Diwali 2026, also known as Deepawali, is set to be celebrated on Sunday, November 8. This significant Hindu festival of lights sees millions of devotees across India preparing to worship Goddess Lakshmi and Lord Ganesha, seeking blessings for wealth, prosperity, happiness, and good fortune.
The festival traditionally falls on Kartik Amavasya, the new moon day of the Hindu lunar calendar, with Lakshmi Puja being a central ritual performed during the evening Pradosh Kaal.
New Delhi Puja Muhurat
According to Drik Panchang, the auspicious Lakshmi Puja muhurat in New Delhi will be from 5:54 PM to 7:50 PM on November 8, providing a worship window of 1 hour and 56 minutes. This period is particularly significant as it coincides with Vrishabha Kaal, considered highly favorable for invoking Goddess Lakshmi.
Other key timings for New Delhi on Diwali 2026 include:
- Diwali Date: Sunday, November 8, 2026
- Lakshmi Puja Muhurat: 5:54 PM to 7:50 PM
- Duration: 1 hour 56 minutes
- Pradosh Kaal: 5:31 PM to 8:09 PM
- Vrishabha Kaal: 5:54 PM to 7:50 PM
- Amavasya Tithi Begins: 11:27 AM on November 8
- Amavasya Tithi Ends: 12:31 PM on November 9
Devotees are advised that timings may vary slightly across cities due to local sunset calculations and regional Panchang interpretations.
City-Wise Lakshmi Puja Timings for November 8, 2026
Here are the Lakshmi Puja muhurat timings for several major Indian cities, as per Drik Panchang:
- New Delhi: 5:54 PM to 7:50 PM
- Mumbai: 6:27 PM to 8:27 PM
- Kolkata: 5:20 PM to 7:18 PM
- Chennai: 6:07 PM to 8:09 PM
- Bengaluru: 6:17 PM to 8:20 PM
- Hyderabad: 6:07 PM to 8:08 PM
- Jaipur: 6:03 PM to 7:59 PM
- Ahmedabad: 6:22 PM to 8:20 PM
- Chandigarh: 5:52 PM to 7:46 PM
- Noida: 5:54 PM to 7:49 PM
The Significance of Diwali and Lakshmi Puja
Diwali symbolizes the triumph of light over darkness and good over evil. Families traditionally celebrate by thoroughly cleaning and decorating their homes, lighting traditional clay lamps (diyas), preparing a variety of sweets, exchanging gifts, and performing religious rituals.
Lakshmi Puja is among the most vital rituals of Diwali. During this time, devotees worship Goddess Lakshmi, revered as the deity of wealth and abundance, alongside Lord Ganesha, who represents wisdom and the remover of obstacles. Some also worship Goddess Saraswati for knowledge and wisdom.
How to Perform Lakshmi-Ganesh Puja
Preparations for the puja typically begin with a thorough house cleaning and decorating entrances with colorful rangoli patterns, flowers, and diyas. Idols or pictures of Goddess Lakshmi and Lord Ganesha are respectfully placed on a clean, elevated platform. Essential items for the puja include flowers, incense sticks, rice grains, roli (vermilion), various fruits, traditional sweets, coins, and a kalash (holy pot).
The rituals generally commence with prayers offered to Lord Ganesha, followed by the worship of Goddess Lakshmi. Devotees present flowers and sweets, chant sacred mantras, and perform aarti (a ritual of waving lamps). The puja concludes with the distribution of prasad (blessed food) and the lighting of diyas throughout the home, illuminating the surroundings with festive warmth.