Complete guide to Diwali 2026 across India's major temples — confirmed dates, regional traditions, visitor logistics, and official sources. Information verified as of September 15, 2026; unconfirmed items clearly marked.
Dhanteras
Fri, Nov 6, 2026
confirmedNaraka Chaturdashi<br />(Chhoti Diwali)
Sat, Nov 7, 2026
confirmedDiwali / Lakshmi Puja<br />(Main Day)
Sun, Nov 8, 2026
confirmedGovardhan Puja /<br />Annakut
Mon, Nov 9, 2026
confirmedBhai Dooj
Tue, Nov 10, 2026
confirmedGrand Deepotsav with lakhs of diyas along Sarayu ghats; Ram Lalla's first Diwali in the new mandir; Surya Tilak mechanism alignment (if Ram Navami logic extends); special shringar and bhog.
Source: Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust announcements
Checked: 2026-09-15
Annakut Mahotsav with 56 bhog offerings; Ganga aarti at Dashashwamedh Ghat with thousands of diyas; special Rudrabhishek; Akhand Ramayan path. Vishwanath Corridor illuminated.
Source: Kashi Vishwanath Temple Trust / UP Tourism
Checked: 2026-09-15
Bhasma Aarti at 4 AM with special Diwali shringar; Mahakal sawari (procession) on Diwali evening; temple complex illuminated; Annakut offering.
Source: Mahakaleshwar Temple Management Committee
Checked: 2026-09-15
Annakut Utsav with chappan bhog (56 offerings); Deepotsav at Gomti Ghat; special shringar of Dwarkadhish as Ranchhodrai; Govardhan Puja celebrations.
Source: Dwarkadhish Temple Trust / Gujarat Tourism
Checked: 2026-09-15
Massive Annakut at temples around Govardhan; parikrama (circumambulation) by lakhs of pilgrims; Govardhan Puja on Nov 9 with milk, sweets, and grains offered to Giriraj ji.
Source: Mathura-Vrindavan Temple Trusts / UP Tourism
Checked: 2026-09-15
Special Diwali shringar; Nidhivan traditions; Phool Bangla (flower palace) decoration; Annakut; evening aarti with thousands of diyas.
Source: Banke Bihari Temple Management
Checked: 2026-09-15
Kali Puja (coincides with Diwali night, Nov 8); Tantric rituals; animal sacrifice (traditional); all-night aarti; bhog distribution. Distinct from North Indian Lakshmi Puja.
Source: Kalighat Temple Committee / West Bengal Tourism
Checked: 2026-09-15
Kali Puja with elaborate tantric rituals; 12 Shiva temples in complex also decorated; Ma Bhavatarini special alankar; Navratri-Diwali confluence celebrations.
Source: Dakshineswar Temple Trust
Checked: 2026-09-15
One of the 51 Shakti Peethas; special Diwali/Kali Puja rituals; tantric traditions; large crowds of devotees from Bihar and neighboring states.
Source: Local temple management (awaiting 2026 schedule)
Checked: 2026-09-15
Lakshmi Puja on Diwali night (Nov 8); Dhanteras (Nov 6), Chhoti Diwali/Naraka Chaturdashi (Nov 7), Govardhan Puja/Annakut (Nov 9), Bhai Dooj (Nov 10). Business community starts new accounting year.
Kali Puja on Diwali night (Nov 8) — primary observance; Lakshmi Puja on Kojagari Purnima (Oct 2026, separate). Tantric rituals at Kali temples. Odisha: Deepabali with Bada Osha.
Vasu Baras (Nov 5), Dhanteras (Nov 6), Naraka Chaturdashi (Nov 7), Lakshmi Puja (Nov 8), Bali Pratipada (Nov 9), Bhai Dooj (Nov 10). Gujarat: Bestu Varas (New Year) on Nov 9.
Naraka Chaturdashi (Nov 7) as main day — pre-dawn oil bath, new clothes; Lakshmi Puja on Diwali (Nov 8) in some communities; Deepavali Marundhu (medicinal paste) in Tamil Nadu; Bali Padyami in Karnataka.
Book Ayodhya/Varanasi accommodation 60+ days ahead — Deepotsav draws 10L+ visitors
Varanasi Ganga ghat access restricted on Diwali evening — arrive by 3 PM for aarti viewing
Mahakaleshwar Bhasma Aarti requires online booking (opens 7 days prior) — set calendar reminder
Govardhan parikrama: 21 km barefoot walk — start early (4 AM), carry water, wear grippy shoes
Kolkata Kali Puja: pandal hopping best done Nov 7-9 nights; metro runs extended hours
Dwarka: Sudarshan Setu bridge reduces travel time from Jamnagar; book Dwarkadhish darshan slots online
Train tickets: IRCTC opens 120 days ahead — book Diwali week trains by July 2026
Carry cash for temple donations — UPI/network may be congested in pilgrimage towns
| Term | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Deepotsav | Festival of lights — large-scale diya illumination events (Ayodhya, Varanasi, etc.) |
| Annakut / Chappan Bhog | Mountain of food offerings (56 items) to Krishna/Govardhan/Govardhan Hill on day after Diwali |
| Kali Puja | Bengal/Assam/Odisha tradition: worship of Kali on Diwali night with tantric rituals |
| Govardhan Puja | Worship of Govardhan Hill (Giriraj) commemorating Krishna lifting the mountain; Annakut offered |
| Bali Pratipada / Bali Padyami | Maharashtra/Karnataka: honors King Bali; fourth day of Diwali |
| Bhai Dooj / Bhai Phota / Bhai Tika | Sister-brother festival; fifth day; tilak, aarti, gift exchange |
| Bestu Varas | Gujarati New Year (Vikram Samvat); day after Diwali (Nov 9, 2026) |
This page follows Sacred Places India's fact-checking policy. All dates are calculated per standard Hindu almanacs (Drik Panchang) for Vikram Samvat 2083 and cross-referenced with multiple panchang sources.
Confirmed: Astronomical dates (Diwali, Dhanteras, etc.) and perennial temple traditions that occur annually.
Unconfirmed / Awaiting 2026 Schedule: Specific temple event timings, special guest appearances, ticketing details, crowd management plans, and any new initiatives for 2026. These will be updated as temple trusts release official notifications.
Next scheduled review: October 15, 2026. Updates will be reflected in the page's dateModified schema field.
For how temples actually observe the festival — the five-day structure, the Lakshmi-Ganesha puja, regional and faith traditions, and Ayodhya, Tirumala and Varanasi case studies with sources named — see the research guide Diwali at India's Temples.
These are the published records this page draws on. Each entry names the body that issued it and the specific claims on this page that it backs, so you can check them yourself rather than taking our word for it.
Archaeological Survey of India
Archaeological Survey of India — monument records and conservation reports
Protection status, dating, architectural classification and published conservation records for the monuments named on this page.
Primary archaeological record
Open source (opens in a new tab)Ministry of Tourism, Government of India
Ministry of Tourism — official destination information
Official Government of India destination information — access, visitor circuits and travel guidance referenced on this page.
Government record
Open source (opens in a new tab)Encyclopædia Britannica
Encyclopædia Britannica — reference entries on Indian art, religion and history
Reference background on the historical figures, dynasties and religious traditions named on this page.
Reference source
Open source (opens in a new tab)— every record linked above was re-requested for this release, so the link still resolves and the publisher still serves the document. It is a link check, not a re-verification of every sentence on this page.
Missing something, or found an error? Send us a correction with the record that supports it, or read how we choose sources.
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