TL;DR - Quick Summary
Diwali 2026 falls on Sunday, 8 November 2026. Dhanteras falls on 6 November, Kali Chaudas on 7 November, and Gujarati New Year, or Bestu Varas, is on 10 November.
In Ahmedabad, the listed Lakshmi Puja Muhurat for Diwali is 6:22 PM to 8:20 PM on 8 November 2026. Puja timings can differ by location, so people outside Ahmedabad should check their local panchang.
Diwali 2026 will be celebrated on Sunday, 8 November in India. Here is the complete Diwali 2026 date, Lakshmi Puja timing, festival calendar, Gujarat-specific dates, traditions and thoughtful gifting ideas.
Diwali is celebrated in many different ways across India. The dates below focus on the 2026 festival calendar relevant to India and Gujarat.
Diwali 2026 at a Glance
Sunday, 8 November 2026
Diwali / Deepavali
6:22 PM - 8:20 PM
When Is Diwali 2026?
The main Diwali celebration in India falls on Sunday, 8 November 2026.
Diwali 2026
Sunday, 8 November 2026
Diwali, also known as Deepavali, is traditionally linked with the Amavasya, of the Hindu month of Kartika. Because the festival is based on lunar tithis, some surrounding observances can appear differently across regional calendars.
India's official holiday calendars also list 8 November 2026 as Diwali (Deepavali).
Diwali 2026 Calendar: Important Dates
Diwali is not really just one evening. For many families, the festive period unfolds over several days, with each day carrying its own customs and meaning.
| Date | Day | Festival / Observance |
|---|---|---|
| 6 November 2026 | Friday | Dhanteras |
| 7 November 2026 | Saturday | Kali Chaudas / Choti Diwali |
| 8 November 2026 | Sunday | Diwali / Lakshmi Puja / Chopda Puja |
| 9 November 2026 | Monday | Govardhan Puja / Annakut in Gujarat |
| 10 November 2026 | Tuesday | Gujarati New Year / Bestu Varas |
| 11 November 2026 | Wednesday | Bhai Dooj / Bhai Beej |
| 14 November 2026 | Saturday | Labh Pancham |
Festival observance can vary by region and panchang, especially where a tithi spans more than one calendar day. Dates above follow the Gujarat-oriented calendar sequence where relevant.
Lakshmi Puja 2026: Date and Muhurat
Lakshmi Puja will be observed on Sunday, 8 November 2026. It is one of the central Diwali observances for many Hindu families, with homes and workplaces cleaned, decorated and illuminated before the evening prayers.
What is the Lakshmi Puja Muhurat in Ahmedabad?
For Ahmedabad, Gujarat, the listed Lakshmi Puja Muhurat on Diwali 2026 is:
6:22 PM to 8:20 PM
Sunday, 8 November 2026
These timings are location-specific. If you are celebrating outside Ahmedabad, check the local panchang before planning the puja.
Dhanteras 2026: Date and Meaning
Dhanteras 2026 falls on Friday, 6 November 2026. It marks the beginning of the main Diwali period for many families. Dhanteras is traditionally associated with prosperity, auspicious purchases and the worship of Dhanvantari and other forms of divine abundance.
For many households, this is when the preparations begin in earnest: cleaning, shopping, decorating the home and getting ready for the days ahead.
Kali Chaudas 2026: Date and Significance
Kali Chaudas 2026 falls on Saturday, 7 November 2026 in Gujarat-oriented calendars.
The day is also associated with names such as Naraka Chaturdashi and Choti Diwali, although the exact name and way of observing it can differ from one region to another.
One reason Diwali calendars can look confusing is that the same tithi can overlap parts of two civil dates. Always follow the local calendar or panchang for the custom you personally observe.
Diwali 2026 in Gujarat
In Gujarat, Diwali flows naturally into the Gujarati New Year. That makes the festive period feel like more than a single night. It is a transition from closing one chapter to opening another.
Chopda Puja
Many Gujarati business families observe Chopda Puja during Diwali, marking the opening of new account books and the start of a new business year.
Bestu Varas
Gujarati New Year, commonly called Bestu Varas, falls on Tuesday, 10 November 2026.
The 2026 Gujarati calendar places Govardhan Puja and Annakut on 9 November, followed by Gujarati New Year on 10 November.
Why Do We Celebrate Diwali?
Diwali does not have just one story.
Across India, the festival carries different traditions, stories and meanings. In many Hindu traditions, Diwali is associated with the return of Lord Rama, Sita and Lakshmana to Ayodhya after exile. Other traditions place greater emphasis on Goddess Lakshmi, prosperity and new beginnings.
