Next: 8 to 12 Nov 2026
Diwali
The festival of lights: lamps in every window, new clothes, sweets, and a prayer to Lakshmi for the year ahead.
When is Diwali in 2026?
Diwali 2026 runs from 8 to 12 November 2026. Other years: 2027, 29 October to 2 November 2027; 2028, 17 to 21 October 2028.
About Diwali
Diwali falls on the new moon of the lunar month of Kartik, and its five days are among the most widely kept celebrations in the world. Homes are cleaned and whitewashed, doorsteps are drawn with rangoli in coloured powder, and rows of clay lamps are lit at dusk. On the main evening families pray to Lakshmi, the goddess of fortune, exchange gifts and sweets, and watch fireworks. In the Hindu story it recalls Rama's return to Ayodhya. Jains keep it as the day Mahavira reached liberation, Sikhs mark Bandi Chhor Divas, and Newar Buddhists have their own observances. Merchants in many regions open fresh account books on this day.
Diwali dates: 2026, 2027, 2028
| Year | Diwali date |
|---|---|
| 2026 | 8 to 12 November 2026 |
| 2027 | 29 October to 2 November 2027 |
| 2028 | 17 to 21 October 2028 |
What is eaten
- laddu
- jalebi
- barfi
- chakli
- gujiya
Traditions of Diwali
Also part of it, and being written: Lakshmi (The goddess of wealth and good fortune, prayed to on the main evening.).
More marked on Diwali
🇮🇳 Varanasi, India and 1 moreChhath Pujaछठ पूजा
A four-day Hindu festival honouring the sun and Chhathi Maiya along riverbanksSpiritual · Fasting and breaking the fast
🇮🇳 Kolkata, India and 1 moreKali Pujaকালীপূজা
A Hindu festival of midnight worship and illuminated shrines honoring the goddess KaliSpiritual
🇮🇳 Goa, India and 2 moreBhai Doojभाई दूज
A Hindu festival of sibling bonds marked by forehead markings, feasts and blessingsFestival · Feasts and festival meals
🇮🇳 India and 1 moreDhanterasधनतेरस (Hindi), धनत्रयोदशी (Sanskrit)
The first day of Diwali, a festival of lamps, health and wealth kept across India and Nepal.Festival
🇮🇳 India and 1 moreNaraka Chaturdashi
The dawn festival of oil baths, ancestor lamps, and harvest foods during DiwaliFestival · Breakfast
🇮🇳 India and 1 moreLakshmi Pujaलक्ष्मीपूजा
A Hindu festival of lamps, prayers and offerings welcoming the goddess of prosperitySpiritual · Sweets given and shared
🇮🇳 India and 2 moreSohrai
A harvest and cattle observance kept by indigenous communities in eastern IndiaSeasonal · Feasts and festival meals
🇮🇳 IndiaAhoi Ashtami
A day of fasting by Hindu mothers before Diwali, for their children's wellbeingFestival · Fasting and breaking the fast
🇮🇳 Imphal, India and 1 moreManipuri danceJagoi Raas, Raas Jagoi
A classical dance from Manipur, danced as an offering to Radha and KrishnaPerformance
🇮🇳 India and 2 morePujaपूजा (pūjā)
Hindu worship: light, flowers and food offered to a deity or a guestSpiritual
Written by the EveryParampara desk with AI assistance. Background: "Diwali" on Wikipedia. Customs differ from place to place and family to family. If this is your tradition and we have it wrong, tell us.
Photo credits on this page
The small pictures above come from Wikimedia Commons under free licences. Some are cropped to fit.
- Chhath Puja: Steffen Gauger, CC BY-SA 3.0, source
- Kali Puja: Jonoikobangali, CC BY-SA 3.0, source
- Bhai Dooj: SandeshLamsalNepal, CC BY-SA 4.0, source
- Govardhan Puja: Ms Sarah Welch, CC0, source
- Dhanteras: The original uploader was F16 at Hebrew Wikipedia ., CC BY-SA 3.0, source
- Lakshmi Puja: Subharnab Majumdar, CC BY 2.0, source
- Naraka Chaturdashi: India (Delhi Agra area), Public domain, source
- Bandi Chhor Divas: UrbanUrban_ru, CC BY-SA 2.0, source
- Raslila: https://www.flickr.com/photos/matsukin/, CC BY 2.0, source
- Ahoi Ashtami: आशीष भटनागर, CC BY-SA 3.0, source
- Rangoli: SreeramKalyan, CC0, source
- Puja: Sakkhar21, CC BY-SA 4.0, source