Diwali 2026 in Rajasthan: Jaipur's Lit Bazaars, Marwari Bahi-Khata Puja, Annakut and Village Customs

Quick answer: Diwali 2026 falls on Sunday 8 November in India (Drik Panchang). In Rajasthan the festival is known for the illuminated bazaars and havelis of Jaipur, the Marwari custom of starting new account books (bahi-khata) at the Lakshmi puja, Annakut offerings to Krishna on Govardhan Puja (Tuesday 10 November), and mandana art in village homes. Calculated Lakshmi Puja muhurat for Jaipur: 6:03 PM to 8:00 PM.

Diwali 2026 dates in Rajasthan

Source: Drik Panchang (India). Naraka Chaturdashi is widely called Roop Chaudas or Roop Chaturdashi in Rajasthan, when many people take an ubtan (gram flour and turmeric paste) bath. In 2026 it shares Sunday 8 November with Lakshmi Puja.

Jaipur: bazaars, havelis and lamps

Jaipur's walled city is at its most festive in the Diwali fortnight. Traders' associations in the old bazaars traditionally put up lights and decorations, and the pink facades and haveli fronts are lit in the evenings. Families come to shop for diyas, idols of Lakshmi and Ganesha, silver, new clothes, dry fruits and sweets. Many forts, palaces and public buildings are also illuminated, though arrangements differ from year to year.

• The old-city bazaars get very crowded in the evenings close to Diwali, and traffic may be diverted; check local police advisories.
• Jaipur's temples, such as the long-established Govind Dev Ji temple dedicated to Krishna, draw large numbers for darshan in the festive days and on Annakut; check each temple's official website for current timings.
• If you are visiting, carry cash in small amounts, mind your belongings and be patient with crowds.

We have not listed any 'best' market or decoration ranking: local committees decide decorations and any competitions each year.

Marwari traditions: bahi-khata and the new year of business

For Marwari and other trading communities whose roots lie in Rajasthan, Diwali has long been the start of the business year. At the Lakshmi puja, new account books, traditionally the red cloth-bound bahi-khata, are worshipped. The first page is marked with a swastika and 'Shubh Labh' (auspicious profit) in vermilion or kumkum, and a coin, rice and a betel leaf may be placed on it. Ganesha is worshipped first, then Lakshmi, then the ledgers, the cash box and in some families the tools of the trade.

Today, many businesses keep their accounts digitally, but the custom continues: some print a ceremonial page, some worship the laptop or a fresh notebook alongside the traditional bahi-khata. The practice is closely related to Gujarat's Chopda Puja; see Chopda Puja 2026: complete business puja guide and Diwali in Gujarat: Kali Chaudas, Chopda Pujan and New Year.

Marwari families spread across Kolkata, Mumbai, Assam, the South and abroad keep these customs, often alongside local ones.

Lakshmi Puja muhurat 2026: Jaipur

Times for other Rajasthan cities will be close but not identical, since sunset shifts across the state; check Drik Panchang for your city. The window uses the Drik method (Pradosh Kaal with a fixed Vrishabha lagna) and is calculated, not copied from a printed panchang. More cities: Lakshmi Puja muhurat 2026 India city-wise and Diwali 2026 date and Lakshmi Puja muhurat.

Govardhan Puja and Annakut

Rajasthan has strong Krishna-bhakti traditions, and the day after Diwali, Govardhan Puja, is widely observed. Families shape a small Govardhan hill from cow dung in the courtyard, decorate it and worship it, remembering Krishna lifting Govardhan to protect the people of Braj. Temples offer Annakut, a 'mountain' of many cooked dishes. Nathdwara, home of Shrinathji and a major centre of the Pushti Marg tradition, is especially associated with Annakut darshan; check the temple's official website for current timings.

In 2026, Govardhan Puja and Annakut fall on Tuesday 10 November in India. See Govardhan Puja and Annakut 2026.

Village and rural customs

In rural Rajasthan, customs vary by district and community, but several are widely seen:

• Mandana: women renew floor and wall designs in white on a red-ochre or clay base at the doorway and courtyard.
• Lamps are placed at the threshold, the water source, the cattle shed and the household shrine after the evening puja.
• Cattle are bathed, decorated and worshipped around Govardhan Puja in farming families.
• Homes are freshly plastered or whitewashed before the festival, and new earthen lamps are bought from local potters.

Sweets and food

Rajasthani kitchens prepare sweets and savoury snacks for days before Diwali, with recipes differing between Marwar, Mewar, Shekhawati and Hadoti. For North Indian festival classics, see North Indian Diwali sweets: gujiya, mathri and coconut ladoo and 35 traditional Diwali sweets, snacks and festive dishes.

Fireworks

Fireworks hours and permitted crackers are set by courts and the state and district administrations, and can change every year. Follow the current orders in your city, and see Diwali cracker safety precautions.

For Rajasthani and Marwari families abroad

• Use your own city's muhurat; never convert Jaipur's times to your local time.
• In the USA, Govardhan Puja is Monday 9 November and Bhai Dooj Tuesday 10 November (Drik Panchang); see Diwali 2026 in the USA city by city.
• Business owners abroad often keep the custom of opening a new ledger or worshipping account books on Diwali evening, even when the financial year follows local law.

Frequently asked questions

When is Diwali 2026 in Rajasthan?

Diwali (Lakshmi Puja) is on Sunday 8 November 2026 in India, per Drik Panchang. Dhanteras is Friday 6 November, Govardhan Puja and Annakut Tuesday 10 November, and Bhai Dooj Wednesday 11 November.

What is the Lakshmi Puja muhurat in Jaipur on Diwali 2026?

The HinduTone calculator (Drik method) gives 6:03 PM to 8:00 PM for Jaipur on Sunday 8 November 2026. It is a calculated time; confirm with your family pandit or on Drik Panchang.

What is bahi-khata puja?

It is the worship of new account books on Diwali, a long-standing custom among Marwari and other trading communities. The new ledger, usually bound in red cloth, is marked with auspicious symbols such as the swastika and 'Shubh Labh' and placed before Lakshmi and Ganesha. It is closely related to Chopda Puja in Gujarat.

Why are Jaipur's markets lit up at Diwali?

Traders' associations in the walled city traditionally decorate their bazaars with lights for Diwali, and shoppers come for lamps, sweets, clothes and gifts. Arrangements and any competitions are decided locally each year.

What is mandana?

Mandana is a folk floor and wall art of Rajasthan, drawn in white (often lime or chalk) on a red-ochre or clay base. Women in many villages renew mandana designs on floors and doorways for Diwali.

Editor's note (9 October 2026)

Festival dates follow Drik Panchang for India. The Jaipur muhurat is calculated with the HinduTone calculator (Drik method) and should be confirmed locally. Customs are described in general terms; they vary by region, caste and family. We have not given market schedules, decoration contests or prices, which are decided locally each year.

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