Naraka Chaturdashi is associated in many traditions with Lord Krishna's victory over Narakasura. In Bengal, the same period is closely associated with Kali Puja. Jain communities observe Diwali in connection with Lord Mahavira's nirvana, while Sikh communities observe Bandi Chhor Divas around the same period.
That diversity is part of Diwali's beauty. The festival may look different from one home to another and still carry the same feeling of renewal, light and togetherness.
Diwali has many stories, many traditions and many ways of celebrating. The light is what brings them together.
What Does the Diya Mean on Diwali?
The diya is probably the simplest symbol of Diwali.
A small flame can change the atmosphere of an entire room. Across many traditions, the light of Diwali is connected with moving from darkness towards light, uncertainty towards clarity, and ignorance towards knowledge.
Years change. Decorations change. The way we celebrate changes. Yet the little diya still has a place at the centre of the festival.
Diwali Is Also About Food, Gifting and Togetherness
Diwali has always been a festival of sharing.
Families prepare festive food. Friends visit each other. Businesses exchange gifts. Someone brings sweets. Someone makes tea. And, usually, the conversation lasts longer than planned.
Gifts are part of that rhythm. They do not have to be extravagant. A good Diwali gift is often simply something that feels thoughtfully chosen.
A Diwali gift is rarely only about what is inside the box. Often, it says something much simpler: I thought of you.
A Different Kind of Diwali Sweetness
Traditional mithai will always have its place on a Diwali table. But festive gifting is changing too. People are also looking for gifts that feel premium, personal and a little more considered.
That is where chocolate naturally fits.
At Bittersoil, we make dark chocolate with dates as the sweetening ingredient, without added refined sugar, and without palm oil, artificial ingredients or preservatives.
The idea is simple: keep the pleasure, pay attention to what goes into it, and make something that feels worthy of being shared.
For Diwali, that can mean a box opened after dinner, a small gift for someone you value, or a premium chocolate brought to the table when everyone is finally sitting together.
Diwali Gift Ideas for 2026
For Family
Choose something everyone can open and enjoy together after dinner. The best gifts often become part of the evening itself.
For Friends
A premium chocolate box makes an easy festive gesture without feeling too formal.
For Clients & Colleagues
Presentation matters. A refined gift can feel appropriate for professional relationships while still feeling personal.
For Corporate Diwali Gifting
Keep the experience simple, the presentation refined and the product memorable. Premium chocolate works naturally for client appreciation, employee gifting and festive hampers.
The goal is not to give something bigger. It is to give something that feels chosen.
Diwali 2026 Frequently Asked Questions
When is Diwali 2026?
Diwali 2026 will be celebrated on Sunday, 8 November 2026 in India.
What is the date of Diwali 2026 in India?
The main Diwali date in India is 8 November 2026, Sunday.
When is Lakshmi Puja in 2026?
Lakshmi Puja will be observed on Sunday, 8 November 2026. In Ahmedabad, the listed Lakshmi Puja Muhurat is 6:22 PM to 8:20 PM.
When is Dhanteras 2026?
Dhanteras 2026 falls on Friday, 6 November 2026.
When is Kali Chaudas 2026?
In Gujarat-oriented calendars, Kali Chaudas 2026 falls on Saturday, 7 November 2026. Some calendars separately show Naraka Chaturdashi on 8 November because of the tithi timing.
When is Gujarati New Year 2026?
Gujarati New Year, also called Bestu Varas, will be celebrated on Tuesday, 10 November 2026.
When is Bhai Dooj 2026?
Bhai Dooj, also called Bhai Beej in Gujarat, falls on Wednesday, 11 November 2026.
Why do Diwali dates sometimes differ between calendars?
Diwali-related celebrations are based on lunar tithis. Regional calendars can apply different rules when a tithi overlaps more than one civil date. This is why observances such as Naraka Chaturdashi and Govardhan Puja can appear on different dates in different calendars.
What are some Diwali gifting ideas for 2026?
Premium chocolate, festive hampers, thoughtful food gifts and refined corporate gifting options are all natural choices for Diwali 2026. The most useful gift is one that suits the person receiving it and feels deliberately chosen.
Diwali 2026: A Little Less Noise, A Little More Meaning
Diwali is often called the Festival of Lights.
But perhaps the best part of the festival is what happens around the lights.
People come home.
Families sit together.
Old conversations continue.
New clothes appear.
Someone brings sweets.
Someone lights one more diya.
And suddenly, the house feels different.
Maybe that is what Diwali has always been about. Not simply making things brighter, but making time together feel brighter.
Wishing you a thoughtful, warm and beautiful Diwali 2026.
Diwali 2026 Date References
Festival dates and timings can vary by region and local panchang. These references were checked while preparing this article.