The 5 Days of Diwali 2026 Explained: Dates, Tithi Times, Muhurat and Rituals from Dhanteras to Bhai Dooj

Diwali is not a single day but a radiant five-day festival, each day with its own meaning and rituals. This HinduTone guide explains the 5 days of Diwali 2026, from Dhanteras to Bhai Dooj (6–11 November).

Part of Diwali 2026: dates and muhurat for all five days are in our Diwali 2026 guide. See also: Diwali 2026 date and Lakshmi Puja muhurat.

The five days: Dhanteras (6 Nov), Naraka Chaturdasi and Diwali/Lakshmi Puja (both 8 Nov; some families mark Choti Diwali on 7 Nov), Govardhan Puja (10 Nov) and Bhai Dooj (11 Nov).

Last updated: 31 October 2026. Clarified what each timing means (tithi, Pradosh Kaal, muhurat, city) and corrected Hyderabad and other city muhurat minutes to Drik Panchang. This update adds a day-by-day table with Drik Panchang tithi times, Lakshmi Puja muhurat for Indian and overseas cities, simple rituals and samagri for each day, and the dates abroad.

Diwali 2026 calendar: 5 din ki list (दिवाली 2026 के 5 दिन)

Tithi end times are the same moment across India; sunrise and the muhurat change by city. In the USA, Canada and the UK the dates shift: see the table further down.

Day 1 — Dhanteras (6 November)

The festival opens with the worship of Dhanvantari (the god of Ayurveda) and Lakshmi. It is considered auspicious to buy gold, silver and utensils, symbolising incoming prosperity.

• Puja time: Drik Panchang gives the Dhanteras puja muhurat for New Delhi as 6:02 PM to 7:58 PM on 6 November.
• What to do: clean the home, draw a small rangoli, worship Dhanvantari and Lakshmi with a lamp, and light the south-facing Yama Deepam outside the door after sunset.
• Samagri: diya and ghee or oil, flowers, kumkum, rice, a coin or new utensil, sweets.

More: Dhanteras 2026 guide.

Day 2 — Choti Diwali (7 November) / Naraka Chaturdasi (8 November)

Marks Lord Krishna's victory over the demon Narakasura. Many take the ritual abhyanga snan (oil bath) before dawn and light a few lamps in anticipation of Diwali.

• Why two dates: Chaturdashi begins at 10:47 AM on 7 November, so many families light Choti Diwali lamps that evening. Drik Panchang keeps the pre-dawn Naraka Chaturdashi bath on Sunday 8 November in India, the same morning as Diwali.
• What to do: before sunrise, apply sesame oil and ubtan, bathe, wear fresh clothes and light lamps. In Gujarat, Kali Chaudas is kept on the night of 7 November.
• Samagri: sesame oil, ubtan (gram flour, turmeric), a few diyas.

More: Naraka Chaturdashi 2026.

Day 3 — Diwali / Lakshmi Puja (8 November)

The main day: homes are lit with rows of diyas, rangoli adorns the entrance, and the Lakshmi-Ganesh Puja is performed in the evening Pradosh Kaal to welcome wealth and wisdom.

"Calculated" rows use the HinduTone calculator, which follows the Drik method and matches Drik to within about a minute. For other cities, see Diwali 2026 date and Lakshmi Puja muhurat and the full Lakshmi Puja 2026 guide.

These are Lakshmi Puja muhurat windows only (the Vrishabha slot inside Pradosh Kaal), each in that city's local time; the wider Pradosh Kaal window for each Indian city is in the city-wise guide.

• Simple vidhi: clean and decorate the altar, place Lakshmi and Ganesha, light the main lamp, worship Ganesha first, then Lakshmi with flowers, kumkum, rice and sweets, do aarti and light diyas around the home.
• Samagri: Lakshmi-Ganesh idols or picture, kalash with water, red cloth, diyas, ghee or oil, flowers, kumkum and haldi, rice, coins, kheel-batashe or sweets, incense.

