Diwali 2026 in the UK: Lakshmi Puja Muhurat City by City, Dhanteras Timings and the 5-Day Calendar

Quick answer: Diwali 2026 in the UK is on Sunday 8 November. The Lakshmi Puja muhurat in London is 4:35 PM – 6:12 PM GMT (Drik Panchang), Leicester 4:34 PM – 6:10 PM, Birmingham 4:38 PM – 6:14 PM and Manchester 4:35 PM – 6:09 PM. Dhanteras is Friday 6 November (London puja muhurat 4:43 PM – 6:20 PM). Govardhan Puja is Monday 9 November and Bhai Dooj Tuesday 10 November — one day earlier than in India.

With British clocks back on GMT since 25 October, the sun sets on Diwali at about twenty past four in London, and the Lakshmi Puja muhurat follows within minutes. This guide gives the exact window for eight UK cities, explains why an Indian time cannot simply be converted, and offers a complete, devotional Lakshmi-Ganesh puja for your home. For celebrations in London, Leicester and beyond, see our Diwali 2026 UK guide.

Diwali 2026 dates in the UK: the five days

These are Drik Panchang's dates for the UK and they are the same in England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. Dhanteras and Diwali match India; the other three do not. Naraka Chaturdashi has its own day in Britain (Saturday 7 November), whereas in India it falls on the morning of Diwali. Govardhan Puja, the Gujarati New Year and Bhai Dooj come a day earlier than in India, because Kartika Pratipada has already begun at British sunrise on Monday 9 November. Bonfire Night, Thursday 5 November, falls the evening before Dhanteras.

Lakshmi Puja muhurat 2026, city by city

Lakshmi Puja is offered on Amavasya evening in Pradosh Kaal, the first part of the night after sunset, and is best begun while Vrishabha (Taurus) lagna — a fixed, stable sign — is rising, so that Lakshmi remains in the home. The muhurat below is the overlap of the two, using the sidereal zodiac: Drik Panchang's method. The London row is Drik Panchang's published value; the other rows are calculated by the same method and agree to within about a minute. All times are GMT.

• An early start: the window opens around 4:30 PM in most of Britain. Have the altar ready and the sankalp done by mid-afternoon.
• Nearby towns: Harrow, Wembley, Croydon and Slough can follow London; Loughborough can follow Leicester; Coventry and Wolverhampton can follow Birmingham; Bradford can follow Leeds. Edinburgh is a few minutes earlier than Glasgow.
• If you miss it: the rest of Pradosh Kaal — until about 7:20 PM — remains an auspicious time for puja.

Do not use India's muhurat converted to GMT

India's Lakshmi Puja muhurat is 5:54 PM – 7:50 PM IST (New Delhi, Drik Panchang). Converted to UK time, that is 12:24 PM – 2:20 PM GMT — Sunday lunchtime, in broad daylight, a couple of hours before the sun has set and before Pradosh Kaal has begun. The muhurat depends on sunset and the lagna rising over your own horizon, so it must be calculated for Britain. If a WhatsApp forward gives "UK time" as India's time minus five and a half hours, it is wrong; use the table above or your mandir's announced time.

How to perform Lakshmi-Ganesh puja at home

Diwali puja is, at heart, a welcome. You prepare the house as you would for an honoured guest, and invite Mahalakshmi — giver of prosperity, grace and contentment — with Ganesha, who removes obstacles. Families in Britain follow Gujarati, Punjabi, North Indian and South Indian customs; use the outline below and keep whatever your elders taught you.

Puja samagri

• Murtis or a picture of Lakshmi and Ganesha on a chowki covered with red cloth
• A kalash with water, mango or betel leaves and a coconut, resting on a little rice
• Diyas with ghee or oil, incense, camphor, a bell and an aarti thali
• Kumkum, haldi, chandan, akshat and flowers with a garland — lotus if you can find one
• Naivedya: kheer, laddoos or mithai, kheel-batashe and fruit
• Coins, some cash, and new account books (Chopda) for business families

Getting ready

Clean and declutter during the day, make a rangoli at the door, and bathe and dress in fresh clothes. Set the altar facing east or north, with Ganesha on Lakshmi's right (your left), and the kalash beside them.

