Diwali 2026 will be celebrated on Sunday, 8 November, the day of Lakshmi Puja on the Amavasya of the Kartika month.
Why muhurat timings differ
Puja timings are calculated from local sunset and the Pradosh Kaal, so they change from one city to another. Different panchangs and almanacs also use slightly different methods, which is why you may see different windows on different websites. For New Delhi, for example, published windows start around 5:32 PM and run to about 7:50 PM depending on the source.
What to do
- Check the muhurat for your own city from a panchang you trust or your family priest.
- Clean the home and prepare the puja thali before sunset.
- Light diyas at the entrance and in the puja area after sunset.
Meaning of the festival
Diwali is the festival of lights and is associated with the victory of light over darkness. Families light lamps, worship Goddess Lakshmi and Lord Ganesha, share sweets and decorate their homes with rangoli.
This article is for general information. Please confirm local timings before the puja.
Photo: Pinakpani, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
