# Diwali / Lakshmi Puja > Diwali 2026 is on Sunday, 8 November. The supreme festival of lights celebrating spiritual illumination, prosperity, and the triumph of light over darkness. Source: https://www.hinducalendar.today/festivals/diwali 8 November 2026 • Sunday Grand Festival • Goddess Lakshmi & Lord Ganesha The supreme festival of lights celebrating spiritual illumination, prosperity, and the triumph of light over darkness. ## Auspicious Muhurat & Puja Timings India • 8 November 2026 1 Hours 59 Mins Lakshmi Puja Muhurat 1 Hours 59 Mins 05:58 PM to 07:57 PM Performed during Pradosha Kaal while Sthira (Fixed) Vrishabha Lagna prevails. ### Key Observance Timings Pradosh Kaal Shubh 05:33 PM to 07:57 PM Classical evening window starting from Sunset Vrishabha (Taurus) Lagna Shubh 05:58 PM to 07:57 PM Sthira (Fixed) Lagna ideal for permanent Lakshmi dwelling Maha Nishita Kaal Shubh 11:32 PM to 12:23 AM, Nov 9 Auspicious midnight window for Kali Puja and Tantrik rituals Amavasya Tithi Ends Chaturdashi upto 11:28 AM Lakshmi Puja is performed on Kartika Amavasya during Pradosha Kaal. Sthira (Fixed) Lagna ensures prosperity and enduring auspiciousness in the household. 🕉 ## Significance & Spiritual Meaning Spiritual philosophy, inner meaning and eternal virtues Diwali (Deepawali) is celebrated on the Amavasya of Kartika month. Devotees illuminate homes with oil lamps (diyas), perform Lakshmi-Ganesha Puja for auspicious wealth and wisdom, distribute sweets, and welcome positive divine energies. Triumph of light over darkness, wisdom over ignorance, and divine righteousness over evil. 📜 ### Sacred Story & Divine Lore Scriptural history and divine legends in sacred lore Core Narrative Summary "On Kartika Amavasya, Lord Rama returned to Ayodhya after vanquishing Ravana, and the citizens illuminated every street and home with earthen oil lamps. Simultaneously, Goddess Mahalakshmi emerged from the cosmic Samudra Manthan, showering boundless blessings on all beings." The Shrimad Bhagavata Purana, Vishnu Purana, and Ramayana describe the glorious occurrences that converge on Diwali. During the cosmic churning of the Ocean of Milk (Samudra Manthan) by the Devas and Asuras, numerous divine treasures emerged. On the sacred day of Kartika Amavasya, Goddess Mahalakshmi manifested from the ocean holding a celestial pink lotus. Enchanted by Her peerless purity and grace, celestial sages chanted the Sri Suktam, divine apsaras danced, and the sacred elephants of the four directions bathed Her with sanctified waters from golden vessels. Goddess Lakshmi chose Lord Narayana (Vishnu) as Her eternal consort, establishing eternal harmony and abundance across creation. In the Treta Yuga, following the destruction of the demon king Ravana in Lanka, Lord Shri Rama, Mata Sita, Lakshmana, and Hanuman returned to the kingdom of Ayodhya after fourteen years of exile in the Pushpaka Vimana. To welcome their righteous King in the moonless darkness of Kartika Amavasya, the joyous citizens illuminated every home, palace, temple, and street with millions of glowing earthen ghee lamps (Deepavali), illuminating the entire city with golden radiance. Since that historic day, humanity continues this sacred tradition to invite divinity, goodness, and light into every household. ॥ इति शुभम् ॥ • Sanatana Sacred Lore Archive ॐ तत् सत् ## Key Rituals & Observance Step-by-step sacred rituals and worship practices 1 Lighting traditional earthen oil lamps (Deepams) in and around the home 2 Evening Lakshmi-Ganesha Puja with lotus flowers, kheer, and sweets 3 Drawing vibrant Rangoli patterns at entrances 4 Exchanging gifts, sweets, and sharing happiness with community 🕉 ## Sacred Deity & Powerful Mantras Goddess Lakshmi & Lord Ganesha • Vedic and Puranic chants for peace and blessings 1 #### Mahalakshmi Mool Mantra (महालक्ष्मी मूल मंत्र) ॐ श्रीं ह्रीं श्रीं कमले कमलालये प्रसीद प्रसीद ॐ श्रीं ह्रीं श्रीं महालक्ष्म्यै नमः ॥ Om Shreem Hreem Shreem Kamale Kamalalaye Praseeda Praseeda Om Shreem Hreem Shreem Mahalakshmyai Namah Meaning: O Goddess Mahalakshmi, seated upon the pure lotus flower, shower Thy divine grace, auspiciousness, and spiritual abundance upon us. 2 #### Lakshmi Gayatri Mantra (लक्ष्मी गायत्री मंत्र) ॐ महालक्ष्म्यै च विद्महे विष्णुपत्न्यै च धीमहि । तन्नो लक्ष्मीः प्रचोदयात् ॥ Om Mahalakshmyai Cha Vidmahe Vishnu-Patnyai Cha Dhimahi, Tanno Lakshmih Prachodayat Meaning: May we know the Supreme Goddess Mahalakshmi. We meditate upon the divine consort of Lord Vishnu. May that Goddess Lakshmi illuminate and inspire our minds. 3 #### Kubera Mantra (कुबेर धन प्रदाता मंत्र) ॐ यक्षाय कुबेराय वैश्रवणाय धनधान्याधिपतये । धनधान्यसमृद्धिं मे देहि दापय स्वाहा ॥ Om Yakshaya Kuberaya Vaishravanaya Dhana-Dhanyadhipataye, Dhana-Dhanya-Samriddhim Me Dehi Dapaya Swaha Meaning: Salutations to Lord Kubera, king of Yakshas, lord of all wealth and grains. Bless us with virtuous prosperity and abundance. Sacred Aarti & Hymns ॐ जय लक्ष्मी माता, मैया जय लक्ष्मी माता । तुमको निसदिन सेवत, हर विष्णु विधाता ॥ ॐ जय लक्ष्मी माता... उमा, रमा, ब्रह्माणी, तुम ही जग-माता । सूर्य-चन्द्रमा ध्यावत, नारद ऋषि गाता ॥ ॐ जय लक्ष्मी माता... दुर्गा रूप निरंजनि, सुख सम्पति दाता । जो कोई तुमको ध्यावत, ऋद्धि-सिद्धि धन पाता ॥ ॐ जय लक्ष्मी माता... जिस घर में तुम रहतीं, सब सद्गुण आता । सब संभव हो जाता, मन नहीं घबराता ॥ ॐ जय लक्ष्मी माता... तुम बिन यज्ञ न होते, वस्त्र न कोई पाता । खान-पान का वैभव, सब तुमसे आता ॥ ॐ जय लक्ष्मी माता... शुभ-गुण मंदिर सुंदर, क्षीरोदधि-जाता । रत्न चतुर्दश तुम बिन, कोई नहीं पाता ॥ ॐ जय लक्ष्मी माता... महालक्ष्मी जी की आरती, जो कोई नर गाता । उर आनंद समाता, पाप उतर जाता ॥ ॐ जय लक्ष्मी माता... ## Regional Celebrations & Heritage Diverse cultural and spiritual traditions across Bharat and worldwide North & Western India (Uttar Pradesh, Gujarat, Rajasthan, Punjab, Delhi) Lakshmi-Ganesha Puja & Chopda Pujan Homes are decorated with elaborate rangolis, torans of mango leaves, and clay diyas. Business owners perform Chopda Pujan (worship of new accounting ledgers with saffron swastikas) during auspicious muhurat. Eastern India (West Bengal, Odisha, Assam) Kali Puja & Shyama Sangeet On Diwali night, devotees worship Goddess Kali—the fierce destroyer of darkness and ego. Grand night-long pujas with hibiscus flowers, khichuri, and sweets are organized across pandals and homes. South India (Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Kerala) Naraka Chaturdashi & Ganga Snanam Celebrations begin before dawn on Naraka Chaturdashi with an auspicious oil bath (Ganga Snanam), wearing new clothes, tasting medicinal Diwali Lehyam (herbal digestive jam), and bursting crackers. Varanasi & Ayodhya Deepotsav & Dev Deepawali The ghats of the sacred Ganga in Varanasi and Sarayu in Ayodhya are illuminated with millions of earthen lamps, creating awe-inspiring celestial riverfronts with grand Maha Aarti. ## Traditional Bhog & Sacred Offerings Sacred food offerings prepared with devotion 🍯 Kheel-Batasha (Puffed paddy and sugar drop candies) 🍯 Moti Choor Ladoo and Besan Ladoo 🍯 Mawa Gujiya and Kaju Katli 🍯 Panchamrit and Rice Kheer 🍯 Diwali Marundhu / Lehyam (Herbal restorative jam in South India) 🍯 Traditional savory Farsan (Chakli, Sev, Mathri, Gujiya) ### Authentic Scriptural References ✦ Rigveda — Sri Suktam ✦ Shrimad Bhagavata Purana — Skandha 8 (Samudra Manthan & Lakshmi Janma) ✦ Valmiki Ramayana — Yuddha Kanda (Return to Ayodhya) ✦ Skanda Purana — Kartika Masa Mahatmya ✦ Vishnu Purana — Amsha 1, Adhyaya 9 ### Fasting & Parana Guidelines ✔ Devotees observe a day-long fast on Amavasya, consuming only water, milk, or fruits until Lakshmi Puja concluding in the evening. ✔ The sacred evening meal is consumed as Mahaprasad after completing Pradosha Kaal Lakshmi-Ganesha Aarti and Deepdaan.