Happy Diwali to everyone celebrating this weekend, from all of us at SF Digital Studios.
Diwali is the festival of lights. It's a time for family, food, new clothes, sweets and a house lit up with little clay lamps. We hope yours is full of all of it.
Get Found, Get Chosen, Get Your Time Back
A free one-day marketing seminar in Milton Keynes · 10 November 2026
When Is Diwali In 2026?
The main day of Diwali in 2026 is Sunday 8 November. The festival runs for five days in the UK this year, from Friday 6 November to Tuesday 10 November. Lakshmi Puja, the evening prayer for wealth and good fortune, falls on the Sunday.
Get your free Marketing Action PlanNot sure where to start? Answer a few questions and get your plan in about a minute. No email needed.
Get my plan →Here's how the five days fall this year:
- Friday 6 November: Dhanteras, a day for buying something new, often gold, silver or a new pot for the home.
- Saturday 7 November: Naraka Chaturdashi, also called Choti Diwali, the smaller Diwali the night before.
- Sunday 8 November: Diwali and Lakshmi Puja, the main day of lights, prayers and fireworks.
- Monday 9 November: Govardhan Puja, and for many Gujarati families the start of the new year.
- Tuesday 10 November: Bhai Dooj, a day for brothers and sisters.
These are the UK dates. Some calendars, including many in India, put Govardhan Puja and Bhai Dooj a day later, and puja timings change from city to city, so check with your local temple.
What Does Diwali Celebrate?
Diwali celebrates light winning over darkness and good winning over bad. It's marked by Hindus, Sikhs and Jains, and each has its own story behind the day.
For many families, the story is Lord Rama coming home to Ayodhya after fourteen years away. People lit rows of lamps to welcome him back, and the lamps are still lit today.
Sikhs mark Bandi Chhor Divas on the same day. It remembers Guru Hargobind Ji's release from prison. Jains remember Lord Mahavira, who reached nirvana at Diwali.
Whatever the story, the feeling is the same. Clean the house, light the lamps, see your family and start fresh.
LIVELive every Tuesday at 2pm UK. Bring your marketing questions.
Get your Google, local SEO and AI questions answered live.
Why Do Businesses Open New Account Books At Diwali?
For a lot of Indian business families, Diwali is the start of the business year. Gujarati and Marwari traders have long closed the old account books and opened new ones at Diwali, with a blessing for the year ahead.
It's a lovely idea, and it's one any business owner can borrow. Look back at the year, close it off properly and decide what you want next year to look like.
That's not a bad way to spend a quiet hour this week, whether you celebrate or not.
How Can A Local Business Mark Diwali Well?
Keep it simple and keep it genuine. A warm greeting to the customers who celebrate means far more than a sales push dressed up as a festival.
Here are a few easy ways to get it right:
- Send a short, personal message to customers and suppliers who celebrate. A line from you beats a template every time.
- If you're closing or opening late, update your hours on your Google Business Profile so nobody turns up to a locked door. Google lets you set special hours for a single day.
- If you share a greeting on social media, use a photo that feels right: lamps, rangoli, sweets. Skip the discount banner.
- If you run a Diwali offer, make it about the customer. Gift boxes, sweets and family bookings fit the festival far better than a random sale.
Most of all, don't overthink it. People remember the businesses that simply said happy Diwali and meant it.
Keep Reading
If you're planning the year ahead while the lamps are still lit, these are worth a look:
- How To Grow A Local Business That Only Serves One Town
- The Free Business Support Bucks And Beds Owners Never Claim
- 5 Google Business Profile Tweaks That Push You Into the Local Map Pack
Each one helps you start the new year with more customers finding you.
Sources
The special hours guidance comes from Google's own help page.
Wishing You A Bright Year Ahead
From Uzair, Farzana and the whole team at SF Digital Studios, happy Diwali. We hope the year ahead brings you good health, happy customers and a full order book.
Shubh Deepavali.
Written by Uzair Kharawala
Partner at SF Digital Studios, a Google Premier Partner agency. Uzair has been helping businesses grow with Google Ads since 2002 and teaches it every week on YouTube.
Get our best Google Ads tips by email
New articles and videos, straight to your inbox. Unsubscribe any time.