Diwali 2026 in Malawi: Dates, Lakshmi Puja Muhurat and Temples

Quick answer: in Malawi, Lakshmi Puja (main Diwali) is on Sunday 8 November 2026, and the Lilongwe muhurat is 6:21 PM to 8:04 PM Malawi time. Dhanteras is on Friday 6 November, Govardhan Puja on Monday 9 November and Bhai Dooj on Tuesday 10 November. The dates are the same in every town in Malawi; only the evening timings move by a few minutes. Lilongwe and Blantyre both have Hindu temples, and families elsewhere usually keep the puja at home.

Editor's note (1 November 2026): HinduTone calculated these local dates from Drik Panchang tithi times using Drik's own rules for each festival, 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 town's own sunset. We do not list event schedules, because they change every year. Temples and community groups usually announce Diwali programmes a few weeks ahead; check their websites and social pages.

Diwali 2026 dates in Malawi

These are the five days of Diwali for Lilongwe. The same dates apply throughout Malawi, which keeps a single time zone (UTC+2).

Naraka Chaturdashi and Lakshmi Puja share the same day this year. Amavasya in Malawi runs from Sun 8 Nov, 7:57 AM to Mon 9 Nov, 9:01 AM local time (11:27 AM 8 Nov to 12:31 PM 9 Nov IST). Sunday evening is therefore the only evening when Amavasya covers Pradosh Kaal, which is why Lakshmi Puja is on Sunday 8 November. The pre-dawn bath of Naraka Chaturdashi also falls on Sunday morning, while Chaturdashi is still running. Amavasya ends on Monday morning, after which Pratipada begins, so Govardhan Puja is on Monday 9 November; Dwitiya follows for Bhai Dooj on Tuesday 10 November.

Diwali 2026 town by town in Malawi

Malawi is long and narrow, running north to south, so sunset varies only a little across the country. The dates are identical everywhere. Times below are local Malawi time.

If you live in Limbe, Dedza, Nkhotakota or another town not shown, use the nearest town in the table; the difference will be a few minutes at most.

Lakshmi Puja muhurat in Malawi explained

Lakshmi Puja is done in the evening of Amavasya, during Pradosh Kaal, the window of a little over two hours that begins at sunset. In Lilongwe on Sunday 8 November, sunset is at 5:49 PM, so Pradosh Kaal runs from 5:49 PM to 8:04 PM.

Within Pradosh Kaal, the most auspicious part is when Vrishabha (Taurus) lagna is rising. Vrishabha is a fixed (sthir) sign, and worshipping Lakshmi in a fixed lagna is traditionally understood to help her stay in the home. In Lilongwe, Vrishabha rises at 6:21 PM and Pradosh ends at 8:04 PM, which gives the muhurat of 6:21 PM to 8:04 PM. In every town in the table this year, Vrishabha rises during Pradosh, so each has a proper muhurat of a little under two hours.

If you cannot be ready in time for the muhurat, doing the puja anywhere within Pradosh Kaal is still correct. Here are the figures for each town:

Hindu temples in Malawi for Diwali

Malawi's Hindu community is small, and its temples are in the two main cities, Lilongwe and Blantyre. We have confirmed the places below from the temples' own websites, the High Commission of India in Lilongwe and reliable published listings. We could not confirm a Hindu temple in Mzuzu, Zomba, Karonga or the other towns in the table. If you live there, ask local Indian families or contact one of the city temples, and plan a home puja.

Lilongwe

• BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir, Area 4, Lilongwe: the Swaminarayan mandir in the capital, where BAPS also laid the foundation stone for a new Hindu mandir in 2025.
• Shree Radha Krishna Temple, Lilongwe: named by the High Commission of India as one of the places that keeps Indian culture and heritage alive in the city.
• Shri Hindu Seva Samaj, Lilongwe: the city's Hindu community association.

Blantyre and Limbe

• Shree Hindu Seva Mandal, Blantyre: the Hindu temple and community body in central Blantyre.
• BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir, Limbe, Blantyre: opened in 2004 through the efforts of local devotees.
• ISKCON Blantyre, Namiwawa, Blantyre: the Hare Krishna centre, with a small congregation.

Both cities also have regional Indian associations, such as Tamil, Telugu, Malayalee and Kannada groups, which often hold their own gatherings around Deepavali. Blantyre has a Brahma Kumaris Raja Yoga Centre as well. The High Commission of India in Lilongwe keeps a list of community associations and is a useful first contact if you are new to the country. Temples and community groups usually announce Diwali programmes a few weeks ahead; check their websites and social pages.

How Diwali is celebrated in Malawi

Indians first came to what was then British Central Africa, later Nyasaland, in the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. Many were traders and shopkeepers, and others worked on the early railway between Malawi and Mozambique. Families came from Gujarat, Punjab, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar and Bengal, among other places. After independence many moved on, particularly to Britain, but a settled community remained, mostly in business, and it has since been joined by professionals from South India and elsewhere. Malawi does not count Hindus separately in its census, but the community is small and concentrated in Lilongwe and Blantyre.