Day 4 — Govardhan Puja / Annakut (10 November)

Commemorates Krishna lifting Mount Govardhan; an "annakut" (mountain of food) is offered to the deity. In Gujarat, this is also the new year (Bestu Varas).

• Why 10 November: Amavasya lasts until 12:31 PM on 9 November, so Kartika Shukla Pratipada prevails at sunrise on 10 November (until 2:00 PM). Drik Panchang lists Govardhan Puja, Annakut, Bali Pratipada and the Gujarati New Year on that day.
• What to do: make a small Govardhan hill from cow dung or clay (or a symbolic one from food), offer many dishes to Krishna, walk around it, and feed cows where possible.

More: Govardhan Puja and Annakut 2026.

Day 5 — Bhai Dooj (11 November)

Celebrates the bond between brothers and sisters; sisters apply a tilak and pray for their brothers' wellbeing, and gifts are exchanged.

• Tithi: Dwitiya runs until 3:53 PM on 11 November (IST), so many families do the tilak in the morning or early afternoon.
• Samagri: roli or kumkum, rice, a diya, sweets, a coconut in some families, and a small gift.

The meaning of each day: stories and symbolism

Dhanteras: Dhanvantari, Lakshmi–Kubera and King Hima's son

Dhanteras ("Dhan" wealth, "teras" thirteenth) falls on Krishna Trayodashi. In the Puranas, Lord Dhanvantari, the divine physician and a form of Vishnu, rose from the churning of the ocean (Samudra Manthan) holding the pot of amrita, so the day joins health with prosperity; Lakshmi and Kubera are also worshipped. A folk story tells of King Hima's son, fated to die of a snakebite on the fourth night of his marriage. His wife heaped her ornaments at the door and lit lamps all around; dazzled, Yama in the form of a serpent could not enter, and the prince lived. Hence the customs of buying a metal vessel or gold, and of lighting the Yama Deepam.

Gujarati and Marwari business families open new account books around Diwali (Chopda Puja). Buy something useful rather than costly: a brass or steel vessel is traditional.

Naraka Chaturdashi: the inner demons

In the Bhagavata Purana (10.59), Narakasura imprisons sixteen thousand women and seizes the earrings of Aditi, mother of the devas. Krishna, with Satyabhama, defeats him; the dying asura asks that his death be remembered with lights. The pre-dawn oil bath (Abhyang Snan) washes away what is impure, and the day asks us to destroy the inner demons of ego, anger, greed and ignorance before the main night. Times and regional customs: Naraka Chaturdashi 2026.

Lakshmi Puja: the darkest night

Two stories meet on Amavasya night. Sri Rama returns to Ayodhya after fourteen years and the city lights rows of lamps; and Goddess Lakshmi visits clean, well-lit homes, worshipped with Ganesha so that prosperity arrives without obstacles. The darkest night is chosen deliberately: only when outer light is absent can the inner light be seen. Lighting a diya is an act of faith that consciousness can light even the deepest dark.

Govardhan Puja and Annakut: gratitude to nature

When the people of Vraja prepared to worship Indra, young Krishna asked them to honour Govardhan hill, which fed their cows and gave them water and shelter. Indra sent torrents; Krishna lifted the hill on his little finger and sheltered everyone for seven days until Indra relented. Temples, especially in the Pushtimarg and ISKCON traditions, offer Annakut, a "mountain of food", later shared as prasad. The same day is Bali Pratipada (King Bali and Vamana), Diwali Padwa in Maharashtra and the Gujarati New Year (Bestu Varas).

Bhai Dooj: Yamuna and Yama

Yamuna invited her brother Yama, lord of death, to her home, applied tilak, performed aarti and fed him. Moved, Yama blessed every brother who receives tilak from his sister on this day with long life, hence the name Yama Dwitiya. It is Bhau Beej in Maharashtra and Bhai Phonta in Bengal.

Regional ways of keeping the five days

• North India: Rama's return and Lakshmi–Ganesha puja are central.
• Gujarat and Maharashtra: Chopda Puja, the New Year and Padwa.
• Bengal, Assam and Odisha: Kali Puja on the Amavasya night.
• Tamil Nadu and Karnataka: the Naraka Chaturdashi morning, with oil bath and new clothes, is Deepavali itself.
• Nepal: Tihar, with days for crows, dogs and cows before Bhai Tika.
• Diaspora: most follow the North Indian pattern, adjusted to local temple schedules and local dates.

