Diwali 2026 falls on Sunday, 8 November, with the festival running five days from Dhanteras on 6 November to Bhai Dooj. The big online sales have already happened, but the last-week Diwali offers, Dhanteras gold deals and festive bank discounts are live right now. This guide tells you what to buy on each day, what to skip, and how to stack coupons, cashback and card offers so you pay the lowest real price.
Diwali 2026 dates at a glance
| Day | Date | What to buy | Shop by |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dhanteras | Fri, 6 Nov | Gold, silver coins, utensils, broom, new appliances | Order online by 3–4 Nov or buy in store |
| Chhoti Diwali (Naraka Chaturdashi) | Sat, 7 Nov | Diyas, lights, rangoli, torans, flowers | 4–5 Nov for delivery |
| Diwali / Lakshmi Puja | Sun, 8 Nov | Puja items, sweets, dry fruits, festive wear, gifts | 5 Nov for delivery; quick-commerce for last minute |
| Govardhan Puja | Mon, 9 Nov* | Ingredients for annakut, serveware | Local / quick-commerce |
| Bhai Dooj | Tue, 10 Nov* | Gifts for siblings, hampers, gift cards | 6–7 Nov for delivery |
*Some panchangs place Govardhan Puja and Bhai Dooj a day later depending on tithi timing in your city. Check your local panchang for puja muhurat.
Day 1 — Dhanteras (6 Nov): what to buy and how to check it
Dhanteras is the most expensive shopping day of the festival, and the one where a bad purchase costs most. Gold and silver are traditional, but steel or brass utensils, a new broom and kitchen appliances count too.
Gold and silver buying checklist
- Check the BIS hallmark and 6-digit HUID. Every hallmarked gold piece carries a unique HUID. You can verify it in the BIS CARE app before you pay.
- Ask for the making charge as a percentage. Making charges vary widely between jewellers and designs. A "0% making charge" offer usually means a higher gold rate or a cheaper design.
- Compare the day's rate per gram with the rate quoted by two other jewellers. The rate changes daily, so compare on the same day.
- Coins over jewellery for investment. Coins and bars carry lower making charges and are easier to resell.
- Get a GST invoice showing weight, purity, rate, making charge and HUID. You will need it to exchange or resell.
Not buying gold? Smart Dhanteras alternatives
- Stainless-steel or brass cookware sets
- Silver coins or pooja items (lower ticket, same tradition)
- Kitchen appliances you actually need: mixer grinder, air fryer, water purifier
- Digital gold for small amounts, if you understand the platform's buy/sell spread
Shop Dhanteras deals: Milton and Borosil for utensils and bottles, Wonderchef for cookware, Havells for kitchen appliances.
Day 2 — Chhoti Diwali (7 Nov): decorations and lights
Buy decorations early. Prices on lights and diyas go up in the final 48 hours and delivery slots disappear.
- LED string lights: check the wattage and whether it is plug-in or battery. Reusable lights pay for themselves in one season.
- Clay diyas: local potters are often cheaper than online packs and the money stays local.
- Rangoli colours and stencils, torans, artificial flowers: buy in combo packs, which are almost always cheaper per piece.
Shop decor: Pepperfry, Vaaree, Amazon and Flipkart coupons for lights, diyas and home decor.
Day 3 — Diwali (8 Nov): puja items, sweets and festive wear
- Puja essentials: Lakshmi-Ganesh idol, kalash, puja thali, camphor, agarbatti and fresh flowers. Order non-perishables now; buy flowers locally on the day.
- Sweets and dry fruits: buy dry fruit gift boxes online for better per-kg prices; buy mithai fresh from a trusted local shop.
- Festive wear: fashion apps run the deepest Diwali discounts on ethnic wear. Check size charts and the return policy before you order.
Festive wear coupons: Myntra, AJIO, Nykaa Fashion, Libas, Biba, Fabindia and Jaypore. Dry fruits and sweets: Happilo and FNP.
Day 4 & 5 — Govardhan Puja and Bhai Dooj gifts
Govardhan Puja shopping is mostly groceries for annakut. Bhai Dooj is about personal gifts for siblings, so order by 6–7 November if you need home delivery.
