Every year the same thing happens. Someone remembers on Dhanteras evening that the gift for the in-laws hasn't been ordered, pays โน400 for one-day delivery, and it still arrives on Govardhan Puja. This is the calendar that stops that. Five days, what each one is for, and the dates by which the cart has to be paid for.
The five days of Diwali 2026
| Day | Date (2026) | What it's for | What to buy |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dhanteras | Fri 6 Nov | New metal enters the house; Kuber and Dhanvantari puja | Silver, brass, a lamp, a kalash, even the jhadu |
| Choti Diwali | Sat 7 Nov | Naraka Chaturdashi; the first diyas go out | Diyas, rangoli, the door toran |
| Diwali | Sun 8 Nov | Lakshmi Puja after sunset; the main evening | Gifts for family, sweets that aren't mithai, lights |
| Govardhan Puja | Mon 9 Nov | Annakut; food offerings, family visits | Hampers, dry fruits, things for the host |
| Bhai Dooj | Wed 11 Nov | Sisters host brothers; tilak and a meal | The brother gift, the sister gift |
Lakshmi Puja muhurat is the evening of 8 November, after sunset and before the cusp of the next lunar day. The exact window shifts by city, so check a local panchang for the hour. Nobody has ever been turned away from a puja for lighting the diya twenty minutes early.
The order-by dates, honestly
Courier times double in Diwali week. Warehouses run out of the good stuff first, and every delivery partner in the country is carrying three times the parcels. These are the dates we would use ourselves, not the ones the checkout page promises.
| You need it by | Metro pin code, standard | Metro, express | Non-metro, standard |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dhanteras, 6 Nov | 31 Oct | 3 Nov | 28 Oct |
| Diwali, 8 Nov | 2 Nov | 5 Nov | 30 Oct |
| Bhai Dooj, 11 Nov | 5 Nov | 8 Nov | 2 Nov |
What to buy for each day
Dhanteras is about metal. If you buy one thing, make it something the house uses in the puja two days later.
One-Gram Silver Coin
Real 999 silver, so the tradition survives on a budget
โน395 โ was โน699on Amazon.in ยท checked 3 Oct
checked 3 Oct
We may earn a commission when you buy through links on this page โ at no extra cost to you.
Lakshmi Ganesh Idol Lamp
The idols and the diya, in one piece.
โน699 โ was โน1,499on Amazon.in ยท checked 4 Oct
checked 4 Oct
We may earn a commission when you buy through links on this page โ at no extra cost to you.
Choti Diwali is when the balcony gets dressed. A toran that doesn't wilt and a rangoli kit for people who can't draw are the two purchases that make the house look like it tried.
Marigold Toran That Never Wilts
Genda phool door toran, reusable for years
โน347 โ was โน899on Amazon.in ยท checked 3 Oct
checked 3 Oct
We may earn a commission when you buy through links on this page โ at no extra cost to you.
Rangoli Kit For Non-Artists
20 colours, 4 stencils, no talent required.
โน289 โ was โน599on Amazon.in ยท checked 4 Oct
checked 4 Oct
We may earn a commission when you buy through links on this page โ at no extra cost to you.
Diwali night is for the gifts that go to other homes. The rule in this house: nothing that melts, nothing that needs a fridge, nothing that will be regifted by Bhai Dooj.
Dry Fruit Box, Not Fried
Roasted, oil-free, and it looks like it cost more.
โน670 โ was โน720on Amazon.in ยท checked 3 Oct
checked 3 Oct
We may earn a commission when you buy through links on this page โ at no extra cost to you.
Six-Wick Diya, Zero Oil
An akhand jyot that never needs ghee or babysitting.
โน1,234 โ was โน1,299on Amazon.in ยท checked 4 Oct
checked 4 Oct
We may earn a commission when you buy through links on this page โ at no extra cost to you.
240 LEDs For โน250
Curtain of fairy lights, 8,000 people approve.
โน250 on Flipkart ยท checked 4 Oct
checked 4 Oct
We may earn a commission when you buy through links on this page โ at no extra cost to you.
Full lists by day
Two guides do the heavy lifting: one for Dhanteras that skips the steel dabba entirely, and one for the people who keep your home running.
๐ช Gift guide ยท 9 picks9 Dhanteras Gifts That Aren't a Steel Utensil (2026)๐ช Gift guide ยท 16 picks16 Diwali Gifts for House Help, Driver & Society Staff Under โน500 (2026)๐ค Gift guide ยท 10 picks10 Bhai Dooj Gifts That Are Not Mithai (2026)Good questions
Is Diwali 2026 on 8 November or 9 November?๏ผ
Lakshmi Puja, the main Diwali evening, is Sunday 8 November 2026. Govardhan Puja follows on 9 November. Some calendars print both under 'Diwali', which is where the confusion comes from.
What is the last safe date to order Diwali gifts online?๏ผ
2 November for standard delivery to a metro pin code, 30 October for smaller towns. After that, pay for express or buy from a store you can walk into.
Can I gift on Bhai Dooj instead of Diwali?๏ผ
Yes, and for siblings it is the better day. Bhai Dooj is 11 November 2026, three days after Diwali, so a gift that misses Diwali can still land on time.