Diwali 2026 in the Philippines: Dates, Lakshmi Puja Muhurat and Hindu Temples

Quick answer: in the Philippines, Diwali's main day, Lakshmi Puja, is on Sunday 8 November 2026. In Manila the Lakshmi Puja muhurat is 5:52 PM – 7:54 PM Philippine Time. The festival runs from Dhanteras on Friday 6 November to Bhai Dooj on Wednesday 11 November, and the dates are the same in every Philippine city.

Editor's note (1 November 2026): HinduTone calculated these local dates using Drik Panchang tithi times and Drik's rules for each festival day, and checked our method against Drik's own published dates for 15 countries. The Lakshmi Puja muhurat is the Drik method: the period when Vrishabha (Taurus) lagna, a fixed ascendant, is rising within Pradosh Kaal. All times are Philippine Time (UTC+8). We do not list event schedules, because temples and community groups set their own programmes each year.

Diwali 2026 dates in the Philippines

These are the five days of Diwali for Manila. They are the same across the country.

Naraka Chaturdashi and Lakshmi Puja share Sunday 8 November. Chaturdashi is still current at sunrise that morning, and Amavasya, the new-moon tithi on which Lakshmi Puja is done, begins in the Philippines at Sun 8 Nov, 1:57 PM and runs to Mon 9 Nov, 3:01 PM. Only the evening of 8 November has Amavasya during Pradosh Kaal, so that is Lakshmi Puja night. Monday 9 November is a gap day, and Pratipada for Govardhan Puja is current at sunrise on Tuesday 10 November. For reference, Drik Panchang gives Amavasya as 11:27 AM on 8 November to 12:31 PM on 9 November IST, which is the same moment expressed in Indian time.

Diwali 2026 city by city in the Philippines

All cities share the same dates; only the muhurat shifts by a few minutes with sunset.

If your town is not listed, use the nearest city on the same island. The difference across the Philippines is under 15 minutes.

Lakshmi Puja muhurat explained

Lakshmi Puja is done in the evening on Amavasya, during Pradosh Kaal, the period of about two and a half hours that begins at sunset. In Manila on Sunday 8 November, sunset is at 5:25 PM and Pradosh Kaal runs 5:25 PM – 7:55 PM.

Within Pradosh, the most auspicious window is when Vrishabha (Taurus) lagna is rising. Vrishabha is a fixed (sthira) sign, and tradition holds that Lakshmi worshipped in a fixed lagna stays in the home. In Manila, Vrishabha rises during Pradosh, giving the muhurat of 5:52 PM – 7:54 PM.

Every city in our table has Vrishabha rising during Pradosh this year, so you can use the muhurat shown. If you cannot start within it, any time in your city's Pradosh Kaal is still a proper time for the puja. For Davao, for example, Pradosh Kaal is 5:16 PM – 7:42 PM, and for Zamboanga 5:30 PM – 7:56 PM.

Hindu temples in the Philippines for Diwali

The Philippines has a small Hindu community, and its places of worship are concentrated in Metro Manila. We have named only places we could confirm.

Metro Manila

• Hindu Temple Manila – Paco, Manila. The best-known Hindu temple in the country and the main gathering place for Manila's Hindus.
• ISKCON Manila (Sri Sri Radha Madhava) – Metro Manila. The Hare Krishna centre, which usually marks Diwali and Govardhan Puja with kirtan and prasadam.
• Khalsa Diwan Sikh Temple – Paco, Manila. The historic gurdwara of Manila's Sikh community, where Bandi Chhor Divas is observed at Diwali time.
• Embassy of India, Manila – Makati. In past years the embassy, with community groups such as Bharati Manila, has supported Diwali celebrations.

Cebu, Davao and the rest of the country

We could not confirm a dedicated Hindu temple in Cebu, Davao, Zamboanga or other cities outside Metro Manila. Indian students, professionals and business families there often mark Diwali at home or with friends. If you live outside Manila, a home puja is the simplest and most traditional option, and it is described below.

Temples and community groups usually announce Diwali programmes a few weeks ahead; check their websites and social pages.

How Diwali is celebrated in the Philippines

Hindus are a very small minority in the Philippines, about 0.03 per cent of the population at the 2020 census. Most are people of Indian origin, including Sindhi and Punjabi families who settled in Manila in the twentieth century, along with more recent Indian professionals, students and their families. Ties between India and the islands go back much further: Hindu-Buddhist influence reached the archipelago through trade centuries before the Spanish arrived, and it can still be seen in some old words and artefacts.

Today, Diwali in the Philippines is mostly a family and community festival. Homes are cleaned and decorated with rangoli and diyas, families visit Hindu Temple Manila or ISKCON for darshan and aarti, and sweets are shared with neighbours and Filipino friends. Community programmes in Manila typically include a Lakshmi Puja, bhajans, cultural performances by children, Indian dance and a shared dinner. Larger gatherings run by Indian associations have been held in hotels and convention halls in past years.

