Diwali 2026दीपावली

When is Diwali?

Observed on Amavasya of Kartik. Dates follow the Panchang for New Delhi and can differ by a day in other places — check the Panchang for your city.

What Diwali means

Diwali — Deepavali, the 'row of lamps' — is the night when the darkest Amavasya of the year is filled with light. On the surface it is a celebration of homecoming and prosperity; underneath, every tradition that keeps it carries the same idea: light is not simply the absence of darkness, it is something we choose to kindle, one lamp at a time.

The festival gathers several stories into one night. For most of North India it is Bhagavan Rama's return to Ayodhya. For many families it is first of all Lakshmi Puja: tradition holds that Mahalakshmi emerged from the churning of the ocean on Kartik Amavasya and that she visits homes that are clean, lit and welcoming on this night. In the South, the day before is Naraka Chaturdashi, the victory of Krishna and Satyabhama over Narakasura. Jains mark the nirvana of Bhagavan Mahavira, and Sikhs celebrate Bandi Chhor Divas.

That is why Diwali is less a single ritual than a season of five days — cleaning and buying on Dhanteras, the early bath of Naraka Chaturdashi, the Lakshmi Puja itself, Govardhan Puja and the new year for many communities, and finally Bhai Dooj. Each day has its own small observance, and together they turn a whole household towards renewal: settling accounts, repairing relationships, giving to those who have less, and starting afresh.

The story of Diwali

The Ramayana tells that after fourteen years in the forest and the war in Lanka, Rama, Sita and Lakshmana returned to Ayodhya with Hanuman. The people had no warning of the exact night, so every household lit lamps along walls, roofs and lanes to make sure the path home was bright. The custom of filling the house with diyas — at the doorstep, at the tulsi, at the well, at the store-room — keeps that welcome alive.

The Lakshmi story comes from the Samudra Manthan. When the devas and asuras churned the ocean of milk, many treasures rose from it; among them was Lakshmi, seated on a lotus, who chose Vishnu as her consort. Because she represents prosperity that comes with dharma — not mere money — the Diwali puja always begins with Ganesha, the remover of obstacles, and is done in a clean, lit, peaceful home.

Diwali puja vidhi, step by step

This is a simple Lakshmi–Ganesh puja that a family can do at home. Families and communities have their own traditions — follow yours where they differ.

What you need

• Images or idols of Lakshmi and Ganesha (and Kuber or Saraswati if your family worships them)
• A raised platform (chowki) with a red or yellow cloth
• A kalash with water, mango leaves and a coconut
• Diyas with ghee or sesame oil, and cotton wicks
• Roli or kumkum, haldi, akshat (unbroken rice), sandalwood paste
• Flowers, especially lotus and marigold, and a garland
• Incense, camphor and an aarti thali
• Panchamrit, sweets, kheel-batashe, seasonal fruits
• New account books or a coin box for chopda pujan (business families)
• Coins or silver to place before Lakshmi

When to do the puja

Lakshmi Puja is done after sunset on Kartik Amavasya, in Pradosh Kaal; many families choose the steady (sthir) lagna within it, usually Vrishabha. The exact window changes by city every year. See the Panchang for your city.

Steps

1. Clean and decorate. Clean the house, especially the entrance and the puja space. Draw a rangoli at the door and, if your family does, small footprints of Lakshmi walking in.
2. Set up the altar. Place the chowki facing east or north. Put Ganesha on Lakshmi's right (your left as you face them). Place the kalash and a heap of rice beside them.
3. Purify and take sankalp. Sprinkle a little water on yourself and the puja items. Holding water, rice and a flower, state your name, family, the place and the day, and the intention of the puja.
4. Worship Ganesha first. Offer water, roli, akshat, flowers and a sweet to Ganesha with the Vakratunda shloka or 'Om Gam Ganapataye Namah'.
5. Worship the kalash. Apply roli and haldi to the kalash and offer flowers — it represents the presence of all the devas in the puja.
6. Lakshmi puja. Bathe the image symbolically with panchamrit and water, then offer sandalwood, kumkum, akshat, flowers, a garland, coins and sweets, chanting 'Om Shreem Mahalakshmyai Namah'. Families who know them recite the Shri Suktam or Lakshmi Ashtottara.
7. Worship account books and wealth. Business families draw a swastika and 'Shubh–Labh' on the new books and worship them, along with the cash box or coins.
8. Light the diyas. Light the main lamp before Lakshmi, then carry lamps to every doorway, window, the tulsi, the kitchen and the store-room, reciting 'Shubham Karoti Kalyanam'.
9. Aarti and prasad. Sing the Lakshmi aarti and Ganesh aarti, offer the prasad, and share it with the family and neighbours. Keep a lamp burning through the night if you can do so safely.

Offerings & food: Mithai of every kind — kaju katli, mewa, soan papdi, barfi, besan laddoo, chakli, chivda

Mantras for Diwali

Diwali across India

5-day celebration: Dhanteras → Chhoti Diwali (Naraka Chaturdashi) → Diwali → Govardhan Puja → Bhai Dooj. In Bengal: Kali Puja same night. In Gujarat: Vikram Samvat new year begins next day. In South India: Deepavali is celebrated on Chaturdashi (one day before North Indian Diwali).

North India

Diwali is Rama's homecoming: Ayodhya's Deepotsav lights the Saryu ghats, and homes keep Lakshmi–Ganesh puja in the evening.

Bengal, Odisha, Assam

The same Amavasya night is Kali Puja. In Odisha families light jute sticks (kauriya kathi) to call the ancestors and light their way back.

Gujarat

Diwali closes the Vikram Samvat year; the next morning is Bestu Varas, the Gujarati new year, and merchants open new books (chopda pujan).

Maharashtra

Diwali begins with Vasubaras (cow worship), includes the abhyanga snan before dawn on Naraka Chaturdashi, Lakshmi Puja, and Padwa for husbands and wives.

Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Karnataka, Andhra

Deepavali is mainly Naraka Chaturdashi: an oil bath before sunrise, new clothes and sweets, celebrating Krishna and Satyabhama's victory over Narakasura.

Goa

Effigies of Narakasura are made and burnt before dawn on Naraka Chaturdashi.

Prayers to recite

Do’s and don’ts

Temples to visit for Diwali

Mahalakshmi TempleKolhapur, MaharashtraShri Mahalaxmi Temple MumbaiMumbai, MaharashtraGolden Temple VelloreVellore, Tamil NaduShri Ram Janmabhoomi MandirAyodhya, Uttar Pradesh

Frequently asked questions