Diwali is the festival of lights, and for many families it is the most important evening of the year. Homes are cleaned, lamps are lit, and Goddess Lakshmi and Lord Ganesha are welcomed with prayers for health, prosperity and a fresh start. It falls on Kartik Amavasya, the new moon night, when the sky is at its darkest and the lamps matter most.

This guide gives you the date, the muhurat, a simple puja vidhi you can follow at home, the astrological meaning of the festival, practical Vastu tips and a few remedies. It also lists the common mistakes people make, so your puja is calm and well-prepared.

Diwali 2026 Date and Important Timings

Diwali is a five-day festival. In 2026 it runs from Dhanteras on Friday, 6 November to Bhai Dooj on Tuesday, 10 November. The main Lakshmi Puja is on Sunday evening, 8 November.

Day Festival Date in 2026

• Dhanteras — Friday, 6 November: Puja muhurat 6:02–7:57 PM.
• Naraka Chaturdashi / Choti Diwali — Sunday, 8 November: Abhyang Snan muhurat 5:41–6:38 AM. Chaturdashi tithi from 10:47 AM on 7 November to 11:27 AM on 8 November.
• Diwali / Lakshmi Puja — Sunday, 8 November: Puja muhurat 5:54–7:50 PM.
• Govardhan Puja — Tuesday, 10 November: Pratahkal muhurat 6:40–8:50 AM.
• Bhai Dooj — Wednesday, 11 November: Tika/Aparahna time 1:10–3:20 PM.

Lakshmi Puja Muhurat 2026 and Pradosh Kaal

Traditionally, Lakshmi Puja is performed during Pradosh Kaal. This is the twilight period that begins at sunset and lasts roughly two hours. Within it, the preferred window is the time when the Vrishabha (Taurus) lagna is rising. Vrishabha is a fixed (sthir) sign, and fixed signs are associated with steadiness, which is why it is the favoured ascendant for inviting lasting prosperity.

Step-by-Step Diwali Puja Vidhi (Lakshmi Puja at Home)

Rituals vary by family and region. The steps below are a simple, widely followed outline. If your family has its own tradition, follow that.

What you will need: images or idols of Lakshmi and Ganesha (and Saraswati and Kubera if your family worships them), a clean red or yellow cloth, a kalash with water, mango leaves and a coconut, rice, roli and turmeric, flowers, incense, a ghee or oil lamp, camphor, fruit, sweets, betel leaf, and a few coins or notes.

1. Clean and decorate. Clean the home, especially the entrance and the puja area. Make a rangoli and hang a toran at the main door.

2. Bathe and dress. Take a bath and wear clean or new clothes before the muhurat begins.

3. Set the chowki. Spread the cloth on a raised seat. Place Lakshmi and Ganesha with the kalash beside them. Keep the puja items within reach.

4. Light the lamp and take the sankalp. Light the lamp, sit facing east or north, and state your intention to perform the puja.

5. Worship Ganesha first. Offer flowers, rice and sweets, and chant Om Gam Ganapataye Namah.

6. Invoke the kalash and Lakshmi. Offer water, flowers, roli, turmeric and incense. Chant Om Shreem Mahalakshmyai Namah.

7. Make the offerings. Offer fruit, sweets, betel leaf and coins. Keep your mind quiet and your attention on the prayer.

8. Perform the aarti. Sing or recite the Lakshmi aarti, then the Ganesha aarti. Ring a bell if you have one.

9. Light lamps around the home. Place lamps at the entrance, windows and corners, then share the prasad with the family.

For business owners: many families also perform Chopda Pujan, worshipping the new account books on Diwali evening. A priest can guide you through it.

Astrological Significance of Diwali

Diwali falls on the Amavasya of the month of Kartik. On a new moon the Sun and the Moon are together in the same sign. In the sidereal zodiac used in Vedic astrology, at this time of year that sign is usually Libra (Tula), the sign of balance and Venus.

Several ideas from the tradition make Diwali special for people interested in astrology:

The new moon as a fresh start. The darkest night of the lunar month is read as a natural moment to close the old and begin again.

The Vrishabha lagna and Venus. Taurus is ruled by Venus, the planet associated with comfort, beauty and material well-being. Performing puja when this sign rises ties the worship to those themes.

Lakshmi and Jupiter. Lakshmi is worshipped for prosperity, and Jupiter is the planet traditionally associated with growth and good fortune. Many people also pray for Jupiter’s support during Diwali.

Dhanteras and Diwali together. Dhanteras, two days earlier, honours Dhanvantari and is traditionally a day to buy metal or utensils. Diwali then turns attention to Lakshmi. Together they mark the festival of health and wealth.

It is worth remembering that these are traditional readings. Each person’s chart is different, and the festival’s effect on any one person is described in terms of themes, not guarantees. If you want to see which financial or career periods are running in your own chart, a Kundli analysis or a Muhurta consultation looks at your birth details directly.

Diwali Vastu Tips for a Welcoming Home

These are traditional Vastu suggestions for keeping a home clean, bright and welcoming. Follow what is practical for your home.

1. Declutter and deep clean before Diwali. Remove broken items, old papers and things you no longer use. Pay special attention to the entrance and the north-east corner.

