Diwali Calendar 1986
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.
Diwali 1986 lists 11 dates, beginning with Vasubaras / Vagh Baras (Govatsa Dwadashi) on 29 October.
October 1986
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Vasubaras / Vagh Baras (Govatsa Dwadashi)
Tithi 6:59 PM, Oct 28 – 6:54 PM, Oct 29
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 6:54 PM, Oct 29 – 6:03 PM, Oct 30
The first day of Diwali — gold, silver and new utensils are bought to invite prosperity.
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Bhoot Chaturdashi
Tithi 6:03 PM, Oct 30 – 4:27 PM, Oct 31
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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Kali Chaudas
Tithi 6:03 PM, Oct 30 – 4:27 PM, Oct 31
The night before Diwali's Amavasya, Goddess Kali is worshipped to destroy negativity; sleep and laziness (alasya) are symbolically driven from the home.
November 1986
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Narak Chaturdashi (Abhyang Snan)
Tithi 4:30 PM, Oct 31 – 2:14 PM, Nov 1
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.
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Diwali (Lakshmi Puja)
Tithi 4:30 PM, Oct 31 – 2:14 PM, Nov 1
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 4:30 PM, Oct 31 – 2:14 PM, Nov 1
On Diwali's new-moon night, Goddess Kali is worshipped through the night across Bengal.
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Govardhan Puja / Annakut
Tithi 2:19 PM, Nov 1 – 11:32 AM, Nov 2
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 2:19 PM, Nov 1 – 11:32 AM, Nov 2
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 11:38 AM, Nov 2 – 8:31 AM, Nov 3
Sisters apply a tilak and pray for their brothers' well-being, closing the Diwali festival.
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Labh Pancham
Tithi 10:55 PM, Nov 5 – 7:59 PM, Nov 6
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.