Diwali 2026 Dates, Lakshmi Puja Muhurat, Significance and 5 Day Celebration Guide

We are Indians and we love festivals. 

In 2026, Diwali falls on Sunday, November 8. When we talk about Diwali, it makes us overwhelmed. We all love this festival, Right?

All of us can relate that festivals in India are linked to celebrations, traditions and family time. When we hear the word “Festival”, all that we know is we are going to celebrate our culture and traditions. 

Deepawali is the biggest festival of Indians, and it is celebrated all over India on a large scale. Diwali is a five-day festival in which we celebrate 5 different festivals. We will talk more in this blog and we are gonna share every deet and diwali 2026 dates with you..

Let’s dive in to know everything about it.

Diwali 2026: Quick Facts

Why Do We Celebrate Diwali 2026?

Well, Diwali is our biggest festival and so the reason of celebrating it,

Let’s talk about the story behind celebrating it according to the popular Hindu Epic, “The Ramayana”. Diwali is the day when our Lord Ram came back to Ayodhya with Mata Sita and Lakshman after defeating Ravana.

In history, this day is written as the celebration night of “Prabhu ki Jeet”. It is because Lord Rama came to Ayodhya after 14 years. He, his wife, and brother were in exile due to their step-mother, Kaikaiyi. She asked his husband and King Dushrath to send lord Ram to Vanvas for 14 years. She wanted exile for Lord Ram as only then her son, Bharat can become the King of Ayodhya. 

Bharat was a devoted brother who never accepted the throne. Instead, he placed Lord Rama’s Footwear on it. Lord Rama was the “Maryadapurushottam”, he never asked his father why he needed to go the exile. He just followed the order and went to the Vanvas where he lived a very difficult life for 14 years. During this period, they faced several issues and Ravana kidnapped Mata sita and took her to Lanka. 

After defeating Ravana, he came back with Mata Sita and Brother Lakshman, and since we celebrate this day as Diwali. 

We decorate our homes and celebrate it as the biggest day of the year. This festival is the victory of the Lord over the Demon. Also, Diwali falls on Kartik Mas’s Amavasya, the darkest night all around the year. We light up our world and remove all the darkness by replacing it with happiness and celebration of victory. 

Diwali 2026 Dates- A five Day Long Festival

Diwali also known as Deepawali is not just a one day festival; it is a 5 day package of celebration. 

What do we celebrate in these 5 days?

Okay, we will talk about all 5 days of celebration and diwali 2026 dates.

Dhanteras: The beginning of Diwali

Dhanteras marks the beginning of Diwali; on this day, we worship Lord Dhanvantri, Lord Kuber, and Mata Lakshmi. We pray for the well-being and good fortune of our families. There is a ritual of buying utensils and jewellery on Dhanteras festival.  

Narak Chaturdashi or Roop Chaturdashi

Narak chaturdashi is the second day of Diwali festivity. It is the day of cleaning our homes and worshipping and preparing for the big day the third one.. 

Also, Narak chaturdashi is a celebration of the victory of Lord Krishna over the demon Narkasur. In some states, this day is called Choti Diwali and Roop Chaturdashi. It is the day of the year when there is a ritual to apply Ubtan on our bodies. This is a common belief that we get blessed with divine beauty after doing it. Additionally, bathing is important because those who don’t bathe will go to hell.

Diwali: The Big Day

Okay, now come to the most auspicious day of the year, Diwali 2026! Let’s know how to do diwali pooja at home.

This festival is a package of happiness and we can’t cover everything in just a tiny blog. Still, trying how you can do Diwali pooja at home…

