Quick answer: Diwali 2026 is on Sunday, 8 November 2026. The Lakshmi Puja muhurat in New Delhi is 5:54 PM to 7:50 PM IST (Pradosh Kaal with Sthir Vrishabha Lagna, as per Drik Panchang). Timings differ by city by up to about 40 minutes, so please check your local panchang. The puja begins with Lord Ganesha, followed by Maa Lakshmi, Kuber and your account books or tools of work, and ends with aarti and lighting diyas throughout the home.
Dhanteras is about bringing auspicious things home. Diwali night is when you invite Maa Lakshmi into it. If you have already read our Dhanteras 2026 guide, this is the next step: a simple, complete Lakshmi Puja you can perform at home.
Diwali 2026 at a glance
| Day | Date |
|---|---|
| Dhanteras | Friday, 6 November 2026 |
| Diwali (Lakshmi Puja) | Sunday, 8 November 2026 |
| Bhai Dooj | Wednesday, 11 November 2026 |
Lakshmi Puja muhurat 2026 by city
The best time for Lakshmi Puja is Pradosh Kaal (just after sunset) when the fixed (sthir) Vrishabha lagna is rising. A fixed lagna is believed to help Lakshmi stay in the home.
| City | Lakshmi Puja muhurat (IST) |
|---|---|
| New Delhi | 5:54 PM – 7:50 PM |
| Jaipur | 6:03 PM – 8:00 PM |
| Mumbai | 6:28 PM – 8:28 PM |
| Kolkata | 5:20 PM – 7:19 PM |
| Bengaluru | 6:18 PM – 8:20 PM |
| Chennai | 6:07 PM – 8:09 PM |
Timings are based on published Drik-method calculations. Please confirm the exact time for your city with your local panchang or family pandit.
Puja samagri checklist
- A wooden chowki with a red or yellow cloth
- Idols or a picture of Lord Ganesha and Maa Lakshmi (Ganesha placed on Lakshmi's right)
- A Mahalakshmi Yantra or Shree Yantra, and a Kuber Yantra for wealth retention
- A kalash with water, mango leaves and a coconut
- Panchamrit (milk, curd, ghee, honey, sugar), Gangajal
- Roli, kumkum, haldi, chandan, akshat (unbroken rice)
- Lotus or red flowers, garland, durva grass for Ganesha
- Kheel-batashe, sweets, fruits, paan and supari
- Coins (gold, silver or currency) and your account book, cash box or work tools
- A Dhan Potli. See what goes inside a Dhan Potli.
- A Kamal Gatta Mala for chanting Lakshmi mantras
- Ghee diyas (at least one large akhand diya), dhoop and camphor
Lakshmi Puja vidhi: step by step
- Prepare the home. Clean the house, especially the entrance and puja room. Make a rangoli and small footprints of Maa Lakshmi leading inside. Light a diya at the main door.
- Set up the chowki. Place the chowki in the north-east or north of the room. Keep Ganesha, Lakshmi, the yantras and the kalash on it. Place coins and your account book or cash box nearby.
- Sankalp. Sit facing east or north. Take water, akshat and a flower in your right hand and state your name, gotra and the purpose of the puja, then release them on the plate.
- Ganesh puja. Always begin with Ganesha. Offer water, roli, akshat, durva, flowers and a modak or laddoo, and chant Om Gan Ganapataye Namah 11 times.
- Kalash puja. Offer roli, akshat and flowers to the kalash, which represents all the deities and the sacred rivers.
- Lakshmi puja. Invite Maa Lakshmi with folded hands. Bathe the idol or yantra with panchamrit and then Gangajal (or sprinkle it if the idol is not washable). Offer a red chunri, kumkum, haldi, chandan, lotus flowers and a garland. Place kheel-batashe, sweets and fruits as bhog.
- Chant. Chant Om Shreem Mahalakshmyai Namah 108 times on a Kamal Gatta mala. Many families also recite Shri Suktam.
- Kuber and account puja. Offer roli, akshat and flowers to the Kuber yantra, the cash box and the account books. Business owners traditionally write Shubh and Labh and draw a swastik on new books.
- Aarti. Perform Lakshmi aarti and Ganesh aarti with a ghee diya and camphor. Offer the bhog and distribute prasad.
- Light the home. Place diyas at every door, window, the kitchen, the tulsi plant and the water source. Keep the main akhand diya burning through the night if you can.
Diwali do's and don'ts
Do
- Keep the home clean and well-lit, especially the entrance.
- Keep a diya near the tulsi plant and at the main door.
- Keep the puja place undisturbed overnight.
Avoid
- Sweeping out dust from the main door right after the puja.
- Arguments, harsh words and lending money on Diwali day, as many families advise.
- Placing Lakshmi without Ganesha. They are always worshipped together on Diwali.
What to keep in the puja for prosperity all year
Many families energise these items on Diwali night and then keep them in the puja room, cash box or locker for the year ahead:
- Kuber Laxmi Ganesh Yantra or Laxmi Ganesh Yantra, for the puja room or shop
- Kuber Yantra Locket or Shri Mahalaxmi Yantra Locket, to keep in the wallet or locker
- 7 Mukhi Rudraksha, traditionally linked with Mahalakshmi, or the Dhan Laxmi Ganesh Kavach
- A Dhan Yog Bracelet to wear from Diwali onwards. Read our Dhan Yog guide.
Browse the full Diwali & Dhanteras Collection or our Wealth & Prosperity picks.
Frequently asked questions
Can Lakshmi Puja be done without a pandit?
Yes. Most families perform Lakshmi Puja at home themselves. Sincere devotion and the basic steps above are what matter most.
What if I miss the muhurat?
Pradosh Kaal (from sunset for about 2 hours 24 minutes) is considered auspicious overall. Many families also perform a Nishita Kaal puja near midnight. Perform the puja with devotion at the earliest time you can.
Which direction should the puja face?
Place the deities in the north or north-east of the room, and sit facing east or north while performing the puja.
Can I energise new Rudraksha or yantras on Diwali?
Yes. Diwali night is one of the most popular times to start wearing a new bead or install a new yantra. See how to wear and energise Rudraksha.
Puja practices vary by region and family tradition. Follow the customs of your family or pandit where they differ from this guide. Muhurat timings are from published panchang calculations and should be confirmed locally.
Shubh Deepawali from all of us at RudraGram. 🪔