Diwali falls on Sunday, November 8, 2026, in India and the USA, with Lakshmi Puja observed during the local evening. The puja muhurat begins at 5:54 p.m. in New Delhi, 6:07 p.m. in Hyderabad, 5:03 p.m. in Manhattan and 5:52 p.m. in Dallas.
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Diwali 2026 Date And Significance
Diwali, also known as Deepavali, falls on Sunday, November 8, 2026, in India and the United States. Families celebrate the Festival of Lights by placing diyas at their entrances, decorating with rangoli, sharing sweets and gathering for Lakshmi Puja. Lamps are a central part of the celebration, symbolising the triumph of light over darkness.
In much of North India, Diwali recalls Lord Rama’s return to Ayodhya. Many households worship Goddess Lakshmi for prosperity and well-being and offer prayers to Lord Ganesha. In West Bengal, Kali Puja is a major observance on the same night. These traditions shape how families celebrate, from the prayers they recite to the offerings they prepare.
Diwali 2026 Date And Puja Timings In India
Amavasya tithi begins at 11:27 a.m. IST on November 8 and ends at 12:31 p.m. IST on November 9. The evening Lakshmi Puja muhurat falls on November 8. Its start and end times vary by city.
| City | Lakshmi Puja Muhurat on November 8 (IST) |
|---|---|
| New Delhi | 5:54–7:50 p.m. |
| Mumbai | 6:27–8:27 p.m. |
| Hyderabad | 6:07–8:08 p.m. |
| Bengaluru | 6:17–8:20 p.m. |
| Chennai | 6:06–8:09 p.m. |
| Kolkata | 5:20–7:18 p.m. |
Diwali 2026 Date And Puja Timings In USA
Indian families in the United States can use the local Panchang for their city. The evening muhurat is calculated for each location, so cities in the same time zone can have different windows. Chicago and Dallas both observe Central Standard Time on November 8, but their puja windows begin 57 minutes apart.
| City | Lakshmi Puja Muhurat on November 8 | Local Time Zone |
|---|---|---|
| Manhattan, New York | 5:03–6:52 p.m. | EST |
| Chicago, Illinois | 4:55–6:43 p.m. | CST |
| Dallas, Texas | 5:52–7:46 p.m. | CST |
| Denver, Colorado | 5:10–6:59 p.m. | MST |
| East Los Angeles, California | 5:15–7:08 p.m. | PST |
Diwali 2026 Date And Lakshmi Puja Vidhi
For a simple Lakshmi Puja at home, clean the prayer area and set pictures or idols of Goddess Lakshmi and Lord Ganesha on a cloth-covered platform. Keep a diya, flowers, fruit and sweets ready. During the local muhurat, light the lamp, offer prayers to Ganesha and then worship Lakshmi with flowers and naivedyam, the food offering. Conclude with aarti and share the prasad with family. The order of prayers and offerings can follow each household’s tradition.
