The Diwali festival calendar — the five days of Deepavali, from Dhanteras and Naraka Chaturdashi through Lakshmi Puja, Govardhan Puja and Bhai Dooj, with the tithi for each day.
November 2026
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Vasubaras / Vagh Baras (Govatsa Dwadashi)
Tithi 10:55 AM, Nov 4 – 10:35 AM, Nov 5
The first day of Diwali, when cows and their calves are worshipped in gratitude for their nourishment — kept as Vasubaras in Maharashtra and Vagh Baras in Gujarat, where traders close the old account books.
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Dhanteras
Tithi 10:28 AM, Nov 5 – 10:30 AM, Nov 6
The first day of Diwali — gold, silver and new utensils are bought to invite prosperity.
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Narak Chaturdashi / Kali Chaudas (Abhyang Snan)
Tithi 10:23 AM, Nov 6 – 10:48 AM, Nov 7
Krishna's slaying of the demon Narakasura is marked with a pre-dawn ceremonial oil bath (abhyang snan, kept by Sindhis as Roop Chaudas) before the lamps of Diwali; in Gujarat the night is kept as Kali Chaudas, worshipping Goddess Kali.
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Bhoot Chaturdashi
Tithi 10:23 AM, Nov 6 – 10:48 AM, Nov 7
On the eve of Kali Puja, fourteen lamps are lit and fourteen leafy greens eaten to honour ancestors and ward off evil spirits.
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Diwali (Lakshmi Puja)
Tithi 10:40 AM, Nov 7 – 11:27 AM, Nov 8
The festival of lights — homes glow with diyas and Goddess Lakshmi is worshipped for wealth; Sindhis keep it as Diyari.
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Kali Puja
Tithi 10:40 AM, Nov 7 – 11:27 AM, Nov 8
On Diwali's new-moon night, Goddess Kali is worshipped through the night across Bengal.
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Govardhan Puja / Annakut
Tithi 11:21 AM, Nov 8 – 12:31 PM, Nov 9
Krishna lifting Govardhan hill is remembered with mountains of food offered to the deity.
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Bali Pratipada (Diwali Padwa / Bestu Varas)
Tithi 11:21 AM, Nov 8 – 12:31 PM, Nov 9
The Diwali Padwa honouring King Bali's return; wives perform aukshan (aarti) for their husbands and new account books and ventures are begun. In Gujarat this is Bestu Varas, the Gujarati New Year.
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Bhai Dooj / Bhau Beej
Tithi 1:55 PM, Nov 10 – 3:52 PM, Nov 11
Sisters apply a tilak and pray for their brothers' well-being, closing the Diwali festival.
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Labh Pancham
Tithi 8:42 PM, Nov 13 – 11:24 PM, Nov 14
The fifth day after Diwali (Kartik Shukla Panchami) — the auspicious day Gujarati traders reopen their shops and account books, praying to Lakshmi and Ganesha for profit (labh) in the new year.
October 2027
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Vasubaras / Vagh Baras (Govatsa Dwadashi)
Tithi 3:22 AM, Oct 26 – 1:03 AM, Oct 27
The first day of Diwali, when cows and their calves are worshipped in gratitude for their nourishment — kept as Vasubaras in Maharashtra and Vagh Baras in Gujarat, where traders close the old account books.
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Dhanteras
Tithi 1:03 AM, Oct 27 – 10:48 PM, Oct 27
The first day of Diwali — gold, silver and new utensils are bought to invite prosperity.
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Narak Chaturdashi / Kali Chaudas (Choti Diwali)
Tithi 10:49 PM, Oct 27 – 8:45 PM, Oct 28
Lamps are lit and Krishna's victory over the demon Narakasura is remembered; Sindhis keep it as Roop Chaudas and in Gujarat the night is kept as Kali Chaudas, worshipping Goddess Kali.
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Bhoot Chaturdashi
Tithi 10:49 PM, Oct 27 – 8:45 PM, Oct 28
On the eve of Kali Puja, fourteen lamps are lit and fourteen leafy greens eaten to honour ancestors and ward off evil spirits.
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Diwali (Lakshmi Puja)
Tithi 8:46 PM, Oct 28 – 7:02 PM, Oct 29
The festival of lights — homes glow with diyas and Goddess Lakshmi is worshipped for wealth; Sindhis keep it as Diyari.
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Kali Puja
Tithi 8:46 PM, Oct 28 – 7:02 PM, Oct 29
On Diwali's new-moon night, Goddess Kali is worshipped through the night across Bengal.
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Govardhan Puja / Annakut
Tithi 7:02 PM, Oct 29 – 5:48 PM, Oct 30
Krishna lifting Govardhan hill is remembered with mountains of food offered to the deity.
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Bali Pratipada (Diwali Padwa / Bestu Varas)
Tithi 7:02 PM, Oct 29 – 5:48 PM, Oct 30
The Diwali Padwa honouring King Bali's return; wives perform aukshan (aarti) for their husbands and new account books and ventures are begun. In Gujarat this is Bestu Varas, the Gujarati New Year.
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Bhai Dooj / Bhau Beej
Tithi 5:46 PM, Oct 30 – 5:09 PM, Oct 31
Sisters apply a tilak and pray for their brothers' well-being, closing the Diwali festival.
November 2027
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Labh Pancham
Tithi 5:57 PM, Nov 2 – 7:27 PM, Nov 3
The fifth day after Diwali (Kartik Shukla Panchami) — the auspicious day Gujarati traders reopen their shops and account books, praying to Lakshmi and Ganesha for profit (labh) in the new year.
Tithi start and end times are shown in your local time. Festival dates follow the standard Indian (sunrise) calendar and may vary by a day in other regions, and may differ slightly from regional almanacs (especially around an Adhik Maas).
About the Diwali Calendar
The Diwali festival calendar — the five days of Deepavali, from Dhanteras and Naraka Chaturdashi through Lakshmi Puja, Govardhan Puja and Bhai Dooj, with the tithi for each day.
Each entry lists the festival or vrat with its date, the prevailing tithi, and a short note on the observance. Dates are shown for the current and the coming year.