Step-by-step vidhi

1. Achaman: sip water three times, sprinkle water on yourself and the samagri, and light the main lamp.
2. Sankalp: holding water, rice and a flower, say your name and gotra, the place ("in ___, in the United Kingdom"), the day — Kartika Amavasya, Sunday 8 November 2026 — and your prayer. Release the water into a plate.
3. Ganesh puja: kumkum, akshat, flowers and a modak or laddoo, with "Om Gan Ganapataye Namah".
4. Kalash puja: honour the kalash with kumkum and flowers as the home of all sacred waters.
5. Invoke Mahalakshmi: invite her with folded hands, offer water for her feet, and bathe the murti in panchamrit and clean water.
6. Offerings: chandan, kumkum, akshat, flowers, garland, incense and lamp. Place coins and Chopda before her and draw a swastika or "Shubh Labh" in kumkum.
7. Japa: chant "Om Shreem Mahalakshmyai Namah" 108 times on a mala, or 11 or 21 times.
8. Naivedya: offer the sweets and fruit with a prayer that the Goddess accepts them.
9. Aarti: sing "Om Jai Lakshmi Mata" together, waving the lamp clockwise.
10. Prayer for forgiveness and prasad: ask pardon for any mistakes, take blessings from elders, share prasad, and light diyas in every room.

Mantras and their meaning

• Om Gan Ganapataye Namah — "Salutations to Ganapati", worshipped first so that the puja proceeds without obstacle.
• Om Shreem Mahalakshmyai Namah — "Om, I bow to Mahalakshmi." Shreem is Lakshmi's bija mantra, the seed sound of abundance, beauty and auspiciousness.
• Om Mahalakshmyai Cha Vidmahe, Vishnupatnyai Cha Dhimahi, Tanno Lakshmih Prachodayat — Lakshmi Gayatri: "May we know Mahalakshmi; may we meditate on the consort of Vishnu; may Lakshmi inspire us."
• Om Yakshaya Kuberaya Vaishravanaya Dhanadhanyadhipataye Dhanadhanya Samriddhim Me Dehi Dapaya Svaha — a prayer to Kubera, keeper of the treasury of the gods, for wealth and plenty.

Aarti: Om Jai Lakshmi Mata

Om Jai Lakshmi Mata, Maiya Jai Lakshmi Mata; Tumko nishdin sevat, Hara Vishnu Vidhata. — "Victory to you, Mother Lakshmi; Shiva, Vishnu and Brahma serve you day and night." Uma Rama Brahmani, tum hi jag-mata — "You are Uma, Rama and Brahmani, Mother of the world."

Dhanteras, Kali Chaudas, Annakut and Bhai Dooj

Dhanteras, Friday 6 November

The festival opens with Lord Dhanvantari, the divine physician who rose from the churning of the ocean with the pot of amrit, and with Lakshmi as the bringer of wealth. Many British Hindus buy gold, silver or a steel utensil today. In the evening, offer a short Lakshmi-Kubera puja in the Dhanteras muhurat (London 4:43 PM – 6:20 PM; Leicester 4:42 PM – 6:18 PM) and set the Yama Deepam — a four-wick lamp facing south — by the front door for the family's protection.

Naraka Chaturdashi and Kali Chaudas, Saturday 7 November

The day of Krishna's victory over Narakasura begins with an oil bath before sunrise and new clothes. In Gujarati homes it is Kali Chaudas, a day for protective prayers. Bengali families keep Kali Puja on the Amavasya night; check your local puja committee for its time.

Govardhan Puja, Annakut and New Year, Monday 9 November

Krishna's lifting of Govardhan hill is celebrated with Annakut, a towering offering of vegetarian dishes, at mandirs across Britain, and Gujarati families greet the New Year — "Saal Mubarak" — on this Kartika Pratipada. As it is a Monday, many temples hold Annakut darshan through the day and evening.

Bhai Dooj, Tuesday 10 November

Sisters apply tilak and pray for their brothers' long life, as Yamuna did for Yama; brothers respond with gifts and a promise of protection. Siblings in India keep it a day later, on Wednesday 11 November.

