Diwali, the festival of lights, falls on Sunday, 8 November 2026. If you have ever wanted to see India’s streets, temples and riverbanks glow with thousands of lamps, this is the season to do it. This guide covers the 2026 dates, what each day of the festival means, the best places to experience it, and what to plan for before you travel.
Diwali 2026 at a glance
- Main Diwali (Lakshmi Puja): Sunday, 8 November 2026
- Five-day festival: Friday, 6 November to Wednesday, 11 November 2026
- Lakshmi Puja time in New Delhi: 5:54 PM to 7:50 PM IST (Drik Panchang)
- Dev Diwali in Varanasi: Tuesday, 24 November 2026
When Is Diwali in 2026?
Diwali follows the Hindu lunar calendar, so the date moves every year. In 2026, the main evening of Lakshmi Puja falls on Sunday, 8 November, the new-moon night of the month of Kartik. The festival runs over five days:
- Friday, 6 November: Dhanteras. The first day. Families traditionally buy gold, silver or a new utensil and light the first lamps of the festival.
- Saturday, 7 November: Choti Diwali (Kali Chaudas). A day of lamps and smaller celebrations. In 2026 the dawn oil bath of Naraka Chaturdashi is observed on the morning of 8 November, so some calendars list this day on the 7th and others on the 8th.
- Sunday, 8 November: Diwali (Lakshmi Puja). The main night. Homes are lit with diyas, families worship Goddess Lakshmi and Lord Ganesha, and fireworks follow. In New Delhi the Lakshmi Puja window is 5:54 PM to 7:50 PM, and timings differ by city.
- Tuesday, 10 November: Govardhan Puja (Annakut). A day linked to Lord Krishna, marked with food offerings in many temples.
- Wednesday, 11 November: Bhai Dooj. A day for brothers and sisters, with sisters applying a tilak to their brothers’ foreheads.
These dates follow the New Delhi panchang published by Drik Panchang. Some calendars show Govardhan Puja and Bhai Dooj a day earlier (9 and 10 November), and dates outside India can differ by a day, so confirm local timings before you finalise plans.
What Is Diwali, and Why Is It Celebrated?
The name comes from the Sanskrit word Dipavali, meaning a row of lights. At its heart, Diwali celebrates the triumph of light over darkness and good over evil. It is observed by Hindus, Jains and Sikhs, and the story behind it changes from region to region:
- In much of North India, Diwali recalls Lord Rama’s return to Ayodhya after exile, and the night is also devoted to Goddess Lakshmi, associated with prosperity.
- For Sikhs, the same night is Bandi Chhor Divas, which remembers the release of Guru Hargobind Sahib from Gwalior Fort.
- In West Bengal and Odisha, the night is observed as Kali Puja, with worship of Goddess Kali.
For visitors, this means rows of clay lamps along doorways, colourful rangoli at entrances, brightly lit bazaars, sweets shared between neighbours, and fireworks after dark.
Best Places to Celebrate Diwali in India
Every region celebrates differently. These six places are among the best for first-time visitors.
Jaipur, Rajasthan: The Pink City in Lights
Jaipur’s old bazaars are the main attraction. Johari Bazaar, Bapu Bazaar, Tripolia Bazaar and Kishanpole Bazaar are strung with lights, and local authorities run decoration contests between the merchants’ associations. Johari Bazaar, the jewellery market, is busiest around Dhanteras on 6 November. A heritage haveli stay in or near the walled city puts you within walking distance of the lights. The old city gets very crowded as the main evening approaches, so pick one cluster of markets per evening rather than trying to cover everything.
Ideal for: first-time visitors who want lights, shopping and heritage in one place. See our Delhi Agra Jaipur tour or explore Rajasthan tour packages.
Ayodhya, Uttar Pradesh: Deepotsav on the Saryu
Ayodhya hosts a government-organised lamp festival called Deepotsav on the banks of the Saryu River. In 2025, Uttar Pradesh recorded 26,17,215 (about 2.6 million) lamps lit across 56 ghats, a Guinness World Record. The 10th Deepotsav in 2026 is scheduled for 5 to 7 November, with the main lamp-lighting expected on the evening of Saturday, 7 November, and organisers are planning around 33 lakh (3.3 million) lamps. Confirm the final schedule with Uttar Pradesh Tourism closer to the date.
Travel tip: accommodation in Ayodhya fills up during Deepotsav week, and some visitors stay in Lucknow, about 135 km away, and travel in for the evening. Our Kashi with Ayodhya tour covers both holy cities.
Amritsar, Punjab: Bandi Chhor Divas at the Golden Temple
In Amritsar, Diwali coincides with Bandi Chhor Divas on 8 November. The Golden Temple (Harmandir Sahib) is lit with thousands of lamps that reflect on the sacred pool, with kirtan and prayers continuing through the day and night. The Golden Temple welcomes visitors of all backgrounds. Cover your head, remove your shoes and dress modestly. Many people greet Sikh friends with “Bandi Chhor Divas diyan vadhaiyan” alongside “Happy Diwali”.
Explore our North India tour packages to combine Amritsar with other destinations.
Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh: Diwali and Dev Diwali
Varanasi celebrates Diwali on 8 November, but its most famous festival of lights comes 16 days later. Dev Deepawali (Dev Diwali), the “Diwali of the Gods”, falls on Kartik Purnima, Tuesday, 24 November 2026, when the ghats along the Ganga are lined with lakhs of earthen lamps. If you cannot get to India for 8 November, this is an excellent second chance.
