Diwali Puja Calendar 2024 दिवाली पूजा कैलेंडर 2024 — Seattle
5-day flow • Seattle • Pradosh Kaal Lakshmi Puja Muhurat
The most auspicious window is the overlap of Pradosh Kaal (sunset to ~2h after) with Vrishabha Lagna (fixed Taurus rising — a sthira lagna stable for Lakshmi). Mahanishita Kaal (~midnight) is auspicious for Tantrik Lakshmi-Kali sadhana.
5-Day Festival Flow — Diwali 2024
Dhanteras
धनतेरसConsidered the most auspicious day in India for buying gold, silver, utensils, and new vehicles. Marks the appearance of Dhanvantari from the Samudra Manthan with the pot of amrit (nectar). Houses are cleaned and decorated; first lamps are lit at sunset.
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- Buy at least one new gold/silver item or utensil — even a small token
- Light 13 deepak (lamps) at the doorway facing south to ward off untimely death
- Worship Dhanvantari for health and Kuber for wealth
- Yamraj Deepdaan — light a 4-wick deepak in the south for Yama (god of death)
⏰ Pradosh Kaal Lakshmi-Kuber puja is the main muhurat. Vrishabha Lagna overlap is most auspicious for placing new gold/silver.
Naraka Chaturdashi (Choti Diwali)
नरक चतुर्दशी / छोटी दीवालीLord Krishna killed the demon Narakasura on this day, freeing 16,000 captive women. Also called 'Roop Chaturdashi' or 'Kali Chaudas'. Pre-dawn abhyanga snan (oil bath) is the central ritual — believed to remove all sins of the year.
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- Pre-dawn (Brahma Muhurta) abhyanga snan — apply til oil, take ritual bath
- Apply chandan tilak; wear new clothes
- Light 14 deepak around the home in the evening
- Worship Krishna and Goddess Kali (Bengal observance)
Lakshmi Puja (Diwali)
लक्ष्मी पूजा / दीपावली Main Puja DayThe main day of Diwali. Goddess Lakshmi roams the Earth on this Amavasya night and blesses homes that are clean and well-lit. Lord Rama returned to Ayodhya on this day. Marwari/Gujarati merchants close their account books with Chopda Pujan and open new ones on Bestu Varas (next day).
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- Pre-dawn cleaning and decoration; rangoli at doorway
- Place Lakshmi-Ganesha-Saraswati murtis on a freshly washed chowki (platform)
- Decorate with banana leaves, flowers, kalash, gold/silver coins
- Pradosh Kaal Lakshmi Puja — the main muhurat (after sunset)
- Continue lamps lit through the night; offer kheer, batashe, kheel, mithai
- Lakshmi Aarti, Lakshmi Mantra, Sri Sukta recitation
- Burst fireworks after puja (post-9 PM in environmentally permitted areas)
⏰ The most auspicious window is the overlap of Pradosh Kaal (sunset to ~2h after) with Vrishabha Lagna (fixed Taurus rising — a sthira lagna stable for Lakshmi). Mahanishita Kaal (~midnight) is auspicious for Tantrik Lakshmi-Kali sadhana.
Govardhan Puja / Annakut
गोवर्धन पूजा / अन्नकूटCommemorates Krishna lifting Govardhan Hill to protect the people of Vrindavan from Indra's wrath. Annakut (mountain of food) is offered to the deity in temples. Cattle are worshipped; Marwari and Gujarati communities celebrate Bestu Varas (New Year) — opening new account books.
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- Make a small Govardhan hill from cow dung at home, decorate with flowers
- Prepare 56 dishes (chappan bhog) or as many as possible
- Offer to Krishna; circumambulate the Govardhan hill 7 times
- Worship cows with garlands and feed them grass and jaggery
- Bestu Varas — Gujaratis visit elders, exchange new year wishes, open Chopda
Bhai Dooj / Yama Dwitiya
भाई दूज / यम द्वितीयाYama (god of death) visited his sister Yamuna on this day. Sisters apply tilak on brothers' foreheads; brothers gift money/clothes and pledge protection. Considered to grant longevity to the brother. Equivalent of Raksha Bandhan but in autumn.
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- Sister applies tilak (vermilion + rice grains) on brother's forehead
- Performs aarti with diya
- Brother offers gifts (money, sweets, clothes)
- Sister-brother eat a special meal together
- Sisters tie sacred thread around brother's wrist (some traditions)
Lakshmi Puja Items Checklist
Lakshmi Puja Vidhi (Step-by-Step)
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1
Cleansing and Decoration
Clean the entire home thoroughly in the morning. Make rangoli at the doorway. Place a fresh mat near the puja altar. Wear clean clothes (preferably new) — red, yellow, or white preferred.
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2
Setup the Altar
Spread red cloth on a chowki. Place murtis: Lakshmi at center, Ganesha to her right, Saraswati to her left. Place Kuber murti or photo behind. Add gold/silver coins, kalash with mango leaves and coconut, fresh flowers.
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3
Sankalpa & Avahan
Take sankalpa (vow) — invoke the deities. Sprinkle Ganga jal on family members. Recite avahan mantras inviting Lakshmi, Ganesha, Saraswati. Light camphor and ghee deepak.
