of fireworks are set and enforced by courts, the state and district authorities, and can change from year to year. Follow the current local orders, buy only from licensed sellers, and supervise children. See Diwali cracker safety precautions.

For Keralites abroad

  • In the Gulf, Drik Panchang lists Naraka Chaturdashi and Deepavali on Sunday 8 November for the UAE; see Diwali 2026 in Dubai and the UAE.
  • In the USA, Canada and the UK, Naraka Chaturdashi is Saturday 7 November, so the oil bath falls a day before Deepavali.
  • Use your own city's times; never convert Kochi's times to your local time.

Frequently asked questions

When is Deepavali 2026 in Kerala?

Deepavali falls on Sunday 8 November 2026 in India, per Drik Panchang, and Naraka Chaturdashi falls on the same day. In Kerala the festival is celebrated mainly that morning, with the oil bath and new clothes.

Is Deepavali a big festival in Kerala?

It is celebrated across Kerala, but in many Malayali homes it is quieter than Onam or Vishu, which are the state's great home festivals. It is especially important for communities with roots in or links to Tamil Nadu and Karnataka, such as Tamil Brahmin and Konkani families, and in districts bordering Tamil Nadu.

What is the Lakshmi Puja muhurat in Kochi and Thiruvananthapuram?

The HinduTone calculator (Drik method) gives 6:28 PM to 8:27 PM for Kochi and 6:27 PM to 8:26 PM for Thiruvananthapuram on Sunday 8 November 2026. These are calculated; confirm with your priest or on Drik Panchang.

When is Thrikarthika 2026?

Thrikarthika, Kerala's festival of lamps in the month of Vrischikam, falls on Tuesday 24 November 2026, the same day as Karthigai Deepam in Tamil Nadu (Drik Panchang).

Which Malayalam month does Deepavali fall in?

In 2026, Deepavali falls in the Malayalam month of Thulam. Vrischikam begins on Tuesday 17 November 2026, which also marks the start of the Sabarimala Mandala season.

Editor's note (9 October 2026)

Dates follow Drik Panchang for India; Kochi and Thiruvananthapuram muhurat times are calculated with the HinduTone calculator (Drik method) and should be confirmed locally. Community customs are described in broad, general terms; they vary widely between and within communities and families, and we do not suggest any single way of celebrating is correct.