NEW DELHI, November 7: Diwali falls on Sunday, November 8, and today, Saturday, is Chhoti Diwali (Naraka Chaturdashi) in most calendars. Here is what you need to know about this year’s festival: the dates, what is celebrated and why, the rules on firecrackers in Delhi-NCR, and practical points on travel, shopping and safety.
Key highlights
- Date: Diwali (Deepavali) is on Sunday, November 8, a closed holiday for central government offices.
- Five days: the festival began with Dhanteras on Friday, November 6, and ends with Govardhan Puja and Bhai Dooj after Diwali.
- Firecrackers in Delhi-NCR: only certified green crackers, only on November 7 and 8, and only from 6–7 am and 8–10 pm, under a Supreme Court order; the full ban returns on November 9.
- Ayodhya: Deepotsav is held this evening on the Saryu; Vice-President C. P. Radhakrishnan will attend.
- Heritage: Deepavali has been on UNESCO’s list of the intangible cultural heritage of humanity since December 2025.
| Day | Festival | What happens |
|---|---|---|
| Friday, November 6 | Dhanteras | Worship of Dhanvantari and Lakshmi; buying gold, silver and utensils; a lamp for Yama |
| Saturday, November 7 | Naraka Chaturdashi / Chhoti Diwali | Early-morning bath and lamps; Deepotsav in Ayodhya |
| Sunday, November 8 | Diwali (Lakshmi Puja) | Lakshmi and Ganesha worship in the evening; lamps and lights; Kali Puja in eastern India |
| After Diwali | Govardhan Puja / Annakut, Bali Pratipada | Offerings of food; in some regions, the start of the new year |
| After Diwali | Bhai Dooj | Sisters pray for their brothers’ well-being |
What Diwali celebrates
Diwali means different things to different communities. In much of north India it marks Rama’s return to Ayodhya; families everywhere worship Lakshmi, the goddess of prosperity; in the south, Naraka Chaturdashi recalls Krishna’s victory over Narakasura; in Bengal and the east, the new-moon night is Kali Puja; Jains mark Mahavira’s nirvana; and Sikhs celebrate Bandi Chhor Divas. For the long story of how these traditions came together, read our History Desk report, History of Diwali.
Firecrackers: what is allowed in Delhi-NCR
- Only green crackers certified by CSIR-NEERI, in sealed boxes with a product QR code.
- Bursting is allowed only on November 7 and 8, from 6 to 7 am and 8 to 10 pm.
- No crackers within 300 metres of hospitals, nursing homes, health centres, old-age homes, silence zones and educational institutions.
- Laris (series crackers), garlands and barium-based crackers remain banned; the full ban returns on November 9.
Full details are in our report on the Supreme Court’s order. Rules in other states are set by state governments and local authorities.
Travel, shopping and safety
- Trains: the Railways reported daily footfall at Delhi’s main stations rising from about 5 lakh to about 8 lakh in early November; reach stations early (our report).
- Gold and silver: check for the BIS mark, purity mark and six-digit HUID before buying (our guide).
- Air quality: people with asthma, heart or lung conditions should limit time outdoors on high-pollution evenings.
- Fire safety: keep a bucket of water or sand nearby, keep diyas away from curtains, and supervise children with any crackers.
What to watch
- Deepotsav in Ayodhya this evening.
- Air quality in north Indian cities on Diwali night and the morning after.
- Bhai Dooj and Chhath travel after Diwali.
A diya on a balcony ledge. Image: siddarth varanasi, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons. Photo source · Licence
Sources
- Department of Personnel and Training: holidays for 2026 (O.M. No. 12/2/2023-JCA, July 3, 2025)
- PIB (Vice President’s Secretariat): Vice-President to attend Deepotsav 2026 in Ayodhya on November 7
- PIB (Ministry of Railways): festive passenger arrangements, November 6, 2026
- Embassy of India, Minsk: Deepavali added to UNESCO’s Intangible Cultural Heritage list
The National Desk covers India's politics, governance, security and public-interest news. Stories are checked against at least two credible sources before publication.
