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When is Diwali 2026?
Diwali 2026 falls on Sunday, November 8, 2026.
About Diwali
Diwali, also called Deepavali, is the festival of lights and one of the most important festivals in India. The name comes from a word meaning a row of lamps, and the festival is known for the small oil lamps, called diyas, and the candles and electric lights that decorate homes, streets and temples. Diwali is celebrated by Hindus, and also by Jains, Sikhs and some Buddhists, each with their own meaning for the festival. For many Hindus it marks the return of the god Rama to his kingdom after defeating the demon king Ravana, and it honours Lakshmi, the goddess of wealth and good fortune. The festival's broad theme is the victory of light over darkness and of good over evil.
Diwali is not a single day but a festival of about five days, with the main celebration, Lakshmi Puja, on the central night, the new moon of the Hindu month of Kartik. That night falls in October or November, and the exact date moves each year because the Hindu calendar is lunisolar. Customs include cleaning and decorating the home, drawing patterns called rangoli, exchanging sweets and gifts, lighting lamps and setting off fireworks. Diwali is a public holiday in India, Nepal and several other countries with large Hindu populations, and it is widely observed by Indian communities around the world. In recent years concern about firework smoke has led some cities to limit or ban fireworks during the festival.
Frequently asked questions
What is Diwali?
Diwali, also spelled Deepavali, is the Hindu festival of lights and one of the most widely celebrated festivals in India. Its name refers to rows of lamps, and homes, temples and streets are lit with small oil lamps and other lights during the festival. Diwali is celebrated by Hindus and also by Jains, Sikhs and some Buddhists, each with their own traditions. Its central theme is the triumph of light over darkness and good over evil, and it is a time of family gatherings, sweets, gifts and prayer.
When is Diwali?
Diwali falls on the new moon night of the Hindu lunisolar month of Kartik, which places it in October or November on the Gregorian calendar. The main day, known as Lakshmi Puja, moves each year because the Hindu calendar is based on both the moon and the sun. The wider festival runs for about five days around that central night. The shifting date is why Diwali sometimes falls in mid-October and other years in early November.
How is Diwali celebrated?
Diwali is celebrated over about five days. Families clean and decorate their homes, light rows of small oil lamps called diyas, and create colourful floor patterns known as rangoli. The central night includes prayers to Lakshmi, the goddess of wealth and good fortune. People wear new clothes, share sweets and gifts, and set off fireworks. The days around the main festival have their own meaning, including Dhanteras, linked to wealth, and Bhai Dooj, which honours the bond between brothers and sisters.
Why is Diwali called the festival of lights?
Diwali is called the festival of lights because of the lamps that are central to it. The name Deepavali comes from Sanskrit words meaning a row or cluster of lights. During the festival, people light small oil lamps called diyas, along with candles and electric lights, and place them around homes, temples and public spaces. The lights carry symbolic meaning, standing for the victory of light over darkness and of knowledge over ignorance, and for welcoming the goddess Lakshmi into the home.
Is Diwali a public holiday?
Diwali is a public holiday in India, where it is one of the biggest holidays of the year, and in Nepal, where it is known as Tihar. It is also an official holiday in countries with large Hindu populations, including Sri Lanka, Singapore, Malaysia, Mauritius, Fiji and Trinidad and Tobago. In countries such as the United Kingdom and the United States it is widely celebrated by Hindu and Indian communities but is not a national public holiday, though some schools and local areas recognise it.