Quick answer: November 2026 opens with Ahoi Ashtami (1 November) and peaks with the five days of Diwali: Dhanteras on Friday 6 November, Diwali (Lakshmi Puja) on Sunday 8 November, Govardhan Puja on 10 November and Bhai Dooj on 11 November in India (9 and 10 November in the USA and UK). Chhath Puja runs 13–16 November, Karthika Masam begins on 10 November, Tulsi Vivah is on 21 November and Karthika Pournami on 24 November.

Because 2026 has an extra lunar month, these festivals fall about three weeks later than in 2025. Dates below follow Drik Panchang for New Delhi, with the USA and UK dates shown where they differ.

November 2026 Hindu Festival Calendar at a Glance

Date (India)DayFestival / VratNRI note
Nov 1SunAhoi AshtamiSame date in the USA and UK
Nov 5ThuGovatsa Dwadashi · Rama EkadashiRama Ekadashi: Wed Nov 4 in the USA
Nov 6FriDhanteras (Dhantrayodashi)Same date worldwide
Nov 7SatKali Chaudas / Choti DiwaliUSA: Narak Chaturdashi also on Nov 7
Nov 8SunDiwali — Lakshmi Puja · Narak Chaturdashi (morning, India)Diwali is Sunday Nov 8 everywhere
Nov 10TueGovardhan Puja / Bali Padyami · Karthika Masam beginsUSA, UK, Canada, UAE: Govardhan on Mon Nov 9
Nov 11WedBhai DoojUSA, UK, Canada, UAE: Tue Nov 10
Nov 13–16Fri–MonChhath Puja — Nahay Khay (13), Kharna (14), Sandhya Arghya (15), Usha Arghya (16)Follow local sunset/sunrise
Nov 16MonVrishchika Sankranti · first Karthika SomavaramSame date worldwide
Nov 20FriDevuthani (Prabodhini) Ekadashi — Chaturmas ends · Kansa VadhUSA: Kansa Vadh on Nov 19
Nov 21SatTulsi VivahSame date in the USA and UK
Nov 23, 30MonKarthika Somavaram (2nd and 3rd Mondays)Fourth Monday: Dec 7
Nov 24TueKarthika Pournami / Kartika Purnima — Dev Deepawali in VaranasiSame date worldwide

Diwali 2026 — Dhanteras to Bhai Dooj

The festival of lights runs from Dhanteras on Friday 6 November to Bhai Dooj on Wednesday 11 November in India. Diwali itself — the evening of Lakshmi-Ganesh puja, diyas and family feasts — is on Sunday, 8 November 2026 in India, the USA, Canada, the UK, Australia, the UAE and Singapore. In India the Narak Chaturdashi abhyang snan falls on the morning of the 8th; in the USA it is on Saturday the 7th. Diwali 2026 complete guide · Lakshmi Puja 2026.

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NRI note on muhurat: Lakshmi Puja is performed in your own local evening (Pradosh Kaal, after sunset). Do not convert India’s muhurat to your time zone — that would put the puja in the morning. Use a panchang set to your city.

Govardhan Puja and Bhai Dooj — 10 and 11 November (9 and 10 in the USA and UK)

The day after Diwali is a gap day in India this year, so Govardhan Puja / Annakut and Bali Padyami fall on Tuesday 10 November and Bhai Dooj on Wednesday 11 November. In the USA, Canada, the UK and the UAE there is no gap: Govardhan Puja is Monday 9 November and Bhai Dooj Tuesday 10 November. Guides: Govardhan Puja 2026 and Bhai Dooj 2026.

Chhath Puja — 13 to 16 November 2026

The four-day Surya worship begins with Nahay Khay on Friday 13 November, Kharna on Saturday 14, the evening Sandhya Arghya on Sunday 15 and the sunrise Usha Arghya on Monday 16 November. Diaspora ghats at lakes and beaches follow local sunset and sunrise times. Chhath Puja 2026.

Karthika Masam — 10 November to 8 December 2026

In the Telugu and Kannada calendar Karthika Masam begins on Tuesday 10 November, the day after the Diwali new moon, and ends on 8 December. The Karthika Somavaram Mondays are 16, 23 and 30 November and 7 December, and the month’s holiest day, Karthika Pournami, is Tuesday 24 November. See Karthika Masam 2026, Karthika Somavaram 2026 and Karthika Pournami 2026.

Devuthani Ekadashi and Tulsi Vivah — 20 and 21 November

Lord Vishnu wakes from his four-month rest on Devuthani (Prabodhini) Ekadashi, Friday 20 November, ending Chaturmas. Tulsi Vivah, the marriage of Tulsi with Shaligram that opens the wedding season, follows on Saturday 21 November. Tulsi Vivah 2026.

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Vrishchika Sankranti — Monday, 16 November 2026

The Sun enters sidereal Scorpio on 16 November, the first Karthika Somavaram of the year. Vrishchika Sankranti 2026.

NRI tips for November 2026

  • A Sunday Diwali: Dhanteras (Friday) to Diwali (Sunday) is a full festival weekend — no leave needed for Lakshmi Puja.
  • Check your country for Govardhan and Bhai Dooj: they are a day earlier in the USA, UK, Canada and UAE than in India.
  • Shopping: Indian grocery stores stock diyas, rangoli colours, silver coins and mithai two to three weeks before Dhanteras — order early.
  • Chhath abroad: many cities hold community ghats at lakes or beaches; check local sunset and sunrise for the arghya times.

Frequently asked questions

When is Diwali in 2026?

Diwali (Lakshmi Puja) is on Sunday, 8 November 2026 in India and across the diaspora. Dhanteras is on Friday, 6 November.

When are Govardhan Puja and Bhai Dooj in 2026?

In India, Govardhan Puja is on Tuesday 10 November and Bhai Dooj on Wednesday 11 November. In the USA, UK, Canada and UAE they fall a day earlier: Monday 9 and Tuesday 10 November.

When is Chhath Puja 2026?

Chhath Puja runs from 13 to 16 November 2026, with the evening arghya on Sunday 15 November and the sunrise arghya on Monday 16 November.

When is Karthika Pournami 2026?

Karthika Pournami (Kartika Purnima) is on Tuesday, 24 November 2026.

When is Tulsi Vivah 2026?

Tulsi Vivah is on Saturday, 21 November 2026, the day after Devuthani Ekadashi (20 November).

Dates follow Drik Panchang for New Delhi (India) and for each listed country; local temples may differ by a day. Last checked 4 October 2026.