Diwali 2026 date and Lakshmi Puja time (Sunday, Nov 8): India, USA, the five days and story

1The stories behind Diwali

Diwali, deepavali, a row of lamps, gathers several stories, and each region holds one of them closest.

Rama comes home to Ayodhya

In the Ramayana tradition, Rama returns to Ayodhya with Sita and Lakshmana after fourteen years of exile and the war in Lanka, and the city lights rows of lamps to welcome them on the new-moon night. This is the story most of North India tells.

Krishna, Satyabhama and Narakasura

Narakasura, the demon king of Pragjyotisha, had seized the earrings of Aditi, mother of the gods, and imprisoned sixteen thousand women. Krishna rode against him on Garuda with Satyabhama beside him; in the Telugu telling it is Satyabhama, an incarnation of Bhudevi, Naraka's own mother, who strikes him down. As he died, Naraka asked that people remember the day with lamps and celebration. That is Naraka Chaturdashi, the Deepavali morning of the South.

Lakshmi on the new moon

The Puranas tell that Lakshmi rose from the churning of the ocean of milk and chose Vishnu. On the Amavasya of Diwali she is believed to visit homes that are clean and lit, which is why families clean, decorate and keep a lamp burning through the night of Lakshmi Puja.

Bali and Vamana

Vishnu, as the dwarf Vamana, asked King Bali for three steps of land and covered the worlds in two. Pleased with Bali's generosity, he let the king return to his people once a year. The day after Diwali is Bali Padyami (Bali Pratipada) in the Telugu states, Karnataka and Maharashtra.

Govardhan and Bhai Dooj

On Pratipada, Krishna lifted Govardhan hill on his little finger to shelter the people of Vraja from Indra's storm; Govardhan Puja and the Annakut, a hill of food offered to Krishna, recall it. On Dwitiya, Yama visited his sister Yamuna, who fed him and marked his forehead with tilak; he blessed every brother who does the same. This is Bhai Dooj, Yama Dwitiya, called Bhagini Hasta Bhojanam in Telugu.

2How to celebrate at home, in India or abroad

1. Before Diwali: clean the house, draw a rangoli or muggu at the door and set out diyas. Abroad, LED diyas are a safe choice near curtains and smoke alarms.
2. Dhanteras (Fri, Nov 6): buy a little gold, silver or a new utensil and light the Yama Deepam at dusk. See the Dhanteras guide.
3. Naraka Chaturdashi: oil bath before sunrise (US Sat, Nov 7; India Sun, Nov 8), new clothes, sweets for family and neighbours.
4. Lakshmi Puja (Sun, Nov 8): in Pradosh kaal, worship Lakshmi and Ganesha with lamps, flowers, a coin or gold, and sweets; keep one lamp burning through the night.
5. Govardhan Puja and Bhai Dooj: offer Annakut to Krishna in the morning; on Bhai Dooj, sisters apply tilak and feed their brothers. Far from family, a video call at the Bhai Dooj time works for many.

Lakshmi verse (traditional, from the Mahalakshmi Ashtakam):

नमस्तेऽस्तु महामाये श्रीपीठे सुरपूजिते ।
शङ्खचक्रगदाहस्ते महालक्ष्मि नमोऽस्तु ते ॥
Namaste'stu mahāmāye shrīpīṭhe surapūjite; shaṅkha-chakra-gadā-haste mahālakṣmi namo'stu te.

Meaning: salutations to you, great Maya, seated on the throne of Shri, worshipped by the gods, holding conch, discus and mace; O Mahalakshmi, salutations to you.

3Checklist: what you need

12 items

• Clay diyas, cotton wicks, ghee or sesame oil
• Lakshmi and Ganesha idol or picture
• A low stool or plank with a red or yellow cloth
• Kalasham (copper or silver pot), mango leaves, a coconut
• Turmeric, kumkum, sandalwood paste, akshata (rice with turmeric)
• Flowers and garlands (marigold, lotus if you can find one)
• Agarbatti, camphor, a bell and the aarti plate
• Naivedyam: sweets, fruits, puffed rice or batasha
• Betel leaves, areca nuts, a few coins
• A gold or silver coin or ornament for Lakshmi
• Rangoli or muggu colours for the doorway
• New clothes for the family

4A priest, or do it yourself

▶Lakshmi Puja at home, step by step · The Temple Girl · YouTube

A video by another channel, added after our review. If your family’s custom differs, follow it.

5Puja items near you

6Lakshmi Puja time by city

Pradosh kaal begins at sunset and lasts one fifth of the night, about two and a half hours. Many panchangams narrow the recommended muhurat further to the part of Pradosh kaal when a fixed (sthira) ascendant, usually Vrishabha, is rising. In New York that narrower window is about 5:04–6:52 PM, inside the 4:43 PM–7:29 PM Pradosh kaal shown above. If your family follows the narrower muhurat, your priest or temple can give it for your city.

Lakshmi Puja time in your city

Each city page has every day of the festival with local times, and the dates in India.

USA

Diwali 2026 Lakshmi Puja muhurat in every US city, on one page ›

Canada

UK & Europe

Gulf

Asia-Pacific

India