2. Keep the main entrance clean and well lit. Place a toran and rangoli at the door, and make sure nothing blocks the way in.

3. Choose the north-east for the puja area. Traditional Vastu advice places the puja area in the north-east, with the worshipper facing east or north. If your layout does not allow this, choose a clean, quiet corner.

4. Light every corner. Put lamps at the entrance, near windows and in dark corners. Keep the north and north-east especially bright.

5. Repair leaking taps and dripping pipes. Water that is constantly wasted is traditionally read as a drain on finances, and it is also simply good housekeeping.

6. Keep the north and north-east open and uncluttered. These directions are traditionally linked with prosperity and clarity.

7. Keep bathrooms and toilet doors clean and closed. A neat bathroom area keeps the rest of the home feeling fresh.

8. Keep shoes, dustbins and clutter away from the main door. The entrance should look inviting and free of waste.

9. Use fresh flowers, mango leaves and fragrance. Fresh flowers, incense and a gentle bell sound create a calm atmosphere for the puja.

Every home layout is different, and a general list cannot account for yours. If you would like your home or workplace looked at in detail, an Astro Vastu consultation reads the layout together with your birth chart.

Diwali Remedies for Wealth, Career and Prosperity

Remedies are optional traditional practices. They are not a substitute for planning and effort, and none of them guarantees a result.

For wealth

Write down two or three financial intentions on Diwali evening and place them at the puja. Then turn them into a plan: a budget, a savings target, a debt repayment schedule.

Chant Om Shreem Mahalakshmyai Namah with a mala, for as many repetitions as feels comfortable (many people use 108).

Give food, clothes or sweets to someone in need. Charity is a widely recommended practice for prosperity in Vedic tradition.

If you are curious about the financial periods in your own chart, see Wealth Astrology.

For career

Seek Lord Ganesha’s blessings for new beginnings. Light a lamp in front of him before a job application, an interview or a business decision.

Update your CV and set one skill-building goal for the coming year. A practical step often does more than any ritual.

To look at direction and timing for a job change or a business, see Career Astrology.

For overall prosperity and positive energy

Keep the home clean, bright and orderly through the festival.

Light a lamp at the entrance each evening of the five days.

Spend only what you can afford. Taking on debt for ritual purchases works against the very prosperity you are praying for.

Common Mistakes to Avoid During Lakshmi Puja

Using the wrong city’s timing - A muhurat for another city may not match yours. Check your own.

Starting the puja outside the muhurat without a reason - If you cannot be present at the exact time, ask your priest or a trusted Panchang how to adjust, rather than guessing.

A cluttered or unprepared puja space - Gather everything before the muhurat so you are not searching for items during the puja.

Leaving the house dark - Light lamps at the entrance and in the main rooms.

Using broken or damaged idols and images - Replace them with clean ones.

Overspending for luck - Buying gold or taking loans to “invite” prosperity can create stress. Dhanteras buying is a tradition, not a requirement.

Following fear-based advice - Be careful with anyone who says misfortune is certain unless you buy a costly item or ritual. Good guidance explains its reasoning and does not pressure you.

Rushing the prayer - A simple puja done calmly is better than a long one done in a hurry.

Frequently Asked Questions

When is Diwali in 2026? 

Diwali is on Sunday, 8 November 2026. The festival is celebrated for five days from Dhanteras on Friday, 6th November to Bhai Dooj on Wednesday, 11th November.

What is the Lakshmi Puja muhurat for Diwali 2026 in New Delhi? 

The Lakshmi Puja muhurat in New Delhi is 5:54 PM to 7:50 PM on 8 November 2026. Other cities have slightly different timings, so check the Panchang for your own city.

Why do different websites show different muhurat timings? 

Muhurat depends on the city, because sunset and the rising of the Taurus (Vrishabha) ascendant differ by location. Websites also use different methods, such as the full Pradosh Kaal or only the overlap with Vrishabha lagna. When in doubt, follow a trusted Panchang such as Drik Panchang or your family priest.

Can I do Lakshmi Puja at home without a pandit? 

Yes. A simple Lakshmi-Ganesha puja with a lamp, flowers, sweets, a short mantra and an aarti is a valid way to worship at home. If you want a longer ritual, a pandit can guide you.

When is Dhanteras 2026? 

Dhanteras is on Friday, 6 November 2026. In New Delhi, the puja muhurat is around 6:02 PM to 7:58 PM.

Which direction is best for Lakshmi Puja at home? 

Traditional Vastu advice places the puja area in the north-east of the home, with the worshipper facing east or north. If your home layout does not allow this, choose a clean, quiet and well-lit corner.

Do Diwali astrology remedies guarantee wealth? 

No. Remedies are traditional practices and are optional. They do not guarantee wealth or any outcome. Practical steps such as budgeting, saving and skill-building matter most.

Can Diwali Vastu tips help my home? 

They are traditional suggestions for keeping a home clean, bright and welcoming. They work best alongside practical care. Every home layout is different, so an Astro Vastu consultation can look at yours together with your birth chart.

Want personalised guidance for wealth, prosperity and positive energy? Talk to an astrologer for a personal astrology consultation, or book a consultation directly with Hanish Bagga, in person at our Indirapuram office or online.