Diwali in Britain: practical tips

• Leicester: the city's Diwali lights along Belgrave Road and its celebrations on and around Diwali are among the best-known outside India. Leicester City Council announces the 2026 switch-on and Diwali Day details — check its website rather than social-media forwards.
• Fireworks: the 11pm curfew in England and Wales is extended to 1am on Diwali night. Scotland and Northern Ireland have their own rules. Many families now prefer public displays; with Bonfire Night just before Dhanteras, pets and elderly neighbours may already be unsettled.
• Diyas and smoke alarms: keep oil lamps on a heat-proof tray away from curtains, never leave them unattended, and open a window during aarti rather than covering the alarm. Many flats and rentals forbid naked flames on balconies — LED diyas work well outside.
• Work and school: Diwali itself is a Sunday this year, but Dhanteras (Friday) and Bhai Dooj (Tuesday) are working days. The muhurats start before 5 PM, so commuters may want to leave a little early on Friday.

Mandirs and celebrations

Mandirs across the UK hold Lakshmi Puja, Chopda Pujan, Annakut and New Year darshan through the five days. Well-known temples such as the BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir in Neasden and Bhaktivedanta Manor near Watford usually publish their Diwali schedules a few weeks before, and expect very large crowds. Check your own mandir's notices for 2026 timings, and allow extra time for parking on Sunday and Monday.

Frequently asked questions

When is Diwali 2026 in the UK?

Diwali (Lakshmi Puja) is on Sunday 8 November 2026 throughout the UK. Dhanteras is Friday 6 November, Naraka Chaturdashi Saturday 7 November, Govardhan Puja (and Annakut) Monday 9 November and Bhai Dooj Tuesday 10 November, according to Drik Panchang for the UK.

What is the Lakshmi Puja muhurat in London on Diwali 2026?

In London the Lakshmi Puja muhurat is 4:35 PM – 6:12 PM GMT on Sunday 8 November 2026, within Pradosh Kaal of 4:22 PM – 7:19 PM. This is Drik Panchang's published time. Leicester is 4:34 PM – 6:10 PM and Birmingham 4:38 PM – 6:14 PM.

Can I use India's Lakshmi Puja time in the UK?

No. India's muhurat (5:54 PM – 7:50 PM IST in New Delhi) converts to 12:24 PM – 2:20 PM GMT — early afternoon, in daylight, before Pradosh Kaal has even begun. Always use the muhurat for your own UK city.

What is the Dhanteras puja muhurat in the UK in 2026?

Dhanteras is Friday 6 November 2026. The puja muhurat is 4:43 PM – 6:20 PM in London, 4:42 PM – 6:18 PM in Leicester, 4:46 PM – 6:22 PM in Birmingham and 4:43 PM – 6:18 PM in Manchester.

Why are Govardhan Puja and Bhai Dooj a day earlier in the UK than in India?

A festival is observed on the day its tithi prevails at local sunrise. At UK sunrise on Monday 9 November, Kartika Pratipada is already running, so Govardhan Puja is that day and Bhai Dooj Tuesday 10 November. In India they are on 10 and 11 November.

Can you set off fireworks on Diwali night in the UK?

In England and Wales the usual 11pm curfew on fireworks is extended to 1am on Diwali night. Scotland and Northern Ireland have their own rules, and councils and landlords may add restrictions, so check local guidance and be considerate of neighbours and pets.

Editor's note (5 October 2026): Festival dates follow Drik Panchang for the UK. The Lakshmi Puja and Dhanteras muhurats are the overlap of Pradosh Kaal and the sidereal Vrishabha lagna; the London row is Drik Panchang's published value and the other cities were calculated by the same method to within about a minute. Mandir and council programmes are not yet confirmed — organisers are still publishing 2026 flyers; we will update this guide.

Related guides

• Diwali 2026 — dates, rituals and significance
• Diwali 2026 UK — London and Leicester
• Diwali 2026 USA: Lakshmi Puja muhurat city by city
• Diwali 2026 Canada: Lakshmi Puja muhurat city by city
• Diwali 2026 Dubai & UAE: Lakshmi Puja muhurat and 5-day guide
• Karwa Chauth 2026 — city-wise moonrise times
• November 2026 Hindu festivals calendar
• Dussehra 2026 UK, region by region