Sikh families mark Bandi Chhor Divas at the gurdwara at the same time, remembering Guru Hargobind's release from Gwalior Fort, and Jain families observe Diwali as the day of Lord Mahavira's nirvana. Gujarati families often celebrate their New Year on Govardhan day, Tuesday 10 November.

Diwali comes just after Undas, the Filipino observance of All Saints' Day and All Souls' Day on 1 and 2 November, and as Christmas decorations go up across the country. Many Filipino friends will recognise the spirit of lights, family and food.

Simple Lakshmi Puja at home

You do not need a priest to do a heartfelt Lakshmi Puja. A short, general method:

1. Clean the house, especially the puja area and the entrance, during the day on 8 November.
2. Place a clean cloth on a low table, with images or murtis of Lakshmi and Ganesha. Add a kalash of water topped with mango leaves and a coconut if you have them.
3. Light a ghee or oil diya, and place more diyas at the door and windows.
4. Within your muhurat, begin with Ganesha: offer flowers, kumkum and a sweet, and chant "Om Gam Ganapataye Namah".
5. Worship Lakshmi with flowers, rice, kumkum, coins or jewellery, and sweets. Chant "Om Shreem Mahalakshmyai Namah" or recite the Shri Suktam or Lakshmi Ashtottara if you know them.
6. Perform aarti, sing "Om Jai Lakshmi Mata", then share prasad with the family.
7. Keep a diya burning for the evening and spend time with family and friends.

Practical tips

• Lakshmi Puja is on a Sunday this year, which makes evening family puja easier. Diwali is not a Philippine public holiday, so Dhanteras (Friday), Govardhan (Tuesday) and Bhai Dooj (Wednesday) are working days. Check the official 2026 holiday list if you need to plan leave.
• Sunset in early November is around 5:15–5:30 PM across the country, so have your altar ready by late afternoon.
• November is late in the typhoon season and rain is still common. Check the PAGASA weather forecast before travelling to a temple and keep diyas away from open windows in strong wind.
• Fireworks and firecrackers are regulated in the Philippines, and local government units set their own rules on where and when they can be used. Check your city or barangay rules; many families choose diyas and electric lights instead.
• If you want a priest to perform a puja for your family or business, ask the temple early, as Diwali evening is the busiest time of the year.
• Keep lamps on stable, non-flammable surfaces, especially in condominiums, and follow your building's rules on open flames.

FAQ

When is Diwali 2026 in the Philippines?

The main day, Lakshmi Puja, is Sunday 8 November 2026 throughout the Philippines. Dhanteras is Friday 6 November, Naraka Chaturdashi is also on Sunday 8 November, Govardhan Puja is Tuesday 10 November and Bhai Dooj is Wednesday 11 November.

What is the Lakshmi Puja muhurat in Manila?

In Manila the muhurat is 5:52 PM – 7:54 PM on Sunday 8 November, Philippine Time (UTC+8). In Cebu City it is 5:47 PM – 7:46 PM and in Davao 5:45 PM – 7:42 PM. The table above gives every city.

Why are Naraka Chaturdashi and Lakshmi Puja on the same day?

In the Philippines, Chaturdashi is still running at sunrise on Sunday 8 November and Amavasya begins at 1:57 PM local time that afternoon, so it covers the evening. The dawn bath of Naraka Chaturdashi and the evening Lakshmi Puja therefore both fall on Sunday 8 November.

Is Diwali a public holiday in the Philippines in 2026?

No. Diwali does not appear on the 2026 list of regular holidays and special non-working days announced by Malacañang. In 2026 the main day falls on a Sunday, which helps, but check the official 2026 holiday list for any later changes.

Which Hindu temples in the Philippines celebrate Diwali?

The main places are in Metro Manila: Hindu Temple Manila in Paco and ISKCON Manila. The Embassy of India in Manila and Indian community groups have also held Diwali celebrations in past years. We could not confirm a Hindu temple in Cebu or Davao.

Can I do Lakshmi Puja at home if there is no temple nearby?

Yes. A simple home puja with a clean altar, a diya, flowers, sweets and prayers to Lakshmi and Ganesha, done within your city's muhurat on 8 November, is entirely traditional.

Related guides

• Diwali 2026 dates in every country, with Lakshmi Puja times
• Diwali 2026: all guides
• Diwali 2026 date and Lakshmi Puja muhurat in India
• The 5 days of Diwali 2026 explained
• Deepavali 2026 in Singapore
• Govardhan Puja and Annakut 2026
• Diwali 2026 in Hong Kong
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