What is Lakshmi Puja?

The central Diwali ritual — worship of Goddess Lakshmi (prosperity) and Lord Ganesha, traditionally performed in the evening during a specific auspicious muhurat window.

Is Diwali the same date across all regions of India?

The Gregorian date of Amavasya itself is the same everywhere, but some regional traditions (particularly parts of South India) place more emphasis on Naraka Chaturdashi the day before — check local convention.

How is this different from Diwali's Amanta vs Purnimanta naming?

Under Amanta reckoning (South/West India), Diwali night is the last day of Ashwin month; under Purnimanta reckoning (North India), it falls within Kartik month — the Gregorian date is identical either way, only the month name differs.

Why might this calculator's date differ by a day from a printed calendar?

This uses a fixed midday reference instant rather than the exact moment of Amavasya; for a date very close to that transition, some regional Panchangs may differ by a day — always confirm important observance dates with a local Panchang.

Does an Adhik Maas (leap month) year shift Diwali significantly?

Yes — in a year with an Adhik Maas, Diwali (and other festivals) can fall up to roughly a month later than their 'usual' Gregorian date range, since the lunar calendar re-synchronizes with an extra repeated month. This calculator's Rashi-based check is specifically designed to handle that correctly.

What is Naraka Chaturdashi?

The day before Lakshmi Puja, commemorating Krishna's defeat of the demon Narakasura — also called Choti Diwali ("little Diwali") in North India.

Can I find next year's Diwali date with this tool?

Yes — enter any Gregorian year, past or future, and the calculator finds that year's Kartik Amavasya.

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Diwali Date Calculator

The calculated date of Diwali (Lakshmi Puja) for any Gregorian year.

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Last reviewed 2026-09-07

About the Diwali Date Calculator

Calculates the date of Diwali (Lakshmi Puja), the main day of the 5-day Festival of Lights, for any Gregorian year.

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How to use it

Enter a Gregorian year.
Read the calculated date of Diwali (Lakshmi Puja).
Check the 5-day festival table below for the surrounding days.

Formula

Diwali falls on Kartik Amavasya (Krishna Paksha, 30th Tithi) — found by searching for the date whose Tithi is Krishna Amavasya AND whose Sun sidereal Rashi is Tula (Libra), the second condition needed to correctly disambiguate the right month's occurrence in a year with an Adhik Maas (intercalary leap month), like 2026.

Worked example

Diwali 2026 is calculated as 8 November (Sunday) — matching real 2026 festival-calendar reporting.

The 5 days of Diwali

The 5 days of Diwali
Day	Name	Significance
1	Dhanteras	Worship of wealth/prosperity; traditional day for buying gold or utensils
2	Naraka Chaturdashi (Choti Diwali)	Commemorates Krishna's defeat of the demon Narakasura
3	Diwali (Lakshmi Puja)	Main day — worship of Goddess Lakshmi, lighting of diyas
4	Govardhan Puja	Commemorates Krishna lifting Govardhan Hill
5	Bhai Dooj	Celebrates the bond between brothers and sisters

Interpreting your result

This is a calculated approximation using a fixed India Standard Time midday reference — the actual moment of Amavasya can fall at any time of day, so for a date very close to the transition, some regional Panchangs may observe Lakshmi Puja a day earlier or later. Confirm with a local Panchang for the exact time of Lakshmi Puja itself, which is traditionally performed during a specific evening muhurat, not simply 'on' the date.

Recommendations

• The exact Lakshmi Puja muhurat (auspicious time window) on Diwali night varies by location and year — check a local Panchang for the specific recommended time, not just the date.

Frequently asked questions

Diwali is fixed to a lunar Tithi (Kartik Amavasya), not a Gregorian calendar date — since a lunar month is about 29.5 days, shorter than a Gregorian month, the Gregorian date drifts by roughly 10-11 days each year, occasionally jumping further in a year with an Adhik Maas.