The Five Days of Diwali: A Quick Guide to What Happens When

Diwali gets treated as a single night in a lot of casual conversation, but it's actually a five-day stretch, each day carrying its own specific observance. With the festival starting in just two days, here's the full shape of it.

Day 1, November 6: Dhanteras

The opening day, centred on gold, silver, and other auspicious purchases - see our Dhanteras explainer for the full story.

Day 2, November 7: Choti Diwali

Also called Narak Chaturdashi, marking Krishna's victory over the demon Narakasura - often a day of early cleaning, decorating, and preparation for the main night ahead.

Day 3, November 8: Diwali (Lakshmi Puja)

The main event - diyas, rangoli, fireworks, and the Lakshmi Puja inviting prosperity into the home for the year ahead. This is the night most people mean when they say "Diwali."

Day 4, November 9: Govardhan Puja

Commemorating Krishna lifting Govardhan hill to shelter villagers from a storm - celebrated with elaborate food offerings in many regions, and marked as the Gujarati New Year in parts of the country.

Day 5, November 11: Bhai Dooj

Closing the festival, celebrating the sibling bond - sisters perform tilak for their brothers, who in turn offer gifts, echoing some of the same gifting spirit as Raksha Bandhan earlier in the year.

Why Knowing the Full Arc Helps With Planning

Outfits, bags, and gifting don't need to peak only on the main Diwali night - spreading consideration across all five days, particularly for Bhai Dooj gifting, avoids the common mistake of over-planning one night and under-planning the rest of the stretch.

For bag planning across the full five days, see our Diwali countdown guide.