Bhai Dooj gift coupons: FNP, FlowerAura and Indian Gifts Portal for hampers; Bella Vita for perfume sets; GIVA and Palmonas for jewellery.
Diwali gift ideas by budget
| Budget | For family | For friends & colleagues | For siblings (Bhai Dooj) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Under ₹500 | Scented candles, diya sets | Chocolate boxes, desk plants | Personalised mug, keychain |
| Under ₹1,000 | Dry fruit box, brass diya | Tea or coffee hamper | Wallet, perfume mini set |
| Under ₹2,500 | Cookware piece, silver coin | Bluetooth speaker | Smartwatch band, skincare kit |
| Under ₹5,000 | Air fryer, dinner set | Premium hamper | Earbuds, fitness band |
Compare electronics coupons: Croma, Reliance Digital, Vijay Sales, Amazon and Flipkart. Selling your old phone? Check Cashify before accepting an exchange offer.
Where to shop: boAt and Noise for earbuds and smartwatches, Wonderchef for air fryers, Bella Vita for perfume gift sets, Happilo for dry fruit boxes.
Electronics and appliances: buy now or wait?
| Category | Verdict | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Smartphones | Buy if at target price | Festive bank offers are strong; prices rarely drop again before Republic Day sales |
| TVs | Buy now or wait for Black Friday | Similar lows around the late-November sales |
| Laptops | Buy last year's model | Best discounts are on previous-generation chips |
| Large appliances | Buy now | Exchange offers plus Dhanteras deals are the year's best |
| Earbuds & wearables | Don't panic-buy | Same prices return in almost every sale |
How to stack savings: the 4-layer method
- Sale price — the discounted price on the product page.
- Coupon code — apply a verified store code from our verified coupons list. If one fails, check the minimum order value and expiry date, then try the next verified code.
- Bank or card offer — instant discounts usually need a minimum order value and often apply only to EMI transactions. Read the fine print.
- Cashback or reward points — use UPI cashback offers, wallet offers or a rewards card to recover a few more percent.
5 Diwali sale traps to avoid
- Inflated MRP: a "70% off" tag on a raised MRP is not a deal. Check the price history for the last 30–90 days before you trust the discount.
- Fake countdown timers: reload the page. If the timer resets, it is pressure, not scarcity.
- "Free gift" bundles: the gift is usually priced in. Compare the standalone price.
- Non-returnable festive items: many decor and food items cannot be returned. Check before you pay.
- Fake "Diwali offer" links on WhatsApp: scam links imitate big brands. Only shop from the official app or website.
Your Diwali 2026 shopping checklist
- Write a budget for each of the five days
- Order anything that needs delivery by 5 November
- Verify the BIS hallmark and HUID on gold and silver
- Save store coupons and check bank offers before checkout
- Compare prices against a 30–90 day history
- Keep invoices for gold, electronics and appliances
Frequently asked questions
When is Diwali 2026?
Diwali 2026 (Lakshmi Puja) is on Sunday, 8 November 2026. The five-day festival starts with Dhanteras on Friday, 6 November and ends with Bhai Dooj.
What is the best thing to buy on Dhanteras 2026?
Gold or silver coins, utensils and a new broom are the traditional Dhanteras purchases. For investment, coins carry lower making charges than jewellery. Always check the BIS hallmark and HUID.
Are Diwali sales still live in November 2026?
The biggest festival sales ran in October, but most stores run last-week Diwali offers and Dhanteras deals until the festival. See our latest coupons for offers verified today.
Is it better to buy electronics on Diwali or Black Friday?
Smartphones and large appliances usually have their best bank and exchange offers around Diwali. TVs and laptops often see similar prices again during Black Friday sales on 27 November.
What are good Diwali gifts under ₹1,000?
Dry fruit boxes, tea or coffee hampers, brass diyas, scented candle sets, wallets and personalised mugs all work well under ₹1,000.
Prices and offers change daily during the festival. Bookmark our coupons page and all stores list for codes verified today, and have a safe, bright and well-budgeted Diwali.
