When Is the Next Diwali? 2026 Date and Holiday

Diwali 2026, also called Deepavali or the Festival of Lights, falls on Sunday, 8 November 2026. The five-day celebration runs from Dhanteras on 6 November through Bhai Dooj on 10 November. This page covers the complete Diwali 2026 date, Lakshmi Puja muhurat, which days are official bank holidays, which states observe Diwali as a gazetted public holiday, and what you need to plan financially before banks close for the festive period.

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Diwali 2026 Date, Quick Reference

Note: Diwali is determined by Kartik Amavasya on the Hindu lunar calendar and the date may vary by one day in certain regions depending on Amavasya tithi timings and local traditions. In Tamil Nadu, Deepavali is celebrated on Narak Chaturdashi (7 November 2026). Verify exact dates with a regional Panchang.

Lakshmi Puja Muhurat, Diwali 2026

The auspicious window for Lakshmi Puja on Diwali 2026 (8 November, Sunday) is during Pradosh Kaal, which typically falls after sunset. Exact timings depend on your city's sunset time and the precise duration of Amavasya tithi on that date.

Timings above are approximate. For city-specific Lakshmi Puja muhurat (Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru, Chennai, Hyderabad, Kolkata, Ahmedabad, Jaipur), refer to the Drik Panchang or an official Hindu almanac.

Diwali 2026 Public Holidays, State-wise List

Diwali is a gazetted public holiday across most Indian states. The five days of the festival carry different holiday statuses depending on state government notifications.

Note: 8 November (Sunday) is the main Diwali day. Since it falls on a Sunday, already a non-working day, most central and state government employees will observe the Diwali gazetted holiday on a different working day as a compensatory holiday. Confirm with your HR or the official state government circular.

Diwali 2026 Bank Holidays, Will Banks Be Open?

Banks in India observe Diwali as a mandatory closure day per Reserve Bank of India (RBI) guidelines. The holiday schedule for the Diwali week in November 2026 is as follows:

Critical note for loan/EMI customers: If your EMI due date falls between 8–10 November 2026, schedule your payment by 5 November (Thursday) to avoid late payment charges. NACH/auto-debit mandates may also fail on RBI-mandated bank holidays. Contact your lender to confirm.

Each state's RBI regional office issues Bank holiday schedules and may vary. The above is a general guide. Always verify at rbi.org.in or with your bank branch for your specific state.

The Five Days of Diwali 2026, What Each Day Means

Dhanteras (Dhantrayodashi) {#dhanteras}

Dhanteras falls on 6 November 2026 (Friday) and marks the start of the Diwali festival. On this day, Goddess Lakshmi and Lord Dhanvantari are worshiped for health and prosperity. Buying gold, silver, or metal utensils on Dhanteras is considered highly auspicious. It is one of the biggest days of the year for gold jewellery purchases, and for personal loan applications to fund them. Most banks remain open on Dhanteras, so complete any large transfers or loan disbursement requests before markets get congested.

Narak Chaturdashi / Choti Diwali {#choti-diwali}

The second day, 7 November 2026 (Saturday), commemorates Lord Krishna's victory over the demon Narakasura. Celebrated widely across Maharashtra and Goa as Narak Chaturdashi, it is also the day Tamil Nadu observes Deepavali, making 7 November the main Diwali holiday for Tamil-speaking communities. A pre-dawn ritual bath (Abhyang Snan) is observed in many households. Since this is a Saturday (1st Saturday of November), most banks will be open for half-day or full operations depending on their local schedule.

Diwali / Deepavali / Lakshmi Puja {#diwali-deepavali}

8 November 2026 (Sunday) is the main day of Diwali across most of India. Homes and shops are decorated with diyas, electric lights, and rangoli. Lakshmi Puja is performed after sunset during the Pradosh Kaal window to invite prosperity into the household. Banks are closed (Sunday weekly holiday). Diwali is a gazetted public holiday; since the gazette holiday falls on a Sunday, the compensatory holiday is typically shifted to an adjacent working day, watch for your state's official circular.

Govardhan Puja / Padwa / Annakut {#govardhan-puja}

9 November 2026 (Monday) is observed as Govardhan Puja in north and central India, celebrating Lord Krishna lifting the Govardhan mountain to protect Mathura from Indra's rains. In Maharashtra and Gujarat, the same day is observed as Padwa or Diwali Padva, marking the Hindu New Year for the business community. Banks in most north Indian states, Maharashtra, and Gujarat will be closed. In Gujarat, this day also coincides with Vikram Samvat New Year, a significant bank holiday in the state.