The five days as one spiritual journey

1. Dhanteras: inviting auspiciousness and purifying the home.
2. Naraka Chaturdashi: destroying inner negativity and purifying the body.
3. Lakshmi Puja: invoking grace and illuminating consciousness.
4. Govardhan Puja: gratitude to nature and trust in divine protection.
5. Bhai Dooj: strengthening family bonds as an expression of dharma.

The sequence moves from the material to the spiritual, from the individual to the community, and back to the intimacy of family.

Practical tips for 2026

• Start cleaning a few days before Dhanteras.
• Keep one clean puja space for all five days.
• Use clay diyas with ghee or sesame oil.
• Tell the children the story of each day.
• Give something in charity every day, above all on Diwali night.
• Where firecrackers are restricted, celebrate with lamps, rangoli and community gatherings.
• Abroad, follow your local temple's dates while keeping the spirit of each day.

Diwali 2026 dates abroad

Source: Drik Panchang country dates. Abroad, use your city's own muhurat; never convert India's times. Many temples abroad hold Diwali programmes on the weekend of 7–8 November.

Share the Diwali 2026 blessing

Across five sacred days, from Dhanteras to Bhai Dooj, Diwali 2026 leads us gently from darkness into light. Each lamp we light is a reminder of the inner light that no darkness can touch, and each day opens our homes a little wider to Maa Lakshmi's grace: health on Dhanteras, purity on Naraka Chaturdashi, abundance of spirit on Lakshmi Puja, gratitude on Govardhan and love on Bhai Dooj. Share one of these blessings with your family and keep the glow alive all five days.

Deepa shloka: the lamp prayer

शुभं करोति कल्याणम् आरोग्यं धनसम्पदा। शत्रुबुद्धिविनाशाय दीपज्योतिर्नमोऽस्तु ते॥

Shubham karoti kalyanam arogyam dhana-sampada, shatru-buddhi-vinashaya deepa-jyotir namostu te.

Meaning: I bow to the light of the lamp, which brings what is auspicious and good, health and prosperity, and destroys ill-will. Many families recite it as they light the evening diya.

Lakshmi mantra for Diwali

ॐ श्रीं महालक्ष्म्यै नमः॥

Om Shreem Mahalakshmyai Namah.

Meaning: Salutations to Mahalakshmi. Shreem is the seed syllable traditionally associated with Lakshmi.

Diwali 2026 messages to share

🪔 May all five days of Diwali 2026, from Dhanteras to Bhai Dooj, fill our family home with light, laughter and Maa Lakshmi's gentle grace. Happy Diwali! ✨ Share on WhatsApp

🙏 To my dear parents and elders: on this Dhanteras, may Lord Dhanvantari bless you with good health and peaceful days. Your blessings are our true wealth. 🪔 Share on WhatsApp

✨ Dear friend, may this Diwali light every corner of your life, and may the bond of Bhai Dooj remind us that true friends are family too. Happy five days of light! 🪔 Share on WhatsApp

🌸 Wishing you and your team a bright and harmonious Diwali 2026. May honest effort, trust and goodwill guide our work together in the year ahead. 🙏 Share on WhatsApp

🪔 Jai Maa Lakshmi! On this Lakshmi Puja night, may the Mother of grace enter every home that is lit with devotion and bless it with peace and contentment. 🌸✨ Share on WhatsApp

🙏 As Ayodhya glowed with lamps to welcome Lord Rama home, may your heart glow with faith and joy, and may Lord Ganesha remove every obstacle on your path. 🪔 Share on WhatsApp

A short Diwali prayer

Maa Lakshmi and Lord Ganesha, I bow before you with a grateful heart through these five days of light. Remove the darkness of ignorance and pride from within me, and let my home be filled with health, harmony and kindness. Bless my family with peace, guide my hands toward honest effort, and teach me to share whatever I have been given. May my lamp always burn for you.

