Diwali 2026 in Mongolia: Dates, Lakshmi Puja Muhurat for Ulaanbaatar and Other Cities, and Where to Celebrate

Diwali 2026 in Mongolia: the main night, Lakshmi Puja, is on Sunday 8 November 2026, and in Ulaanbaatar the Lakshmi Puja muhurat is 5:40 PM to 7:22 PM local time (UTC+8). Dhanteras is on Friday 6 November, Govardhan Puja on Tuesday 10 November and Bhai Dooj on Wednesday 11 November. The dates are the same across Mongolia, including the western provinces that keep UTC+7; only the clock times change from city to city.

Editor's note (1 November 2026): HinduTone calculated these local dates from Drik Panchang tithi times using Drik Panchang'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, the same method Drik Panchang uses. We do not list event schedules: the Indian community in Mongolia is small, and any gatherings are arranged and announced by the organisers themselves closer to the day.

Diwali 2026 dates in Mongolia

These are the five days of Diwali for Ulaanbaatar. The same dates apply in every Mongolian city in this guide.

Saturday 7 November and Monday 9 November carry no main Diwali ritual in Mongolia. Chaturdashi is the tithi at sunrise on Sunday, so Naraka Chaturdashi and Lakshmi Puja fall on the same day, which happens in many years. Pratipada, the Govardhan tithi, is present at sunrise on Tuesday 10 November, so Govardhan Puja moves to Tuesday.

For reference, the global tithi changes in Indian Standard Time are: Trayodashi 10:30 AM IST on 6 November to 10:47 AM IST on 7 November; Chaturdashi to 11:27 AM IST on 8 November; Amavasya from 11:27 AM IST on 8 November to 12:31 PM IST on 9 November; Pratipada to 2:00 PM IST on 10 November; Dwitiya to 3:53 PM IST on 11 November. In Ulaanbaatar time, Amavasya runs from Sunday 8 November, 1:57 PM, to Monday 9 November, 3:01 PM.

Diwali 2026 city by city in Mongolia

Mongolia uses two time zones. Most of the country, including Ulaanbaatar, keeps UTC+8. The far-western provinces, including Khovd and Uvs (whose capital is Ulaangom), keep UTC+7. All times below are local clock time for that city.

If your town is not listed, use the nearest city on the same time zone. The muhurat across Mongolia differs by up to about an hour because the country is wide from east to west: Choibalsan in the east has the earliest sunset, Bayankhongor in the south-west the latest.

Lakshmi Puja muhurat explained

Lakshmi Puja is done on the evening of Amavasya, in Pradosh Kaal, the period that begins at sunset and lasts close to three hours. In Ulaanbaatar on Sunday 8 November, sunset is at 5:24 PM, so Pradosh Kaal runs from 5:24 PM to 8:17 PM.

Within Pradosh, the most favoured window is when Vrishabha (Taurus) lagna is rising. Vrishabha is a fixed (sthira) sign, and worship in a fixed lagna is traditionally believed to help Lakshmi stay in the home. In Ulaanbaatar this window is 5:40 PM to 7:22 PM. Amavasya is current throughout the evening in every Mongolian city, so the whole Pradosh Kaal is suitable if you cannot manage the narrower muhurat.

A practical plan for a Mongolian November evening: light the lamps at the door and windows soon after sunset, settle the family for puja inside the muhurat, then share prasad and dinner. Keep at least one diya or electric lamp burning through the night.

Hindu temples in Mongolia for Diwali

We could not confirm any Hindu temple, mandir or Hindu community hall anywhere in Mongolia, and we do not want to send you to a place that may not exist. What we could confirm is listed below.

Ulaanbaatar

• ISKCON (International Society for Krishna Consciousness), Ulaanbaatar: ISKCON is officially registered in Mongolia and has a small centre in the capital. ISKCON's own centre directory lists Govinda's Ulaanbaatar, a vegetarian café. ISKCON centres usually mark Diwali and Govardhan Puja with kirtan, lamp offerings and an Annakut feast, so it is worth asking whether they are holding anything this year.
• Embassy of India, Ulaanbaatar: the Indian mission in Mongolia has been in the capital since 1971 and is the main point of contact for Indian nationals. Indian missions in many countries hold or support a Diwali gathering for the community; ask the embassy or follow its official social media accounts.

Outside Ulaanbaatar we found no Hindu organisation at all. Indian professionals, students and their families in Erdenet, Darkhan or the provinces will most likely celebrate at home or travel to the capital to join friends.

Temples and community groups usually announce Diwali programmes a few weeks ahead; check their websites and social pages. If you do find a gathering, these typically include a shared Lakshmi-Ganesh puja, aarti, bhajans, a potluck dinner of Indian sweets and snacks, and a cultural programme for children.

How Diwali is celebrated in Mongolia

Mongolia is a largely Buddhist country, with Tibetan Buddhism at the heart of its religious life and a long shared heritage with India through Buddhism. There is no historic Hindu settler community of the kind found in Fiji, Mauritius or Trinidad. The Hindus in Mongolia today are mostly Indian nationals living in Ulaanbaatar: diplomats, engineers and mining professionals, IT and business people, teachers, doctors and students, often with their families. Members of the Indian community met India's Home Minister during his visit to Ulaanbaatar in 2018, which gives a sense of a small but organised group.

