Diwali falls on the new moon of the Hindu month of Kartik — typically in October or November. The exact date changes each year with the lunar calendar.

How long does Diwali last?

Diwali is a five-day festival, with the main celebration on the third night — the darkest new moon night of Kartik month.

Is Diwali only a Hindu festival?

No. While primarily Hindu, Diwali is also celebrated in Jainism (marking the liberation of Mahavira), Sikhism (celebrating the release of Guru Hargobind from prison), and some Buddhist communities in Nepal and India.

Diwali Countdown

How many days until Diwali? Live countdown to the Festival of Lights in days, hours, minutes, and seconds.

November 8, 2026

154days

15hours

06minutes

55seconds

Diwali, also spelled Divali or Deepavali, is known as the Festival of Lights and is one of the most significant and widely celebrated festivals in Hinduism, as well as an important celebration in Jainism, Sikhism, and some Buddhist communities. Diwali falls on the new moon night of the Hindu lunisolar month of Kartik — typically in October or November — and lasts five days, with the main celebration on the third day (the darkest night of the lunar month). The name Diwali comes from the Sanskrit 'Deepavali,' meaning 'row of lights.' The festival celebrates the triumph of light over darkness, knowledge over ignorance, and good over evil. Different regions of India associate Diwali with different mythological events: in North India, it commemorates the return of Lord Rama to Ayodhya after 14 years of exile and his victory over the demon king Ravana; in South India, it marks Lord Krishna's defeat of the demon Narakasura; in West India (Gujarat), it celebrates the beginning of the new year and the goddess Lakshmi. Diwali traditions include lighting rows of small oil lamps (diyas) and candles to illuminate homes and temples, creating intricate rangoli (colorful floor patterns) at entrances, wearing new clothes, exchanging sweets and gifts with family and friends, setting off fireworks, and worshipping Lakshmi — the goddess of wealth and prosperity — in prayers for a prosperous new year. Diwali is a public holiday in India, Pakistan (for Hindus), Nepal, Sri Lanka, Myanmar, Mauritius, Guyana, Trinidad and Tobago, Suriname, Malaysia, Singapore, Fiji, and several other countries.

Related Countdowns

Chinese New Year Countdown Eid al-Fitr Countdown Days Until Fall

Free Online Countdown Timer for Any Holiday or Event

Count down to Christmas, New Year, Thanksgiving, Halloween, and 24 more holidays — or enter any custom date. Real-time days, hours, minutes, and seconds. Works offline, no sign-up required.

Real-Time Countdown

Live days, hours, minutes, and seconds display updated every second with no page refresh needed.

28 Holiday Presets

Pre-loaded presets for Christmas, New Year, Easter, Halloween, Thanksgiving, Diwali, and more.

Works Offline

All date calculations run entirely in your browser — no internet connection needed after page load.

Mobile Friendly

Responsive design works beautifully on any screen size — phone, tablet, or desktop.

Add to Calendar

Download a .ics file to add any event to Google Calendar, Apple Calendar, or Outlook.

Always Free

No accounts, no ads, no limits. Free to use forever.

How to Use the Countdown Timer

1
Choose a holiday from the preset list, or visit the main countdown page for a custom date.
2
For custom countdowns, enter an optional event name and pick your target date and time.
3
Watch the live countdown tick in real time — days, hours, minutes, and seconds.