Diwali falls on November 8 this year, Hindu calendar confirms

The amavasya (new moon) tithi in the Kartik month will commence on November 8 at 11:28 AM and conclude on November 9 at 12:32 PM, according to the Hindu panchang (lunar calendar). However, considering the udaya tithi and pradosh kaal—auspicious periods observed by Hindu practitioners—Diwali celebrations will take place on Sunday, November 8, this year.

The festival's date is determined each year based on lunar calculations rather than the Gregorian calendar. The new moon night in the Kartik month, which typically falls between October and November, marks the occasion of Diwali across India and among Hindu communities worldwide.

Lakshmi Puja, the central ritual of Diwali that honors the goddess of wealth and prosperity, will be performed during the pradosh kaal window on November 8. This timing ensures that prayers coincide with the most spiritually significant period of the day, as prescribed by traditional Hindu astronomical texts.

Millions of Indians will mark the festival by lighting diyas (oil lamps), bursting fireworks, exchanging gifts, and preparing traditional sweets. The celebration symbolizes the triumph of light over darkness and good over evil across Indian households and communities.