Labh Panchami 2026: Date, Saubhagya Panchami, Jain Gyan Panchami and Puja

Quick answer: Labh Panchami 2026, also called Saubhagya Panchami, falls on Saturday 14 November 2026 in India. For many Gujarati traders it is the first working day of the new year, when shops reopen after Diwali with a Lakshmi and Ganesha puja. Jains observe the same day as Gyan Panchami, a day to honour knowledge.

This guide has been restored at its original hindutone.com address. Dates and times below are from Drik Panchang for New Delhi. Outside India the date can differ by a day, so check Drik Panchang for your own city.

Labh Panchami 2026 date and tithi

Source: Drik Panchang, New Delhi. We do not list muhurat clock times. For a business opening or puja muhurat, check Drik Panchang for your city.

Where Labh Panchami fits in the Gujarati festive season

Labh Panchami closes the Diwali and new year festive period in Gujarat. Per Drik Panchang for New Delhi, the 2026 sequence is:

The new account books are worshipped at Chopda Puja on Diwali. The new year begins on Bestu Varas. Then, on Labh Panchami, business families formally start trading in the new year. See our Gujarati New Year 2026 guide for the full week.

Why Labh Panchami matters to traders

'Labh' means profit or gain, and 'Saubhagya' means good fortune. In Gujarat, many shops, offices and markets stay closed for some days after Diwali so that families can celebrate and visit relatives. Labh Panchami is the day they reopen. Many traders write 'Shubh' (auspicious) and 'Labh' (profit) in the new books, draw a swastika, and make the first entry of the year after a short puja.

The idea is not only about money. Traders pray to begin the year honestly, to serve customers well and to share their earnings with the needy. Many people also visit friends and relatives they could not meet earlier in the festive week.

Lakshmi and Ganesha puja on Labh Panchami

Family traditions vary. A simple puja at home or at the place of work:

1. Clean the shop, office or home shrine. Place pictures of Ganesha and Lakshmi on a clean cloth.
2. Begin with Ganesha, the remover of obstacles, by offering a flower, durva grass and a sweet.
3. Offer Lakshmi flowers, kumkum, akshata (rice), a lamp, incense and sweets.
4. Apply a tilak of kumkum or sandalwood to the account books, cash box, keys or laptop used for work.
5. In the new books, write 'Shubh' and 'Labh' and draw a swastika, if your family follows this custom.
6. Pray for wellbeing, steady work and honest earnings for the year. Many families chant 'Om Shri Ganeshaya Namah' and 'Om Shri Mahalakshmyai Namah'.
7. End with aarti, share prasad, and make the first business entry or sale of the year.

Many people also give something in charity on this day, such as food, clothes or a donation to a temple or a cause they trust.

Gyan Panchami: the Jain observance

For the Jain community, Kartika Shukla Panchami is Gyan Panchami, also called Jnana Panchami. 'Gyan' means knowledge. Jains honour right knowledge as one of the core values of their path. On this day many Jains:

• Visit the derasar (Jain temple) and take part in prayers.
• Clean, arrange and worship sacred texts. Many temples and homes display the scriptures for reverence.
• Respect books, pens and other tools of learning, and avoid treating them carelessly.
• Keep a fast or a simpler diet, according to their own practice.
• Read, study or listen to teachings, and support libraries and schools.

Practices differ between Jain sects and families, so follow your own community's guidance.

Labh Panchami for NRI families

Gujarati and Jain families in the UK, the USA, Canada, East Africa and the Gulf keep this day in many ways. Some ideas:

• Check the local date: Use Drik Panchang for your city. Do not convert India's times.
• A short puja before work: Light a lamp before Ganesha and Lakshmi and say a prayer for the year's work. Business owners can apply tilak to the shop keys or till.
• Start a new notebook: Salaried professionals can start a new work diary or planner with 'Shubh Labh' on the first page.
• Jain families: Visit your local derasar and check its own announcements for Gyan Panchami programmes.
• Teach children: Explain that honest work and respect for learning are the real meaning of the day.

Frequently asked questions

When is Labh Panchami 2026?

Labh Panchami 2026 is on Saturday 14 November 2026 in India, per Drik Panchang for New Delhi. It falls on Kartika Shukla Panchami, the fifth day of the bright half of Kartika.

What is the meaning of Labh Panchami?

'Labh' means profit or benefit and 'Panchami' is the fifth lunar day. The day is also called Saubhagya Panchami, meaning the fifth day of good fortune. People pray for prosperity, wellbeing and success in work.

Why do Gujarati traders open their shops on Labh Panchami?

Many Gujarati business families close their shops from Diwali through the first days of the new year. They reopen on Labh Panchami with a puja, treating it as the auspicious first working day of the year.

What is Gyan Panchami for Jains?

Jains observe Kartika Shukla Panchami as Gyan Panchami (Jnana Panchami), a day to honour knowledge. Many Jains worship sacred books and other tools of learning, and some keep a fast.

What is the muhurat for Labh Panchami 2026?

We do not give a muhurat clock time here. In New Delhi the Panchami tithi lasts until 11:23 PM IST on 14 November, per Drik Panchang. For a muhurat, check Drik Panchang for your city.

Is the date the same outside India?

Not always. The date in North America, the UK, East Africa or Australia can differ by a day from India. Check Drik Panchang for your city.

Editor's note

Editor's note (6 October 2026): This guide has been restored at its original address after the earlier version was lost. The date, tithi end time and sunrise and sunset times are from Drik Panchang for New Delhi and are given in IST only. We have not listed muhurat clock times or events. Puja customs vary between Hindu and Jain families and communities. Readers outside India should check Drik Panchang for their city.

Related guides

• November 2026 Hindu festival calendar
• Gujarati New Year 2026 (Bestu Varas)
• Chitragupta Puja 2026
• Nagula Chavithi 2026
• Chhath Puja 2026
• Dussehra 2026 in Gujarat