Bhai Dooj {#bhai-dooj}

The fifth and final day of the Diwali festival, 10 November 2026 (Tuesday), celebrates the bond between brothers and sisters. Sisters perform a tilak ceremony for their brothers and pray for their long life. Bhai Dooj is a restricted holiday at the central level; individual states may grant it as a full or half-day bank closure. Confirm with your bank if you have transactions planned on this date.

Diwali 2026 Date in Future Years, Quick Reference

Extractable Answer Blocks

When is Diwali in 2026?

Diwali 2026 falls on Sunday, 8 November 2026. The date is determined by the Kartik Amavasya tithi (new moon day) of the Hindu lunar calendar. In some regions and communities, particularly Tamil Nadu, Deepavali is observed a day earlier on 7 November 2026 (Narak Chaturdashi). The five-day Diwali festival in 2026 runs from Dhanteras on 6 November to Bhai Dooj on 10 November.

Is 8 November 2026 a bank holiday for Diwali?

Yes, 8 November 2026 is a bank holiday, but it is also a Sunday, a weekly non-banking day. The Diwali gazetted holiday that falls on a Sunday is typically shifted to the next working day or treated as a compensatory off. The exact arrangement varies by state government notification. Banks in most states are also likely to be closed on 9 November (Govardhan Puja / Padwa), creating a Sunday–Monday closure for customers in north India, Maharashtra, and Gujarat.

How many days are banks closed during the Diwali 2026 week?

During the Diwali 2026 week (6–10 November), banks are confirmed closed on Sunday 8 November (weekly holiday) and likely closed on Monday 9 November in most states due to Govardhan Puja and Padwa. Some states may extend closures to Tuesday 10 November for Bhai Dooj. In total, customers in north India, Maharashtra, and Gujarat should expect 2–3 consecutive non-banking days from 8–10 November 2026. Verify with your state's RBI regional office.

Which states have the most bank holidays during Diwali 2026?

States in north and west India, including Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Bihar, Maharashtra, and Gujarat, observe the most bank holidays during Diwali week. These states celebrate both Govardhan Puja (9 Nov) and Bhai Dooj (10 Nov) as state-level holidays in addition to the main Diwali day. Gujarat additionally observes the Vikram Samvat New Year on 9 November. States in south India, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Kerala, and Andhra Pradesh, observe fewer days, typically only the main Diwali / Deepavali day.

Q1: Is Diwali a gazetted public holiday in India in 2026?

Yes. Diwali / Deepavali is a gazetted national holiday in India. In 2026, the main Diwali day falls on Sunday, 8 November. Banks and government offices observe it as a public holiday; the compensatory working day varies by state notification.

Q2: Is Diwali a bank holiday in 2026?

Yes. Diwali is a gazetted bank holiday across all Indian states. In 2026, Diwali (8 Nov) falls on a Sunday. Banks in most states will also close on Monday, 9 November for Govardhan Puja or Padwa. Verify exact closures with RBI's state-wise holiday list at rbi.org.in.

Q3: When is Dhanteras in 2026?

Dhanteras in 2026 falls on Friday, 6 November 2026. Banks are open on this day in most states. It is considered auspicious to buy gold, silver, or vehicles on Dhanteras.

Q4: Is Govardhan Puja a bank holiday in 2026?

Govardhan Puja (9 November 2026, Monday) is a bank holiday in most north Indian states, Maharashtra, and Gujarat. In some states it is a restricted holiday. Customers in these regions should not plan bank transactions for 8–9 November without verifying in advance.

Q5: Are banks open in Tamil Nadu on Diwali 2026?

Tamil Nadu observes Deepavali on Narak Chaturdashi, which is 7 November 2026 (Saturday). Since 7 November is the 1st Saturday of November, banks may be open for limited hours. However, given the state holiday, local branch operations may be disrupted. Confirm with your bank. On 8 November (Sunday), banks are closed nationwide.

Q6: Is Bhai Dooj a bank holiday in 2026?

Bhai Dooj on 10 November 2026 (Tuesday) is a restricted holiday at the central level. Whether banks close depends on your state government's notification. In states such as Haryana, Delhi, UP, and Bihar, it may result in a bank closure. Verify with RBI's published list for your state.

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