See our pilgrimage packages and the Kashi with Ayodhya tour.
Delhi: The Gateway to Festival India
Delhi’s markets and temples are decorated during Diwali, and the city is where most international travellers arrive. Akshardham Temple is among the temples known for its Diwali celebrations. Delhi is also the starting point of the Golden Triangle, so it is easy to combine the festival with Agra and Jaipur. Read the air quality section below before you plan your days here.
Explore Delhi tour packages and Golden Triangle packages.
Kolkata, West Bengal: Diwali Night as Kali Puja
In West Bengal, the night of 8 November is observed as Kali Puja, with worship of Goddess Kali running alongside Diwali lights. It offers a different, deeply local take on the festival. See our West Bengal tour packages.
Planning a Diwali Trip: What to Expect
Book early, and be flexible
Diwali is a peak travel period for Indian families as well as international visitors. Hotels and trains in popular festival cities fill quickly, and Ayodhya in particular books out around Deepotsav. If you are reading this only days before 8 November, availability will be limited. Dev Diwali on 24 November, or next year’s Diwali, may give you more room to plan.
Air quality in Delhi-NCR
Delhi’s air quality is a real consideration in early November. The Commission for Air Quality Management put Stage I of the Graded Response Action Plan in force across Delhi-NCR on 21 October 2026, after the daily average AQI reached the poor category. Last year, Delhi’s 24-hour average AQI rose to 345 on Diwali day (very poor). On 29 October 2026, the Supreme Court said it was not inclined to impose a complete firecracker ban this year, while stressing strict enforcement of existing rules. Rules and enforcement can change, so check the latest local guidance.
Practical tips:
- Check the AQI each morning and keep your day plans flexible.
- Carry a well-fitting N95 or FFP2 mask, especially if you have asthma or other respiratory conditions.
- Plan indoor sights, such as museums and palaces, for the worst-air hours.
- Ask your hotel about air purifiers in rooms.
Crowds and getting around
Markets in cities like Jaipur become extremely busy in the evenings. A short route on the map can take much longer when thousands of people are in the same streets, so build in extra time, travel with a local guide or driver, and keep valuables secure. Confirm opening hours for specific attractions and restaurants in advance, since festival-day schedules can differ.
Weather
November falls in India’s main tourist season. Jaipur’s peak season runs from October to March, with milder temperatures than the summer months.
Diwali Etiquette for First-Time Visitors
- Greetings: “Happy Diwali” works everywhere. “Shubh Deepavali” is a warm, widely understood alternative.
- Invitations: If a host, guide or driver invites you home or to a celebration, accepting is a lovely way to see the festival from the inside.
- Gifts: Sweets and dry fruits are traditional and always appreciated.
- Temples and gurdwaras: Dress modestly, remove your shoes, and cover your head where required, such as at the Golden Temple.
- Photography: Ask before photographing people, and check the rules before using a camera inside temples.
- Fireworks: Expect loud fireworks late into the night. Earplugs help, particularly for children.
Plan Your India Trip Around Diwali with YoYo Trips India
We are a Delhi-based team and we design private trips around festivals, whether you want to see Jaipur in lights, Ayodhya and Varanasi, or a shorter Golden Triangle route. Tell us your dates, interests and group size, and we will build a plan with hotels, private transfers and local guides.
- Popular starting points: Delhi Agra Jaipur tour, Kashi with Ayodhya, Colourful Rajasthan tour
- Travelling from the US? Read our guide to the India e-Visa for US citizens.
- Travelling with children? See our Golden Triangle guide for families.
Contact us or message us on WhatsApp at +91 99966 52732 to start planning.
Frequently Asked Questions
When is Diwali in 2026?
Main Diwali (Lakshmi Puja) is on Sunday, 8 November 2026, according to the New Delhi panchang.
How many days does Diwali last?
The main festival lasts five days, from Dhanteras on Friday, 6 November to Bhai Dooj on Wednesday, 11 November 2026. Some regions and communities extend or shift individual days.
What is the Lakshmi Puja time in Delhi on Diwali 2026?
According to Drik Panchang, the Lakshmi Puja muhurat in New Delhi is 5:54 PM to 7:50 PM on 8 November 2026. Timings differ by city.
Can tourists take part in Diwali celebrations?
Yes. Diwali is a public, community festival, and visitors are generally welcomed warmly. Dress modestly at religious sites, ask before taking photos of people, and accept invitations with thanks.
Where is the best place to see Diwali in India?
It depends on what you want. Jaipur is known for its illuminated bazaars, Ayodhya for Deepotsav and its enormous lamp displays, Amritsar for the Golden Temple on Bandi Chhor Divas, and Varanasi for Dev Diwali on 24 November.
When is Dev Diwali 2026 in Varanasi?
Dev Deepawali falls on Tuesday, 24 November 2026, on Kartik Purnima, about two weeks after Diwali.
Is Delhi’s air quality bad during Diwali?
Often, yes. Delhi’s air quality is typically poor to very poor around Diwali, and last year’s 24-hour average AQI reached 345 on Diwali day. Check the AQI daily, carry an N95 or FFP2 mask and keep your plans flexible.
Are firecrackers banned in Delhi this Diwali?
Rules in Delhi-NCR have been under Supreme Court consideration this week, and the court said on 29 October 2026 that it was not inclined to impose a complete ban. Check current local rules before you travel.
YoYo Trips India Editorial Team is a group of travel experts and content creators who publish well-researched guides, itineraries, and travel tips across India, helping travelers plan smooth and memorable trips.
