Diwali 2026 in Egypt: Dates, Lakshmi Puja Muhurat and Where to Celebrate

Quick answer: Lakshmi Puja (Diwali) in Egypt is on Sunday 8 November 2026, and the Cairo muhurat is 5:26 PM to 7:21 PM Egyptian time (UTC+2). The five days run from Dhanteras on Friday 6 November to Bhai Dooj on Tuesday 10 November, and the dates are the same in every Egyptian city. Egypt has no Hindu temple, so most families celebrate at home, with community gatherings arranged through the Indian Community Association of Egypt and the Embassy of India in Cairo.

Editor's note (1 November 2026): HinduTone calculated these local dates using Drik Panchang tithi times and Drik's own rules for each festival day, and checked our method against Drik's published dates for 15 countries. The Lakshmi Puja muhurat is the Vrishabha (Taurus) lagna that falls within Pradosh Kaal, following the Drik method, worked out for each city's own sunset. We do not list event schedules: temples and community groups usually announce Diwali programmes a few weeks ahead; check their websites and social pages.

Diwali 2026 dates in Egypt

These are the five days for Cairo. Every other Egyptian city in our table has the same dates.

For reference, the global tithi times (Drik Panchang, IST) are: Amavasya from 11:27 AM on 8 November to 12:31 PM on 9 November, IST. In Egyptian time, Amavasya runs from Sun 8 Nov, 7:57 AM to Mon 9 Nov, 9:01 AM, so the new moon covers the whole Pradosh evening on Sunday 8 November. That is why Lakshmi Puja is on the 8th in Egypt. Do not try to convert India's Lakshmi Puja muhurat to Egyptian time: the muhurat depends on your own sunset, which is what the tables here use.

Diwali 2026 city timings in Egypt

Egypt uses one time zone (UTC+2). Timings shift by only a few minutes from east to west: Port Said and Suez on the Canal see sunset earliest, Alexandria on the Mediterranean coast latest.

If your town is not listed, use the nearest city. The difference across the Nile Delta and Canal cities is under ten minutes, so the muhurat for Cairo, Mansoura or Suez will serve most readers.

Lakshmi Puja muhurat in Egypt explained

Lakshmi Puja is performed on the Amavasya evening, during Pradosh Kaal, the period of roughly two and a half hours that begins at sunset. In Cairo on Sunday 8 November 2026 sunset is at 5:03 PM, so Pradosh Kaal runs from 5:03 PM to 7:41 PM.

Within Pradosh, the most auspicious window is when Vrishabha (Taurus) lagna is rising. Vrishabha is a fixed (sthira) sign, and puja done in a fixed lagna is traditionally believed to make Lakshmi stay in the home. In Cairo, Vrishabha rises at 5:26 PM and sets at 7:21 PM, which gives the muhurat of 5:26 PM to 7:21 PM.

• Cairo and Giza: sunset 5:03 PM, Pradosh 5:03 PM – 7:41 PM, muhurat 5:26 PM – 7:21 PM.
• Alexandria: sunset 5:06 PM, Pradosh 5:06 PM – 7:45 PM, muhurat 5:29 PM – 7:23 PM.
• Port Said: sunset 4:56 PM, Pradosh 4:56 PM – 7:36 PM, muhurat 5:19 PM – 7:13 PM.
• Suez: sunset 4:58 PM, Pradosh 4:58 PM – 7:36 PM, muhurat 5:21 PM – 7:16 PM.

Vrishabha rises within Pradosh Kaal in every Egyptian city this year, so you have a full window of nearly two hours. If you cannot begin within the Vrishabha window, any time during Pradosh Kaal is still correct for Lakshmi Puja. Many families light the diyas at sunset, perform the main puja in the muhurat, and continue with aarti and sharing sweets afterwards.

Hindu temples in Egypt for Diwali

Egypt does not have a Hindu temple. The Embassy of India in Cairo states plainly that there is no Indian temple (or Indian school) in the country, and we could not find any mandir, ISKCON centre or other dedicated Hindu place of worship in Egypt. We would rather say so honestly than list places that do not exist.

The Indian community is small, a few thousand people according to the Embassy, most of them in Cairo, with some families in Alexandria and Port Said. These are the organisations we could confirm that bring the community together:

Cairo

• Embassy of India, Cairo – the Embassy has hosted Diwali cultural programmes and receptions for the Indian community at India House in past years.
• Maulana Azad Centre for Indian Culture (MACIC), Zamalek – the Embassy's cultural centre, which runs Indian music, dance, yoga and language activities and is a good place to ask about festival events.
• Indian Community Association of Egypt (ICAE) – the community association, set up with the Embassy's support, which coordinates diaspora activities and has held an annual Festival of Lights and Dussehra gatherings in Cairo.

Alexandria, Port Said and other cities

We could not confirm any Hindu organisation outside Cairo. Families elsewhere usually celebrate at home or travel to Cairo for a community event. A home Lakshmi Puja, described below, is complete in itself and needs no temple.

Temples and community groups usually announce Diwali programmes a few weeks ahead; check their websites and social pages. For Egypt, that means the Embassy of India Cairo website and the ICAE and MACIC social media pages.

How Diwali is celebrated in Egypt

Indians in Egypt are mostly professionals, business families and their dependants, along with students and staff of multinational companies. Unlike Mauritius, Fiji or Trinidad, Egypt had no indentured migration from India, so there is no long-settled Hindu community with its own temples. The community includes Hindus, Muslims, Sikhs, Christians and Jains from every part of India, and Diwali is often celebrated together as a shared cultural festival.