Use the share buttons on this page to send these blessings to your family and friends.

Also read: why Hindus celebrate their major festivals.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

What are the 5 days of Diwali 2026?

Dhanteras (Fri 6 Nov), Naraka Chaturdasi and Diwali/Lakshmi Puja (both Sun 8 Nov; some families mark Choti Diwali on Sat 7 Nov), Govardhan Puja (Tue 10 Nov) and Bhai Dooj (Wed 11 Nov), per Drik Panchang for India.

Which is the main day?

Diwali / Lakshmi Puja on Sunday, 8 November 2026. Drik Panchang gives the Lakshmi Puja muhurat for New Delhi as 5:54 PM to 7:50 PM.

What is Dhanteras for?

Worship of Dhanvantari and Lakshmi, and the auspicious buying of gold, silver and utensils. In the evening many families light the south-facing Yama Deepam lamp.

Why is Govardhan Puja on 10 November and not 9 November?

Govardhan Puja is kept on Kartika Shukla Pratipada. In 2026 Amavasya lasts until 12:31 PM on Monday 9 November (IST), so Pratipada prevails on the morning of Tuesday 10 November, and Drik Panchang lists Govardhan Puja and Annakut on 10 November. Monday 9 November is a quiet "gap day" in India.

Are the Diwali dates different in the USA and UK?

The main Diwali day is Sunday 8 November in the USA, Canada and the UK too. But Drik Panchang lists Naraka Chaturdashi on 7 November, Govardhan Puja on 9 November and Bhai Dooj on 10 November there, one day earlier than in India. Use your city's local muhurat; do not convert India's times.

Is Choti Diwali on 7 or 8 November 2026?

Both are seen. Drik Panchang lists Naraka Chaturdashi (with the pre-dawn abhyang snan) on 8 November in India, the same day as Lakshmi Puja, while Chaturdashi tithi begins at 10:47 AM on 7 November, so many families light the first lamps and mark Choti Diwali on the evening of 7 November. Follow your family calendar.

Why is Diwali celebrated over five days?

Each day falls on a different lunar tithi and recalls a different event: Dhanvantari and Lakshmi on Dhanteras, Krishna's victory over Narakasura, Lakshmi Puja on Amavasya, Krishna lifting Govardhan, and Yama visiting his sister Yamuna. Together they move from purification to illumination to gratitude and family.

Do all Hindus observe all five days equally?

No. Emphasis varies by region and family. In Tamil Nadu the Naraka Chaturdashi morning is Deepavali itself; in Gujarat the day after Diwali is the New Year; in Bengal the Amavasya night is Kali Puja.

How can working families keep all five days?

A short, sincere puja and a few diyas each evening keeps the continuity of the festival, with the main puja on Sunday 8 November.

Going deeper: reflections on the festival

For readers who want to look beyond the dates, these essays explore the inner side of Diwali:

• Spiritual practices for Diwali Amavasya night: quiet observances for the darkest night of the year
• A mindful Diwali: five ways to focus on inner light rather than shopping
• Shiva and Shakti during Diwali: the festival as a meeting of consciousness and energy
• The energy of lighting diyas: a reflection on the lamp and the mood it creates
• How to keep Dussehra and Diwali with devotion: a guide to both autumn festivals

Explore More on HinduTone

• Diwali / Deepavali 2026 — Complete 5-Day Guide
• Dhanteras 2026 — Date, Buying Muhurat & Significance
• Govardhan Puja & Annakut 2026 — Date, Vidhi & Story
• Bhai Dooj 2026 — Date, Tilak Muhurat & Significance

Editor's note (25 October 2026): This page was expanded with Drik Panchang tithi times (New Delhi and Hyderabad), the Drik Lakshmi Puja muhurat for New Delhi, New York, Toronto, London, Dubai, Singapore and Sydney, calculated muhurat for other Indian cities (Drik method), Drik country dates for the USA, Canada, UK and Australia, and simple rituals for each day. Customs vary by region; follow your family tradition.