Because the community is mixed, Diwali in Malawi brings several traditions together. Gujarati business families often keep chopda pujan (blessing of new account books) on Lakshmi Puja night, and Bestu Varas, the Gujarati New Year, on Govardhan day, Monday 9 November, when Swaminarayan mandirs traditionally offer an Annakut of many dishes. Tamil, Telugu, Kannada and Malayali families may keep the Deepavali pattern, with the early oil bath on Naraka Chaturdashi morning, Sunday 8 November. Temple programmes typically include aarti, bhajans, a shared meal and cultural items by children. Malawi also has a Sikh association, and Sikh families mark Bandi Chhor Divas on the same evening as Lakshmi Puja; Jain families, where present, remember Mahavira's nirvana.

We could not confirm whether Diwali appears on Malawi's public holiday calendar for 2026. Check the official 2026 holiday list published by the government.

Simple Lakshmi Puja at home

If you cannot reach a temple, a simple home puja is complete in itself. Begin within Pradosh Kaal, ideally during your town's muhurat.

1. Clean the house, especially the entrance, and make a rangoli at the door.
2. Set a clean cloth on a low table, place images or murtis of Lakshmi and Ganesha, and a kalash of water with mango leaves and a coconut if you have them.
3. Light a ghee or oil diya, and invoke Ganesha first with a short prayer such as "Om Gam Ganapataye Namah".
4. Offer flowers, kumkum, rice, sweets, fruit and a few coins to Lakshmi, chanting "Om Shreem Mahalakshmyai Namah" or reading the Lakshmi Ashtakam.
5. Perform aarti, share the prasad with family, then light diyas at doors and windows.

Practical tips

• Lakshmi Puja falls on a Sunday this year, which makes the evening puja easier for most working families. Dhanteras falls on Friday and Govardhan on Monday, so plan leave early if you need it.
• Sunset is early by Indian standards: 5:49 PM in Lilongwe and 5:46 PM in Blantyre. Pradosh Kaal begins soon after most people leave work, so prepare the puja space in the afternoon.
• November is the hottest time of year in Malawi, and the first rains and thunderstorms often arrive around now. Keep diyas sheltered from wind and rain, and never leave lamps unattended.
• Fireworks rules are set by local authorities; check before buying or lighting any, and be careful near dry grass and thatched roofs.
• If you want a family puja or Annakut offering at a temple, ask well ahead, as Diwali is the busiest time of the year for the small temple committees.
• Power cuts can happen in Malawi, so keep a few extra diyas, candles and matches ready; oil lamps are the traditional way in any case.

Frequently asked questions

When is Diwali 2026 in Malawi?

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

What is the Lakshmi Puja muhurat in Lilongwe?

In Lilongwe the Lakshmi Puja muhurat is 6:21 PM to 8:04 PM on Sunday 8 November 2026, Malawi time (UTC+2). This is the Vrishabha (Taurus) lagna inside Pradosh Kaal, which runs from sunset at 5:49 PM to 8:04 PM.

What is the Lakshmi Puja muhurat in Blantyre?

In Blantyre, including Limbe, the muhurat is 6:18 PM to 8:01 PM on Sunday 8 November 2026. Sunset is at 5:46 PM, so Pradosh Kaal runs from 5:46 PM to 8:01 PM.

Are there Hindu temples in Malawi?

Yes, in the two main cities. Lilongwe has the BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir and the Shree Radha Krishna Temple. Blantyre has the Shree Hindu Seva Mandal temple, the BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir in Limbe and the ISKCON centre in Namiwawa. We could not confirm a temple in Mzuzu, Zomba or the smaller towns, where families usually celebrate at home.

Is Diwali a public holiday in Malawi?

We could not confirm Diwali on an official 2026 holiday list for Malawi. Check the official 2026 holiday list published by the government, and speak to your employer early if you need leave for Friday 6 or Monday 9 November.

Can I light diyas and fireworks for Diwali in Malawi?

Diyas and candles at home are fine with sensible fire safety. Rules on fireworks are set by the local authorities, so check locally before buying or lighting any, and take care near dry grass and thatch before the rains set in.

Related guides

• Diwali 2026 dates in every country, with Lakshmi Puja time
• Diwali 2026: complete festival guide
• Diwali 2026 date and Lakshmi Puja muhurat in India
• The 5 days of Diwali 2026 explained
• Dhanteras 2026
• Govardhan Puja and Annakut 2026
• Bhai Dooj 2026
• Diwali 2026 in Zambia
• Diwali 2026 in Mozambique
• Diwali 2026 in Zimbabwe