At home, the pattern will be familiar: cleaning and decorating the flat, rangoli at the doorway, diyas and fairy lights on balconies, new clothes, and boxes of sweets exchanged with friends and colleagues. Many families buy a small silver coin or new utensil on Dhanteras and perform Lakshmi Ganesh puja on the main night. Indian groceries in Cairo stock basics, though many families bring idols, puja items and diyas back from trips to India.

Community programmes, when held, typically include a short puja, a cultural show with dance and music by children and adults, Indian food stalls and a family dinner. Egyptian friends and colleagues are often invited, and the Embassy has previously used Diwali as an occasion to share Indian culture with Egyptian guests.

Sikh families mark Bandi Chhor Divas on the same day as Diwali, remembering Guru Hargobind's release from Gwalior Fort, and Jain families observe Diwali as the day of Lord Mahavira's nirvana, often with prayers and fasting rather than celebration. Gujarati families celebrate their new year (Bestu Varas) on Govardhan day, Monday 9 November.

Simple Lakshmi Puja at home

Without a temple nearby, the home puja is the heart of Diwali in Egypt. Here is a short, general vidhi that suits most traditions; follow your own family's customs where they differ.

1. Clean the home in the days before, and on the evening of Sunday 8 November make a rangoli at the entrance and place diyas at the door, windows and balcony.
2. Set a clean low table or platform with a red or yellow cloth. Place images or idols of Lakshmi and Ganesha (Ganesha to Lakshmi's left), a kalash of water topped with mango or betel leaves and a coconut, and a plate of rice.
3. At the start of the muhurat (5:26 PM in Cairo), light the main ghee lamp, sprinkle water to purify yourself and the space, and make a sankalpa stating your name, place and the purpose of the puja.
4. Worship Ganesha first, then Lakshmi: offer water, kumkum, haldi, rice, flowers, incense, a lamp, sweets and fruit. Place coins, account books or valuables before Lakshmi if that is your custom.
5. Chant simple mantras such as "Om Gan Ganapataye Namah" and "Om Shreem Mahalakshmyai Namah", or read the Lakshmi Ashtakam or Shri Suktam if you know them.
6. Perform aarti, share prasad with the family, and light diyas throughout the home. Keep a lamp burning through the night if you can do so safely.

For the full five-day background, see our guides to Dhanteras 2026, Naraka Chaturdashi 2026 and Govardhan Puja and Annakut 2026.

Practical tips for Diwali 2026 in Egypt

• Working week: Egypt's weekend is Friday and Saturday, so Dhanteras (Friday 6 November) falls on a day off, but Lakshmi Puja on Sunday 8 November is a normal working day. Plan to be home before sunset, and check the official 2026 holiday list.
• Early sunset: Sunset in Cairo is at 5:03 PM, and the muhurat starts at 5:26 PM. Prepare the puja area and prasad the day before or in the morning.
• Weather: November evenings in Cairo and the Delta are mild and dry, comfortable for diyas on balconies; Alexandria can be breezy, so use glass-covered lamps outdoors.
• Fireworks: Rules on fireworks are set by the Egyptian authorities; do not buy or light any without checking. Diyas, candles and electric lights are the safe choice.
• Community events: If you want to join a group celebration or need a priest for a home puja, contact the ICAE or the Embassy well ahead, as arrangements are limited and fill early.
• Puja items: Buy diyas, wicks, kumkum and incense early from Indian grocers in Cairo, or ask friends travelling from India to bring them.

Diwali 2026 in Egypt: FAQ

When is Diwali 2026 in Egypt?

The main day, Lakshmi Puja, is Sunday 8 November 2026 everywhere in Egypt. Dhanteras is on Friday 6 November, Naraka Chaturdashi on Sunday 8 November, Govardhan Puja on Monday 9 November and Bhai Dooj on Tuesday 10 November.

What is the Lakshmi Puja muhurat in Cairo and Alexandria?

In Cairo the muhurat is 5:26 PM to 7:21 PM on Sunday 8 November 2026, Egyptian time (UTC+2). In Alexandria it is 5:29 PM to 7:23 PM. Both are the Vrishabha (Taurus) lagna within Pradosh Kaal, which in Cairo runs from 5:03 PM to 7:41 PM.

Is there a Hindu temple in Egypt?

No. The Embassy of India in Cairo states that there is no Indian temple in Egypt. Community Diwali gatherings are usually organised through the Indian Community Association of Egypt and the Embassy, and most families perform Lakshmi Puja at home.

Is Diwali a public holiday in Egypt?

Check the official 2026 holiday list. Lakshmi Puja falls on Sunday 8 November, which is a normal working day in Egypt, so plan to finish work in time for the evening muhurat.

Do the muhurat times differ between Egyptian cities?

Only slightly. Port Said is earliest (5:19 PM to 7:13 PM) and Alexandria latest (5:29 PM to 7:23 PM). Cairo, Giza and Shubra al Khaymah share 5:26 PM to 7:21 PM. Use the time for your nearest city.

Can I light diyas and fireworks in Egypt for Diwali?

Diyas and candles at home are fine with sensible fire safety, especially in apartment buildings. Fireworks rules are set by the Egyptian authorities, so check before buying or lighting any.

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