• Diwali decorations are an important part of the festival. We light up our houses like we are living in a place surrounded by stars with endless shine.
• It is the day when we take home new Lord Bappa and Mata Lakshmi’s Idol and worship them.
• We decorate our homes using electrical lights, candles but most importantly DIYAS.. The vibe is different from Diyas, other things can’t match the shine of Diyas. 
• We use flowers and other decorative items to adorn our houses with beauty and it’s truly worth the hype. 
• Rangolis are also a major part of Diwali, just like the sweets. We eat different types of sweets on Diwali, and there is a ritual of sharing sweets with other families. 
• Goddess Lakshmi Diwali Pooja is the major ritual on Diwali; people worship her with Lord Ganesh and Lord Kuber. We pray for the happiness, wealth, and well-being of our loved ones.
• Diwali is a night festival and that’s why there is always special pooja timing for it. We follow the rules and worship God at our homes and also at our work places. 
• We chant mantras like Maa Lakshmi Mantra, Lord Ganesh Mantra and also Lakshmi shrot along with the aarti rituals. Mata Lakshmi is the goddess of Wealth and prosperity and Diwali 2025 is the best day to worship her. 
• Traditionally, we used fire-crackers to light the celebration now it is just a way of polluting our environment. So, kindly use only Eco-Friendly items and celebrate Dil-wali Diwali. 

Goverdhan Pooja

The next day after Deepawali is celebrated as Govardhan Pooja. This day, Lord Krishna protected people from heavy rains by lifting the Govardhan Mountain on his tiniest finger. Now, this day is celebrated as Goverdhan Pooja and is devoted to Lord Krishna.

Bhai Doj

The fifth and last day is Bhai Doj, a day dedicated to the wonderful bond of brother and sister. On this day, sisters pray for the well-being of their brother. All the sisters put on tilak on the forehead of brothers and celebrate the festival.  Also, the brothers gave gifts to their sisters in return and celebrated their bond. 

Here is the humanized version of those points, rewritten to sound like a warm conversation with a friend rather than a list of facts.

Why Diwali Feels Like a “Soulful Reset”

Beyond the lights and the noise, Diwali holds a mirror to our lives. In 2026, as we navigate a world that feels faster than ever, these traditions act as an anchor for our hearts:

• The Magic of Coming Home: Whether it’s a train ride or a long flight, Diwali proves that miles don’t matter. It’s that one time of year when we hit “pause” on our busy lives to reconnect with our roots. It reminds us that no matter how far we go, home is where the heart (and the best mithai) is.
• More Than Just Dusting Shelves: We’ve all felt the exhaustion of Diwali ki Safai, but there’s something deeply cathartic about it. As we scrub away the literal dust from our corners, it’s a beautiful opportunity to declutter our minds, too. It’s about letting go of old grudges and making space—both in our homes and our hearts—for new energy and light.
• The Simple Joy of Sharing: There is a unique happiness found in handing a box of sweets to a neighbor or choosing a hand-painted diya from a local street vendor. These small acts of kindness remind us that joy isn’t meant to be hoarded; it’s meant to be shared. When we support local artisans, we aren’t just buying a product; we’re honoring a legacy.
• Keeping Dreams Alive: Every gift we buy and every lamp we light fuels the dreams of millions. Diwali is the heartbeat of our economy, but on a human level. It’s about supporting the small business owner down the street and the craftsman in a distant village. This ensures that the light of prosperity reaches every doorstep.

The Importance of Diwali 2026

Diwali is the most popular festival of Hindus, it falls in October or November every year. The dates are different as it is celebrated according to the panchang on Amavasya of Kartik month. 

It is a day of Worshiping Goddess Lakshmi, creating family memories, and sharing happiness. It’s the celebration night and we all celebrate it with happiness, sweets, Diyas, Lights, flowers, and everything that we love. 

Do worship, believe in your culture and fulfil the world with positivity and happiness on The Festival of Lights. Stay with us to know Diwali Puja time 2026 and other updates. Keep yourself updated with us on Diwali celebration.

FAQs:

Q: Why do we celebrate Diwali?

A: It is the festival of triumph of Our Lord Ram. Diwali is the day when he comes back to Ayodhya, his empire, after 14 years. 

Q: Can we wear Black clothes on Diwali?

A: There is nothing bad about the black color. It is said we should avoid wearing black during any pooja and cultural activity.

Q: Can we worship Lord Ram on Diwali?

A: Absolutely!! You can worship Lord Ram along with Maa Lakshmi and Lord Ganesh on Diwali.

Q: Is it necessary to eat sweets on Diwali?

A: Yes, it is a ritual that we offer sweets to God and then take it as Prasad. If you are suffering from any health issue then kindly find Sugar-free Sweets.