When is Diwali?
Diwali, or Deepavali, is celebrated on Amavasya, the new-moon night of the Hindu lunar month of Kartika (Ashvin in some calendars). It falls in October or November. The dates on this page are the main day of the festival, when Lakshmi Puja is performed in the evening; regional calendars occasionally place it a day apart.
Diwali is one of the most important festivals for Hindus, Sikhs and Jains, and is a public holiday in India, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Malaysia, Singapore, Fiji, Mauritius and other countries.
The five days of Diwali
- Dhanteras: buying gold, silver or new utensils for good fortune.
- Naraka Chaturdashi (Choti Diwali): early baths and lighting lamps.
- Lakshmi Puja: the main day, with prayers to the goddess of wealth, lamps (diyas), rangoli and fireworks.
- Govardhan Puja: honoring Krishna, with large vegetarian feasts.
- Bhai Dooj: celebrating the bond between brothers and sisters.
Diwali dates for the coming years
| Year | Date | Day of the week |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | November 8, 2026 | Sunday |
| 2027 | October 29, 2027 | Friday |
| 2028 | October 17, 2028 | Tuesday |
| 2029 | November 5, 2029 | Monday |
| 2030 | October 26, 2030 | Saturday |
Frequently asked questions
Why does Diwali fall on a different date every year?
Diwali follows the Hindu lunisolar calendar and is held on the new moon of the month of Kartika, which moves between mid-October and mid-November on the Gregorian calendar.
When is Diwali in 2027?
The main day of Diwali (Lakshmi Puja) is expected on Friday 29 October 2027. See the table on this page for other years.
The countdown runs to midnight at the start of the day in your own time zone. Dates of religious and lunar holidays can differ by a day between countries.