Diwali puja timing is among the most searched festival queries of the year: “deepawali poojan time” draws about 56,600 monthly searches in India, “diwali pooja timings” about 33,100 and “diwali puja muhurat” about 20,800, according to Mangools data.
Diwali 2026 falls on Sunday, 8 November, on Kartik Amavasya. Panchang sources agree on the date but not on the exact minute of the Lakshmi Puja muhurat, because the window depends on your city’s sunset and the Pradosh Kaal and Vrishabha lagna that follow. This guide shows the common window for Delhi, why other sources differ, the five-day calendar and a full samagri list. Confirm your local timing with a panchang or your family priest.
Diwali 2026 Date and Lakshmi Puja Muhurat
Diwali Lakshmi Puja is observed on the evening of Sunday, 8 November 2026, when the Kartik Amavasya prevails through Pradosh Kaal, the twilight after sunset. According to PanchangBodh, the Delhi Lakshmi Puja window is 5:54 PM to 7:50 PM, with Amavasya running from 11:30 AM on 8 November to 12:33 PM on 9 November. Drik Panchang shows Amavasya from 11:27 AM on 8 November to 12:31 PM on 9 November.
| Source | Location | Lakshmi Puja window | Pradosh Kaal |
|---|---|---|---|
| PanchangBodh | Delhi | 5:54 PM to 7:50 PM | Not listed |
| SmartPuja | IST (default) | 5:32 PM to 7:28 PM | 5:25 PM to 8:02 PM |
| Drik Panchang | Listed city (see source) | 5:59 PM to 8:00 PM | 5:33 PM to 8:04 PM |
| Drik Panchang | Pune | 6:24 PM to 8:24 PM | City-specific |
| DekhoPanchang | Goa | Pradosh 6:18 PM to 7:44 PM | Pradosh window shown |
The differences are normal: sunset in Delhi, Goa and Pune differs, and sites use different calculation settings. Pick the source your family trusts, enter your own city, and treat the window as a guide rather than a stopwatch.
The Five Days of Diwali 2026
| Day | Date | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Dhanteras | Friday, 6 November | Buying metal or utensils; Dhanvantari and Lakshmi puja |
| Naraka Chaturdashi (Choti Diwali) | Saturday, 7 November | Early bath, lamps in the evening |
| Diwali (Lakshmi Puja) | Sunday, 8 November | Main puja in Pradosh Kaal |
| Govardhan Puja | Monday 9 or Tuesday 10 November | Sources differ; check your panchang |
| Bhai Dooj | Wednesday, 11 November (India) | Tuesday, 10 November in the US and UK, per Drik Panchang |
Kissht lists Govardhan Puja on 9 November and Bhai Dooj on 10 November, while PanchangBodh and Drik place Govardhan Puja on 10 November and Bhai Dooj on 11 November. These are tithi-based dates that change by calendar and location, so confirm yours before you plan travel or family visits.
Lakshmi Puja Samagri List
| Category | Items |
|---|---|
| Idols and images | Lakshmi and Ganesha idols or images, a clean wooden chowki, red or yellow cloth |
| Lamps and light | Clay diyas, ghee or oil, cotton wicks, a brass lamp, camphor, incense sticks |
| Puja basics | Kumkum, haldi, roli, akshat (unbroken rice), sandalwood paste, mauli (sacred thread) |
| Flowers and leaves | Marigold garlands, lotus or rose petals, mango leaves, tulsi if your tradition uses it |
| Offerings (bhog) | Sweets, fruits, batasha, dry fruits, coconut, betel leaves, paan supari |
| Wealth symbols | Silver or gold coin, notes, ledger or account book, small kalash with water |
| Decor | Rangoli colours, toran for the door, strings of lights |
| Extras | Gangajal for sprinkling, a bell, a small plate for aarti, matchbox |
A Simple Lakshmi-Ganesh Puja Order
- Clean the home and set up the chowki before sunset; light diyas at the entrance and in the puja room.
- Begin with Ganesha, then invoke Lakshmi, offering flowers, kumkum, rice and sweets.
- Place the kalash, coins and account book near the idols and offer them a tilak.
- Recite your family’s mantra or the Lakshmi aarti, ring the bell and offer the bhog.
- Share prasad and light more lamps; many families keep a lamp burning through the night.
Customs vary by region, community and family. Gujarati and Marwari households perform Chopda Pujan on the account books, while Bengali households keep Kali Puja the same night. Ask your elders or priest where your tradition differs.
Plan the Week Before Diwali
Order samagri early, since last-minute flowers and diyas are expensive. Set your festive spending limit, and keep an eye on credit card and offer traps. If you are preparing a festive money plan, our other posts this week cover the Diwali bonus and Dhanteras gold choices.
A Day-by-Day Preparation Plan
| Day | Preparation |
|---|---|
| Before Dhanteras (by 5 November) | Order flowers and diyas, buy rangoli colours, confirm your muhurat, set the festive budget |
| Friday, 6 November (Dhanteras) | Light a lamp at the entrance, make planned purchases within your budget |
| Saturday, 7 November (Choti Diwali) | Clean the home, arrange the puja space, prepare sweets |
| Sunday, 8 November morning | Set the chowki, fill diyas with oil or ghee, arrange the samagri tray |
| Sunday, 8 November evening | Begin within your local muhurat, then light lamps and share prasad |
Keep a small checklist on the fridge and tick off items as they arrive. The less you hunt for supplies on the day, the more you can be present for the puja itself.