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4
Sodash Upchar Puja
Offer 16 services (sodash upchar): asana (seat), padya (water for feet), arghya (water), achamana, snanam (bathing the murti), vastra (cloth), yagnopaveeta (sacred thread for Ganesha), gandha (sandalwood), pushpa (flowers), dhoopa (incense), deepa (lamp), naivedya (food), tambula (betel), dakshina (offering), aarti, pradakshina-namaskara.
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5
Sri Sukta / Lakshmi Mantra Recitation
Recite Sri Sukta (Vedic Lakshmi hymn — 16 mantras), Lakshmi Ashtottara (108 names), or Lakshmi Mantra (Om Shrim Hrim Shrim Mahalakshmyai Namah) — 108 times on a kamalgatte mala.
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6
Chopda Pujan (Marwari/Gujarati Tradition)
Place new account books, business ledgers, and pen/ink before Lakshmi. Apply red tilak on each book. Write 'Shubh Labh' and 'Om' on the first page. Pray for prosperity in business through the new Vikram Samvat year.
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7
Aarti & Prasad
Perform Lakshmi Aarti (Om Jai Lakshmi Mata). Offer naivedya. Distribute prasad to family. Some place a coin from the puja under the family's main wallet/cash box for the year.
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8
Lamp Vigil
Keep oil/ghee lamps lit through the night. Door open or unlatched (symbolically welcoming Lakshmi). Family stays awake (jagaran) reciting Lakshmi naam, playing dyut (cards) traditionally — celebrating prosperity.
Mantras
Regional Celebrations
Lakshmi-Ganesha puja, fireworks, sweets exchange, family gambling (traditional)
- • Bandi Chhor Divas at Golden Temple (Sikhs)
- • Gambling tradition originating from Parvati's blessing
- • Major sweet-shop economy
Bestu Varas Gujarati New Year, Chopda Pujan
- • Gujarati merchants close year on Diwali, open on Bestu Varas (Day 4)
- • Lakshmi Puja is paramount
- • Mumbai BSE-NSE traditional Muhurat Trading
Naraka Chaturdashi is the main day (not Lakshmi Puja Amavasya)
- • Pre-dawn Abhyanga Snan with til oil
- • Krishna-killed-Narakasura focus
- • Lakshmi Puja observed on Aippasi/Tula month Amavasya in Tamil Nadu
Kali Puja is the central observance (instead of Lakshmi)
- • Kalighat, Dakshineswar, Tarapith all-night puja
- • Tantrik Kali-sadhana
- • Lakshmi Puja already done a fortnight earlier on Sharad Purnima (Kojagari Lakshmi)
Naraka Chaturdashi grand celebrations
- • Telugu Diwali centered on Day 2 (Naraka Chaturdashi)
- • Bhogi-style bonfires in some regions
Frequently Asked Questions
When is Diwali 2026?
Diwali 2026 (Lakshmi Puja) falls on Sunday, 8 November 2026. The 5-day festival begins with Dhanteras on Friday, 6 Nov and ends with Bhai Dooj on Wednesday, 11 Nov.
What is the best time for Lakshmi Puja on Diwali?
The best time is the overlap of Pradosh Kaal (sunset to ~2h after) with Vrishabha Lagna (fixed Taurus rising). Vrishabha is a sthira (fixed) lagna — considered most stable for Lakshmi to settle. The exact times for your city are shown at the top of this page. Mahanishita Kaal (~midnight) is auspicious for Tantrik Lakshmi-Kali worship.
What are the 5 days of Diwali?
Day 1: Dhanteras (gold/silver buying day, Dhanvantari Jayanti). Day 2: Naraka Chaturdashi / Choti Diwali (Krishna killed Narakasura, abhyanga snan). Day 3: Lakshmi Puja / Diwali (main day, Amavasya). Day 4: Govardhan Puja / Annakut / Bestu Varas (Gujarati New Year). Day 5: Bhai Dooj (sister-brother day).
What items are needed for Lakshmi Puja?
Essential items: Lakshmi-Ganesha-Saraswati idols, chowki with red cloth, kalash with mango leaves and coconut, fresh flowers (red lotus preferred), gold/silver coins, camphor, dhoop, deepak (5 ghee + multiple oil), panchamrit, kheer, batashe, kheel, makhane, sweets, roli, akshat, kumkum, new broom, account books (if Marwari/Gujarati). See the full checklist in the page.
What is Pradosh Kaal Lakshmi Puja?
Pradosh Kaal is the 90-minute window straddling sunset (45 min before to 45 min after). On Diwali, this is the most auspicious window for Lakshmi Puja because it aligns with sandhya (twilight transition) when Lakshmi is believed to enter homes. The overlap with Vrishabha Lagna (fixed Taurus rising) refines this to the optimal sub-window.
Why is Vrishabha Lagna important for Lakshmi Puja?
Vrishabha (Taurus) is one of the four sthira (fixed) rashis. Lakshmi, being the goddess of stable wealth, is best invoked when the lagna is fixed — symbolically anchoring the wealth-blessings to stay in the home. The overlap of Pradosh Kaal + Vrishabha Lagna is considered the optimal window. Vrishabha Lagna typically falls in early evening hours during Diwali season.
What is Chopda Pujan?
Chopda Pujan (account-book worship) is the Gujarati/Marwari merchant tradition of closing the year's account books on Diwali night with Lakshmi Puja, and opening new ones on Bestu Varas (the next day, Kartika Shukla Pratipada). New books are inscribed with 'Shubh Labh' and Om, then offered to Lakshmi for the new Vikram Samvat year's prosperity.