Diwali Muhurat 2026
Exact auspicious puja timings for all 5 days of Diwali 2026 in Indian Standard Time (IST)
Sunday, November 8, 2026
This is the Pradosh Kaal — the twilight period when Goddess Lakshmi moves from house to house, blessing those who have lit lamps, performed puja with devotion, and filled their homes with joy and warmth. Duration: 1 hour 23 minutes.
All Diwali Night Muhurat Periods
Three distinct auspicious windows on the main Diwali night
All 5 Days — Diwali 2026 Muhurat
Auspicious timings for every day of the Diwali festival (All times in IST)
| Day | Festival | Date 2026 | Muhurat Time (IST) | Key Ritual |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Day 1 | Dhanteras (Dhanvantari Trayodashi) | Friday, November 6 | 5:31 PM – 6:28 PM & 7:53 PM – 8:45 PM | Kuber Puja, shopping for gold/silver, Yamraj diya |
| Day 2 | Naraka Chaturdashi (Chhoti Diwali) | Saturday, November 7 | 5:28 AM – 5:38 AM (pre-sunrise) | Abhyangasnan (oil bath before sunrise), Choti Diwali diyas |
| Day 3 ⭐ | Diwali — Lakshmi Puja | Sunday, November 8 | 6:53 PM – 8:16 PM (Pradosh Kaal) 11:39 PM – 12:31 AM (Nishita Kaal) |
Lakshmi Puja, Ganesh Puja, Aarti, lighting all diyas |
| Day 4 | Govardhan Puja (Annakut / Padwa) | Monday, November 9 | 6:29 AM – 8:43 AM & 3:23 PM – 5:36 PM | Govardhan Puja, Annakut food offering, Padwa (new year in some regions) |
| Day 5 | Bhai Dooj (Yama Dwitiya) | Tuesday, November 10 | 1:10 PM – 3:22 PM | Sisters apply tilak to brothers, Yamuna-Yama story, gift exchange |
What is Pradosh Kaal?
Pradosh Kaal — The Twilight Window
Pradosh Kaal (प्रदोष काल) refers to the twilight period — approximately 45 minutes before sunset to 45 minutes after sunset. During Diwali, this is considered the most auspicious time for Lakshmi Puja because:
- Goddess Lakshmi is believed to leave Lord Vishnu's abode and walk the earth during this window
- The transition between day and night is considered a liminal, powerful time in Hinduism
- The darkness of Amavasya (new moon night) is at its peak, making lit diyas most effective as spiritual beacons
- Most families are gathered at home after work, making collective puja possible
2026 Pradosh Kaal: Sunset in most of India is around 5:48 PM–6:20 PM (varies by city). The muhurat begins at 6:53 PM and lasts until 8:16 PM.
Nishita Kaal — The Midnight Window
Nishita Kaal (निशिता काल) is the midnight period — typically around 11:30 PM to 12:30 AM on Diwali night. This alternative muhurat is traditionally used by:
- Business families performing Chopda Puja (blessing of account books)
- Practitioners of Tantrik traditions
- Those who have late-arriving family members or guests
- Bengalis performing Kali Puja (though this has its own tradition)
The midnight muhurat is spiritually powerful but less convenient for families with children or elderly members. The Pradosh Kaal is universally recommended for household Lakshmi Puja.
City-wise Diwali Muhurat 2026 (Approx.)
Sunset and muhurat times vary by city. These are approximate times — consult a local pandit for exact timings.
| City | Approximate Sunset | Approx. Pradosh Kaal Start | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Delhi | 5:40 PM | 6:50 PM | Close to published muhurat |
| Mumbai | 6:05 PM | 7:15 PM | ~20 min later than Delhi |
| Kolkata | 5:05 PM | 6:15 PM | ~35 min earlier than Delhi |
| Chennai | 5:50 PM | 7:00 PM | Approximately same as published |
| Bengaluru | 5:55 PM | 7:05 PM | ~10 min later than Delhi |
| Hyderabad | 5:55 PM | 7:05 PM | ~10 min later than Delhi |
| Ahmedabad | 6:02 PM | 7:12 PM | ~20 min later than Delhi |
| Pune | 6:02 PM | 7:12 PM | ~20 min later than Delhi |
| Jaipur | 5:44 PM | 6:54 PM | Very close to published muhurat |
| Lucknow | 5:30 PM | 6:40 PM | ~10 min earlier than Delhi |
All times approximate. Actual muhurat may vary ±15 minutes by exact location within each city.
Muhurat FAQ
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If you miss the 6:53–8:16 PM window, you can perform Lakshmi Puja during the Nishita Kaal (11:39 PM–12:31 AM). If you miss both formal muhurats, performing puja with sincere devotion at any time on Diwali night is still highly auspicious. The goddess values devotion over perfect timing.
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Both are powerful. For household Lakshmi Puja, Pradosh Kaal is more appropriate — it's family-friendly, aligns with the goddess's evening wandering, and allows you to keep the home lit and joyful throughout the night. Nishita Kaal is more intense and typically used by advanced practitioners or business communities.
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Diwali muhurat is calculated by Hindu astrologers (Jyotishi) using the Panchang (Hindu almanac). The key factors are: (1) Amavasya tithi (new moon) — Diwali always falls on Amavasya; (2) Sunset time at a specific location; (3) Pradosh time calculation (roughly 1.5 hours after sunset for the window start); (4) Nakshatra and planetary positions on that day. The published muhurat (6:53 PM) is calculated for Delhi NCR (28.6°N, 77.2°E).
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No — Lakshmi Puja must be performed on Diwali Amavasya (November 8, 2026). November 7 is Naraka Chaturdashi (Chhoti Diwali) — a different festival. The new moon of Kartik (Diwali) falls on November 8, making that the only correct night for Lakshmi Puja. In some years when the Amavasya spans two calendar days, regional differences arise — but for 2026, November 8 is unambiguous.