PUJA ESSENTIALS
GOD IDOLS
Diwali 2026 falls on Sunday, November 8 and it is an especially auspicious year because the main Lakshmi Puja falls on a Sunday, which is considered the day of Surya (the Sun) and is associated with abundance and divine radiance. The five-day festival runs from Dhanteras on Friday, November 6 through Bhai Dooj on Tuesday, November 10. The Lakshmi Puja muhurat is in the evening Pradosh Kaal, approximately 6:00 PM to 8:00 PM. Here is everything all five days, the vidhi, the samagri, and FAQs.
Quick Answer (TL;DR)
- Main Diwali (Lakshmi Puja): Sunday, November 8, 2026
- Lakshmi Puja Muhurat: 6:00 PM to 8:00 PM (Pradosh Kaal)
- Dhanteras: Friday, November 6, 2026
- Choti Diwali (Naraka Chaturdashi): Saturday, November 7, 2026
- Govardhan Puja: Sunday, November 9, 2026
- Bhai Dooj: Monday, November 10, 2026
- Chhath Puja: Sunday, November 15, 2026
- Dev Diwali: Monday, November 24, 2026
- Why is Diwali 2026 late? Adhik Maas (extra lunar month) was inserted into the 2026 calendar, pushing all major festivals later by approximately 19-20 days
The 5-Day Diwali Festival Calendar 2026
Day 1 — Dhanteras (November 6, Friday) The festival of wealth and prosperity. Goddess Lakshmi and Lord Dhanvantari are worshipped. Buying gold, silver, brass items, and new utensils on Dhanteras is considered extremely auspicious it is believed that any metal purchase on this day multiplies and brings prosperity throughout the year. In 2026, Dhanteras falls on a Friday which is Lakshmi's own day making it doubly auspicious for buying precious items.
What to do: Clean and decorate the home. Light the first Diwali diyas. Buy gold, silver, or brass items. Perform Lakshmi-Dhanvantari puja in the evening.
Day 2 — Choti Diwali / Naraka Chaturdashi (November 7, Saturday) Also called Chhoti Diwali, this day marks the defeat of the demon Narakasura by Lord Krishna and Goddess Satyabhama. It is a day of cleansing a ritual bath before sunrise is traditional, and 14 diyas are lit in the evening to ward off negative energy. Beauty and self-care rituals begin on this day.
Day 3 — Main Diwali / Lakshmi Puja (November 8, Sunday) The heart of the festival. Goddess Lakshmi — the goddess of wealth, abundance, and prosperity is worshipped in the evening during Pradosh Kaal. Homes are decorated with rangoli, rows of diyas, and flowers. Lakshmi is believed to visit only homes that are lit, clean, and welcoming on this moonless night.
Lakshmi Puja muhurat: 6:00 PM to 8:00 PM (Pradosh Kaal). Exact minutes vary by city check your local panchang.
Day 4 — Govardhan Puja / Annakut (November 9, Sunday) Marks Lord Krishna lifting the Govardhan Hill to protect the villagers of Vrindavan from Indra's wrath. Families prepare Annakut a mountain of food offerings representing the hill and worship Lord Krishna. This day is also called Padwa in Maharashtra and marks the beginning of the new year for many business communities.
Day 5 — Bhai Dooj (November 10, Monday) Similar in spirit to Raksha Bandhan, Bhai Dooj celebrates the bond between siblings. Sisters apply tilak on their brothers' foreheads, pray for their long life, and the brothers give gifts. In some traditions this day is associated with Goddess Yamuna and Lord Yama.
Lakshmi Puja Vidhi — Step by Step for Diwali Night
- Clean the entire home thoroughly before Diwali. Lakshmi does not enter homes that are dirty or cluttered.
- Decorate the entrance with a rangoli and fresh marigold flower garlands.
- Light diyas at every entrance, window, corner, and along the roofline at dusk.
- Set up the puja altar with a Lakshmi-Ganesh idol, red cloth, kalash, and all samagri.
- Light the diya and incense to formally begin the puja.
- Perform the abhishek of the Lakshmi idol with panchamrit or Gangajal.
- Offer red flowers, lotus flowers if available, marigold, and a red chunni to Goddess Lakshmi.
- Offer kheel (puffed rice), batasha (sugar candy), and sweets as bhog.
- Place new account books (if you run a business) near the idol — Diwali is the traditional start of the new business year.
- Perform the Lakshmi Puja aarti Jai Lakshmi Mata during the muhurat.
- Light sparklers and celebrate with family.
- Distribute prasad and sweets.
Diwali Puja Samagri List
| Item | Purpose | Shop |
|---|---|---|
| Lakshmi-Ganesh brass idol | Centre of Diwali puja | [Link: Brass Idols collection] |
| Brass diya set | For lighting the home and puja | [Link: Diyas collection] |
| Pure camphor | For Diwali aarti | [Link: Camphor collection] |
| Ghee wicks | For diya lighting | [Link: Ghee Wicks] |
| Natural incense / agarbatti | For puja atmosphere | [Link: Incense collection] |
| Roli and chawal | For tilak | [Link: Roli collection] |
| Red flowers and marigold | Offered to Lakshmi | Local market |
| Red chunni | Offered to Goddess Lakshmi | Local market |
| Kheel and batasha | Traditional Diwali bhog | Local market |
| Rangoli colours | Entrance decoration | Local market |
| Swagat toran | Door decoration | [Link: Toran collection] |
| Havan samagri | For Navami or Diwali havan | [Link: Havan Essentials] |
[Shop the complete Diwali Puja Kit all essentials ready before November 8]
Why Diwali 2026 Is Later Than Usual
Diwali 2026 falls in November rather than October later than most years. The reason is Adhik Maas, an extra lunar month inserted into the Hindu calendar in 2026 to realign the lunar and solar calendars. This happens roughly every 3 years. Adhik Maas pushed every major festival from mid-2026 onward by approximately 19-20 days. This is not an error in any panchang it is the correct date confirmed across all major sources.
FAQs
1. When is Diwali in 2026? Diwali 2026 falls on Sunday, November 8. The main Lakshmi Puja is performed on this date.
2. What is the Lakshmi Puja muhurat for Diwali 2026? The muhurat falls in Pradosh Kaal approximately 6:00 PM to 8:00 PM on November 8. Exact times vary by city.
3. When is Dhanteras in 2026? Dhanteras is on Friday, November 6, 2026.
4. Why is Diwali 2026 later than usual? Because of Adhik Maas an extra lunar month inserted into the 2026 Hindu calendar all major festivals from mid-year onward are approximately 19-20 days later than usual.
5. When is Bhai Dooj in 2026? Bhai Dooj is on Monday, November 10, 2026.
6. What should I buy on Dhanteras 2026? Gold, silver, brass items, and new utensils are considered especially auspicious Dhanteras purchases. In 2026, Dhanteras falls on Friday Lakshmi's own day making it doubly auspicious.
7. What is the complete Diwali 2026 festival calendar? Dhanteras Nov 6, Choti Diwali Nov 7, Main Diwali Nov 8, Govardhan Puja Nov 9, Bhai Dooj Nov 10, Chhath Puja Nov 15, Dev Diwali Nov 24.
8. What is the most important item for Diwali puja? A Lakshmi-Ganesh idol, brass diyas, and pure camphor for the aarti are the three most essential items for Diwali night puja.