For most Hindu families in Mongolia, Diwali is a home festival. People clean and decorate the flat, make rangoli at the door, cook or order sweets, and do Lakshmi Puja together on Amavasya night. Friends from different Indian states often visit one another over the weekend, so a single evening can bring together Gujarati, Tamil, Bengali, Punjabi and Telugu customs at one table. Mongolian friends and colleagues are often warmly curious about the festival, and sharing a box of sweets at work on Monday is a simple way to explain it.

Sikh families mark Bandi Chhor Divas on the same Amavasya, and Jain families observe Diwali as the nirvana of Lord Mahavira, so a shared community evening may bring all three traditions together. Buddhist friends may also recognise the lamps, since butter lamps are central to Mongolian temple practice.

Simple Lakshmi Puja at home

If there is no gathering near you, a home puja is complete in itself. A simple order that suits most families:

1. Clean the home in the days before, and open the door or a window briefly at the start of the puja to welcome Lakshmi.
2. On a clean red or yellow cloth, place images or murtis of Ganesh and Lakshmi, with a kalash of water topped with mango or betel leaves and a coconut if available.
3. Light a ghee or oil diya and incense. Offer kumkum, haldi, rice grains (akshat) and flowers.
4. Pray to Ganesh first, then to Lakshmi. Recite the Lakshmi mantra, Shri Suktam or a simple prayer in your own language.
5. Offer sweets, fruit, dried fruit and coins; many families also place a new account book, jewellery or cash for blessing.
6. Perform aarti together, take prasad, and light diyas around the home. Keep one lamp burning through the night.

Puja items such as kumkum, camphor and incense can be hard to find in Mongolia, so pack them on your next trip home or ask friends travelling from India. Small tealights from any supermarket work well for the windows.

Practical tips

• Weekday and holidays: Lakshmi Puja is on Sunday 8 November, so most people can be at home for the evening. Dhanteras is a Friday, Govardhan Puja a Tuesday and Bhai Dooj a Wednesday. Check the official 2026 holiday list; we found no sign that Diwali is a public holiday in Mongolia.
• Cold and early sunset: November in Mongolia is very cold, often well below freezing after dark, and the sun sets around 5:24 PM in Ulaanbaatar. Keep diyas indoors or in sheltered window spots, plan travel to friends' homes before the evening cold sets in, and dress children warmly for any outdoor moment.
• Open flames indoors: Many flats are heated and well sealed. Keep lamps away from curtains, never leave them unattended, and ventilate the room after incense and camphor.
• Fireworks: rules on fireworks and firecrackers are set by Mongolian national and local authorities. Check the current rules before buying any, and remember that winter air quality in Ulaanbaatar is a real concern; many families now prefer lamps and electric lights.
• Book early if anyone offers a puja: if a group or a visiting priest arranges a shared puja, places can be limited, so register or confirm early.
• Calling home: Ulaanbaatar is 2.5 hours ahead of India and Khovd 1.5 hours ahead, so family calls before your puja reach India in the afternoon.

FAQ

When is Diwali 2026 in Mongolia?

The main day, Lakshmi Puja, is on Sunday 8 November 2026 throughout Mongolia. Dhanteras is on Friday 6 November, Naraka Chaturdashi also falls on Sunday 8 November, Govardhan Puja is on Tuesday 10 November and Bhai Dooj is on Wednesday 11 November. The dates are the same in both of Mongolia's time zones.

What is the Lakshmi Puja muhurat in Ulaanbaatar in 2026?

In Ulaanbaatar the Lakshmi Puja muhurat is 5:40 PM to 7:22 PM on Sunday 8 November 2026, local time (UTC+8). This is the Vrishabha (Taurus) lagna within Pradosh Kaal, which runs from 5:24 PM to 8:17 PM.

Is there a Hindu temple in Mongolia?

We could not confirm any Hindu temple in Mongolia. ISKCON is registered in the country and has a small centre in Ulaanbaatar, and the Embassy of India is also in the capital. Most Hindu families in Mongolia celebrate Diwali with a puja at home.

Is Diwali a public holiday in Mongolia?

We found no evidence that Diwali is a public holiday in Mongolia. Check the official 2026 holiday list or ask your employer. In 2026 Lakshmi Puja falls on a Sunday, which makes the evening puja easier for most working families.

What is the muhurat in western Mongolia, in Khovd and Ulaangom?

Khovd and Ulaangom keep western Mongolia time (UTC+7). On Sunday 8 November the Lakshmi Puja muhurat is 5:41 PM to 7:23 PM in Khovd and 5:33 PM to 7:12 PM in Ulaangom, both in local western time.

Can I do Lakshmi Puja at home in Mongolia?

Yes. A home puja is entirely in keeping with tradition. Clean the home, set up Lakshmi and Ganesh on a clean cloth, light diyas after sunset, offer flowers, sweets and coins, recite or play a Lakshmi aarti and keep one lamp burning through the night. Use the muhurat for your city, or the whole Pradosh Kaal if that suits your family better.

Related guides

• Diwali 2026 dates in every country, with Lakshmi Puja time
• Diwali 2026: all guides
• Diwali 2026 date and Lakshmi Puja muhurat (India)
• The 5 days of Diwali 2026 explained
• Dhanteras 2026
• Govardhan Puja and Annakut 2026
• Bhai Dooj 2026
• Diwali 2026 in China
• Diwali 2026 in South Korea
• Diwali 2026 in Kazakhstan