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A hand holding a lit clay diya, with glowing lights blurred behind it
Photo: Subharnab Majumdar, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Hindu · Sikh · Jain

Diwali is coming up.

Sunday, 8 November 2026

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The date may differ by a day in your community. Diwali follows the Hindu lunar calendar, and regional calendars can place it a day apart.

About Diwali

Diwali, the festival of lights, is celebrated by Hindus, Sikhs and Jains. Homes are lit with clay lamps called diyas, families gather, share sweets and exchange gifts.

How we calculate this date
Diwali falls on the new moon of the Hindu month of Kartika. We calculate it from the lunar calendar and check it against published calendars every year.
Why it can differ
Hindu calendars vary by region, so some communities celebrate a day earlier or later. Check your local calendar for the exact day and puja time.
Sources

Published Hindu calendars (panchang); regional calendars can differ by a day.

Page updated 5 November 2026. Report a wrong date

Next dates

YearDate
2026Sunday, 8 November
2027Friday, 29 October
2028Tuesday, 17 October
2029Monday, 5 November

How people celebrate

Written by hand. Customs vary by family, region and tradition; these are the widely shared ones.

Traditions

  • Diyas and lights. Clay oil lamps and strings of lights in windows and doorways.
  • Rangoli. Patterns of coloured powder, rice or petals at the entrance.
  • Lakshmi Puja. Prayers to Lakshmi, goddess of wealth and good fortune, on the main night.
  • Sweets and visits. Families share mithai, exchange gifts and visit relatives.

The five days

  1. Dhanteras. Buying something new, often metal or gold.
  2. Naraka Chaturdashi. Also called Choti Diwali, “little Diwali”.
  3. Lakshmi Puja. The main day of Diwali.
  4. Govardhan Puja. Linked to Krishna lifting Govardhan hill.
  5. Bhai Dooj. Celebrating brothers and sisters.

Names and order vary by region.

Greetings

  • Happy Diwali English
  • Shubh Deepavali Hindi
  • Diwali Mubarak common across North India
  • Deepavali Nalvazhthukkal Tamil

Sikhs mark Bandi Chhor Divas on the same day. Jains mark the nirvana of Mahavira.

More festivals of light

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