Diwali 2026 in London: Dates, Lakshmi Puja Time, Temples and What Is Cancelled

Last updated: 5 November 2026

Quick answer: Diwali (Lakshmi Puja) in London is on Sunday 8 November 2026. The London Lakshmi Puja muhurat is 4:35 PM to 6:12 PM GMT (Drik Panchang), because the clocks went back on 25 October and the sun sets before 4:30 PM. Dhanteras is Friday 6 November, Naraka Chaturdashi is Saturday 7 November in the UK, and Govardhan Puja and Bhai Dooj are Monday 9 and Tuesday 10 November. Diwali on the Square in Trafalgar Square, planned for 25 October, was cancelled and has already passed.

This guide is for London and south-east England families. It gives the five dates, the puja time, how to plan a temple visit, what we know and do not know about public events, and safety notes for lamps and fireworks.

Diwali 2026 dates in London

These are Drik Panchang's dates for the UK and they match our UK city guide. Naraka Chaturdashi has its own day in Britain, and Govardhan Puja and Bhai Dooj come a day earlier than in India because the new tithi has begun by British sunrise on Monday 9 November. Temples sometimes follow the Indian dates, so check your own temple. Bonfire Night, Thursday 5 November, falls the evening before Dhanteras.

London Lakshmi Puja time, Sunday 8 November

Source: Drik Panchang for London. Leicester, Birmingham, Manchester and other cities differ by a few minutes; see our Diwali 2026 UK city guide. Do not convert India's muhurat into UK time: converted, it lands in the middle of Sunday afternoon, before sunset. Amanta and Purnimanta: Diwali falls on the Amavasya at the end of Ashwina in North Indian calendars and ends Ashwina in Amanta calendars, so the date is the same; only the month name in the sankalp differs. In the UK, Karthika Masam begins on Monday 9 November for Telugu and Kannada families (Drik Panchang for London); temples that follow the Indian calendar begin it on 10 November.

Diwali on the Square is cancelled

Earlier versions of this page described Diwali on the Square as an event held on the Sunday closest to Diwali. In 2026 the event, planned for Trafalgar Square on Sunday 25 Oct, was cancelled; the decision followed expert safety advice about forecast storms, announced by the Diwali in London committee and the Mayor's office (City Hall announcement of 24 October). We have not seen a replacement date. Do not travel to Trafalgar Square for it; follow City Hall for any new announcement.

Temples and community celebrations

Temples are the centre of community Diwali. We list them for planning and could not confirm programmes, so check each temple's own website and social channels.

• BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir, Neasden: 105-119 Brentfield Road, London NW10 8LD, reached by the Jubilee line to Neasden and then a short walk or bus. BAPS temples usually mark Diwali and the Hindu New Year with special programmes and an Annakut. The temple's Tapomurti Maha Annakut on 10 October was a separate event from its Diwali celebrations; read our temples abroad news round-up.
• ISKCON centres, including Bhaktivedanta Manor near Watford: usually hold kirtan, a Govardhan Puja and Annakut, and prasadam; check the booking arrangements.
• South Indian temples such as the Ganapathy temple in Wimbledon and Guruvayurappan temples: often hold Lakshmi puja and cultural programmes with regional customs.
• Leicester: known for its large Diwali lights and Diwali Day; see our Leicester Diwali fireworks rules and the London and Leicester Diwali guide.

Practical tips: arrive early on Sunday evening, wear warm layers and modest clothing, remove footwear at the entrance, expect security checks, and use public transport because parking is limited. Check disability access and any registration needs in advance. We did not find an official confirmation of special Diwali bus services, so verify transport before you travel.

Shopping for Diwali in London

The usual places to buy diyas, mithai, flowers and pooja items are the Indian shopping streets of Wembley (Ealing Road), Southall, Harrow, Tooting and Green Street, and Belgrave Road in Leicester. Shops get very busy on the Saturday before Diwali, so buy fresh flowers and sweets on Friday or on Sunday morning, and order large boxes of mithai a few days ahead. Check labels if anyone in the family has nut or dairy allergies, and ask whether sweets contain gelatine or silver leaf if that matters to you. Many families also buy a few extra diyas for neighbours, and a small box of sweets makes a friendly Diwali greeting.

Diwali in cold, dark weather

Because the clocks have gone back, the lamp-lit evening starts early. The Lakshmi Puja window of 4:35 PM to 6:12 PM falls in the dusk, so you can finish and still enjoy a long evening with family. Dress warmly if you plan to visit a temple or walk to a community event, allow extra time for public transport on Sunday evening, and carry an umbrella. Check Transport for London service updates in case of engineering works. If you use outdoor lights or electric string lights, check that they are rated for outdoor use and are not left on overnight in wet weather.

