Days Until Diwali

About the Diwali countdown

Diwali follows the Hindu lunar calendar, so its date changes every year. This page counts down to the main Lakshmi Puja day in your local time zone, and the table lists the dates for the coming years.

Diwali, the festival of lights, is celebrated over five days, with the main day, Lakshmi Puja, falling around the new-moon night in October or November. Because it follows the lunar calendar, the date moves each year, which is why a countdown is more useful than remembering a fixed date. The five days run from Dhanteras through Naraka Chaturdashi, Lakshmi Puja and Govardhan Puja to Bhai Dooj. In Gujarat, the day after Diwali is also the start of the new year, known as Bestu Varas.

Diwali dates for the next 5 years

What people use this countdown for

• Planning cleaning, shopping, sweets and decorations against the real days remaining.
• Working out when Dhanteras and Bhai Dooj fall around the main day.
• Booking travel home for the festival before fares rise.
• Counting down with children, or displaying a live countdown at home, school or work.

How the countdown works

1. The timer reads your device's clock and counts down to the start of the day (midnight, local time).
2. Days, hours, minutes and seconds update every second; sleeps, weeks and working days are worked out from the calendar.
3. When the day arrives the page switches to a message for Diwali and shows the countdown to the next one.

Tips

• The date shown is the main Lakshmi Puja day in the North Indian calendar. Regional calendars can differ by a day, so check the muhurat with your local temple or panchang.
• Dhanteras falls two days before the main day and Bhai Dooj two days after, so plan the five-day window rather than a single date.

Frequently asked questions