Diwali Countdown

Diwali, the festival of lights, is one of the most important holidays in Hinduism, set by the lunar calendar so its date changes each year. Diwali 2026 falls on November 8, 2026, and this countdown ticks down to it live.

How many days until Diwali?

Diwali is on Sunday, November 8, 2026, which is 108 days away. The live countdown above ticks down to the exact moment, to the second.

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Diwali's story so far

c. 3rd-9th century CEThe earliest known descriptions of Diwali appear in the Sanskrit Padma Purana and Skanda Purana, which detail lamp-lighting rituals and a predawn bath to honor the goddess Lakshmi.

7th century CEEmperor Harsha's Sanskrit play Nagananda calls the festival Dipapratipadotsava ('lamp-lighting first-day festival'), one of the earliest named literary references to the celebration.

2003Diwali becomes an annual White House observance for the first time, begun under President George W. Bush.

2009President Barack Obama becomes the first sitting US president to personally light a diya at a White House Diwali reception.

2017Uttar Pradesh launches the modern Ayodhya Deepotsav with about 171,000 lamps; the event has gone on to break its own record almost every year since.

2023New York Governor Kathy Hochul signs a law making Diwali an official public school holiday in New York City, taking effect with the 2024-25 school year.

More Diwali world records

Largest rangoli39,125 square meters (about 421,000 sq ft), using 115,000 kg of color — made by the District Administration of Mirzapur, India, with about 2,500 students, January 25, 2017

Largest rangoli made by one person2,756 sq ft (256 sq m), completed single-handedly in seven hours by Singapore-based artist Vijayalakshmi Mohan, August 3, 2003

Largest diya-rotation aarti1,121 people performing the ritual in unison at Ayodhya's 2024 Deepotsav

Largest Diwali celebration outside IndiaLeicester, England — a tradition dating to 1983 that now draws tens of thousands of visitors each year

The festival of lights

Diwali celebrates the victory of light over darkness and good over evil. Homes and streets glow with rows of oil lamps (diyas), candles and fireworks, and families gather to share sweets and exchange gifts.

Celebrated around the world

Observed by over a billion people, Diwali is a public holiday across India and in many other countries, and is marked by Hindu, Jain, Sikh and Buddhist communities worldwide.

Rama's homecoming, retold in 2.6 million lamps

The most beloved Diwali story tells of Prince Rama returning to Ayodhya after 14 years of exile and victory over the demon king Ravana; the city's people lit rows of clay lamps to guide him home. Modern Ayodhya restages that welcome on an astonishing scale: at Deepotsav 2025, volunteers lit 2,617,215 oil lamps along the Saryu River — a Guinness World Record verified by drone count — while 2,128 people performed aarti together, setting a second record the same night.

Five nights to try at home

Diwali is really a five-day arc. It opens with Dhanteras, when homes are cleaned top to bottom and families buy something metal for luck. Choti Diwali follows with an early oil-bath ritual. The main night belongs to Lakshmi Puja: lay a rangoli of colored powder or flower petals at the door, light clay diyas in windows and share mithai (sweets). Govardhan Puja brings mountains of festive food, and Bhai Dooj closes the festival honoring the bond between siblings.

Quick facts

Set by the Hindu lunar calendar, so the date moves each year
Means “row of lights”, homes are lit with diyas
Celebrated by over a billion people worldwide
Falls between mid-October and mid-November
Ayodhya lit a record 2,617,215 oil lamps at Deepotsav 2025, verified by drone for Guinness World Records
The full festival spans five days, from Dhanteras to Bhai Dooj, with Lakshmi Puja on the main night

Festival of Lights prep

Diyas, lights and sweets — ready before the first lamp is lit.

Diya lamps String lights Rangoli stencils & colors Indian sweets box Decorative lanterns Mehndi kit

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Learn more

Wikipedia Britannica: Diwali timeanddate: Diwali dates

Diwali — frequently asked questions

When is Diwali?

Diwali is on Sunday, November 8, 2026.

How many days until Diwali?

Diwali is on Sunday, November 8, 2026, which is 108 days away. The live countdown above ticks down to the exact moment, to the second.

Updated July 2026 · alarm-clock.org

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