Hosting and sharing

Many British families open the house to neighbours and colleagues on the weekend after Diwali, and a small tea-light and sweet box is a warm way to explain the festival. Offer vegetarian food that is clearly labelled, let guests know whether to take shoes off, and keep alcohol out of the puja area. If you are inviting guests who are not Hindu, a short welcome note on what the lamp and the Lakshmi Puja mean helps everyone feel included. Schools and workplaces often welcome a short talk or a rangoli demonstration; our rangoli guide has simple ideas.

Fireworks and lamp safety

• Fireworks in England have time and licence restrictions, and some councils run organised displays only. See our Diwali fireworks laws in the UK.
• In flats, use LED or tea-light diyas on a tray, away from curtains and radiators, and never leave a lit lamp unattended.
• Check smoke alarms, and keep lamps and matches out of children's reach.
• Keep a window ajar when burning incense or camphor.

A simple Diwali plan for a London family

• Fri 6 Nov (Dhanteras): a working day; do the puja after 4:43 PM with a lamp at the door.
• Sat 7 Nov: clean the home, shop for sweets and flowers, and make rangoli.
• Sun 8 Nov (Diwali): the morning for lamps and cooking; begin the Lakshmi-Ganesh puja at 4:35 PM and finish by 6:12 PM; then dinner and a visit to a temple or a family gathering.
• Mon 9 Nov: Govardhan Puja or Annakut; a working day.
• Tue 10 Nov: Bhai Dooj. The full steps are in our Lakshmi Puja vidhi guide.

A short Lakshmi mantra, verified from our mantra library:

ॐ श्रीं महालक्ष्म्यै नमः॥

oṃ śrīṃ mahālakṣmyai namaḥ||

Meaning: Om, Shreem (the seed of Lakshmi), salutations to Mahalakshmi.

Checklist for Sunday 8 November

• Morning: clean the puja area, prepare flowers, fruit and prasad, and set out the lamps.
• By 3:30 PM: bathe, dress, and complete the sankalp and Ganesha puja.
• 4:35 PM to 6:12 PM: the main Lakshmi puja, followed by aarti and prasad.
• Evening: share a meal, call relatives, and visit a temple or neighbours if you wish.
• Before bed: check that every lamp is out and all matches are put away.

If your workplace or school expects you the next day, plan an early night. Govardhan Puja on Monday is observed at home or in the temple by those who keep it; you can mark it with a small Annakut offering of cooked dishes before work.

One more practical note: some London boroughs and housing associations ask residents not to use candles or open flames on balconies and in communal areas. If you live in a block of flats, read the notice board or ask your landlord, and use battery tea lights where required. They look much the same in the evening, and they keep everyone safe.

Frequently asked questions

When is Diwali 2026 in London?

Diwali (Lakshmi Puja) is on Sunday 8 November 2026 in London. Dhanteras is on Friday 6 November.

What is the Lakshmi Puja time in London?

The muhurat is 4:35 PM to 6:12 PM GMT on 8 November, within Pradosh Kaal (4:22 PM to 7:19 PM), per Drik Panchang for London.

Is Diwali on the Square still happening in Trafalgar Square?

No. The event planned for Sunday 25 October 2026 was cancelled after safety advice about storms. We have not seen a new date, so follow City Hall for announcements.

Are Govardhan Puja and Bhai Dooj on different days in the UK?

Drik Panchang lists Govardhan Puja on Monday 9 November and Bhai Dooj on Tuesday 10 November in the UK, a day earlier than in India. Your temple may follow the Indian date.

Where can I celebrate Diwali in London?

At home with a Lakshmi-Ganesh puja, or at temples such as Neasden, the ISKCON centres and South Indian temples. Check each temple's own schedule, because programmes change.

Can I let off fireworks at home?

There are legal limits on when and what you may use in England, and some councils restrict them. Read our UK fireworks rules, and prefer organised displays.

Why is the Lakshmi Puja so early in the day in the UK?

After the clocks go back, sunset in London is around 4:20 PM, and the muhurat follows sunset. India's time must not be converted.

Editor's note

Editor's note (31 October 2026): We rebuilt this guide on 31 October 2026. We removed the statement that Diwali on the Square is held on the nearest Sunday (it was cancelled on 24 October), unsourced crowd figures, an unconfirmed special bus service, a fireworks claim for Neasden, a promotional line and a comment request, and replaced a template FAQ. We added the Drik Panchang dates and London muhurat (matching our UK city guide), the cancellation notice with its source, safety notes, a family plan and seven FAQs. Temple programmes for 8 and 9 November were not confirmed when we updated this page.

Related guides

• Diwali 2026 in the UK: Lakshmi Puja time by city
• London and Leicester Diwali 2026
• Diwali fireworks laws in the UK
• Diwali 2026: complete 5-day guide
• The 5 days of Diwali 2026 explained
• Dhanteras 2026
• November 2026 Hindu festivals in the UK