Diwali & Dhanteras 2026: Five Days, Correct Order, and Muhurat Basics
Diwali 2026 falls on 8 November, with the festival stretching across five days — from Dhanteras on 6 November to Bhai Dooj on 10 November. Here is the full sequence, what each day means, and the principle behind choosing your Lakshmi Puja muhurat correctly.
The five days of Diwali
Dhanteras
Friday, 6 November 2026 — Trayodashi TithiThe festival opens with Dhanteras. It is traditionally the day to buy gold, silver or new utensils, inviting wealth and abundance into the home. In the evening, a Yama Deepam — a lamp lit facing south — is placed at the doorstep as a prayer for the family's longevity.
Naraka Chaturdashi (Choti Diwali)
Saturday, 7 November 2026 — Chaturdashi TithiAlso called Choti Diwali, this day begins with a ritual oil bath (ubtan) before sunrise — a symbolic cleansing associated with Lord Krishna's defeat of the demon Narakasura, marking the victory of good over evil the night before the main celebration.
Diwali / Lakshmi Puja★ main night
Sunday, 8 November 2026 — Amavasya TithiThe main night of the festival, observed on Amavasya (the new moon). Homes light rows of diyas and perform Lakshmi-Ganesh Puja, inviting Goddess Lakshmi's blessings of wealth and Lord Ganesha's blessings of wisdom for a fresh start in the year ahead.
Govardhan Puja
Monday, 9 November 2026 — Pratipada TithiThe day after Diwali commemorates Lord Krishna lifting the Govardhan hill to shelter the villagers of Vraj from Indra's wrath. Homes prepare Annakut — a mountain of food offerings — as a gesture of gratitude for nature's abundance.
Bhai Dooj
Tuesday, 10 November 2026 — Dwitiya TithiThe five-day festival closes with Bhai Dooj, celebrating the bond between brothers and sisters. Sisters perform a tilak ritual and pray for their brothers' long life and wellbeing, while brothers offer gifts in return.
How the Lakshmi Puja muhurat is chosen
Two principles together decide the most auspicious window for Lakshmi Puja. The first is Pradosh Kaal — the twilight period just after sunset, considered naturally sacred for worship. The second is Sthir Lagna, a 'fixed' ascendant sign — Taurus, Leo, Scorpio or Aquarius — rising on the eastern horizon at that moment.
A fixed ascendant is believed to 'hold' Goddess Lakshmi's blessings in the home rather than letting them pass through, the way a movable (chara) or dual (dwiswabhava) sign would. When Pradosh Kaal and a Sthir Lagna overlap, that window is considered the most powerful time to welcome wealth and prosperity for the year ahead.
Important: the exact clock time for this window depends entirely on your city's sunset and the sign rising there — it is not the same across India. Rather than following one nationwide time you may see quoted online, use our Panchang tool to calculate the precise Pradosh Kaal and Sthir Lagna window for your own location.
Note also that tithi start and end times can shift the exact Gregorian date of a festival by a day, depending on whether a region follows sunrise-to-sunrise or other panchang conventions. Different local traditions may therefore observe Dhanteras or Diwali a day apart from each other — always confirm the date with your local panchang or family tradition.
Preparing for Lakshmi Puja
- Clean and declutter the home in the days before Diwali — a tidy, well-lit space is traditionally seen as welcoming to Goddess Lakshmi.
- A simple rangoli at the entrance is a common way to mark the home as ready for the festival.
- Diyas are lit through the evening, both at the puja space and around the home, as a symbol of light overcoming darkness.
- Keep preparations simple and personal — the exact rituals followed vary widely by family and region, and there is no single 'correct' way to celebrate.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why does Diwali's date change every year?
Diwali follows the lunisolar Hindu calendar, not the fixed Gregorian one. It always falls on Amavasya (new moon) of Kartik month, and since a lunar month is shorter than a solar month, that Amavasya lands on a different Gregorian date each year — usually between mid-October and mid-November.
Is Dhanteras always exactly two days before Diwali?
Almost always, since the sequence runs Trayodashi (Dhanteras), Chaturdashi (Naraka Chaturdashi), Amavasya (Diwali) on consecutive tithis. But a tithi can occasionally be skipped (kshaya) or can span two sunrises (vriddhi), which may compress or stretch the gap by a day in some years and regions — always confirm with your local panchang.
What is Sthir Lagna and why does it matter?
Sthir Lagna means a 'fixed' ascendant — Taurus, Leo, Scorpio or Aquarius rising at the time of worship. A fixed sign is considered stable and retentive, so Lakshmi Puja performed during a Sthir Lagna is believed to 'hold' the Goddess's blessings of wealth in the home, rather than letting them pass through as a movable sign would.
Where can I find my exact Lakshmi Puja muhurat?
The precise clock time depends on your city's sunset and which sign is rising there at that moment, so no single time applies everywhere. Use our Panchang tool to get a Pradosh Kaal and Sthir Lagna based muhurat calculated specifically for your city.
Want your exact city-wise Lakshmi Puja muhurat? Check the Panchang or generate your free Kundli.
Disclaimer: Astrological guidance is for reflection and general information. For decisions about health, finance, legal or relationship matters, please also consult a qualified professional. Exact festival and muhurat dates can vary by region and local tradition — please confirm locally before finalising plans.