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Occasions / Diwali

Common North Indian household method

Diwali · Lakshmi–Ganesha Puja

A step-by-step companion for the family puja on Diwali night, with every text and its meaning on the same screen.

Begin, step by step →Story for childrenPrintable sheets
Diwali · Lakshmi–Ganesha Puja

WHEN

Sunday, 8 November 2026

Dates are for India (Drik Panchang, Gurugram). Outside India the date can differ by a day. Check your own city before you plan.

  1. Fri 6 NovDhanteras
  2. Sun 8 NovNaraka Chaturdashi (morning) · Lakshmi Puja (evening)
  3. Tue 10 NovGovardhan Puja
  4. Wed 11 NovBhai Dooj

Source: Drik Panchang Diwali calendar, location shown as Gurugram (checked 14 October 2026)

Choosing the time

Lakshmi Puja is performed after sunset. Many households follow the muhurat that their panchang publishes for their own city, usually within Pradosh Kaal. Times differ from city to city, and different websites publish different times, so use one trusted panchang for your city and do not rely on a time copied from elsewhere.

Find your city's date and muhurat on Drik Panchang ↗

Add this date to Google Calendar ↗ · All festival dates

Diwali night is the Amavasya (new moon) of Kartika in the purnimanta calendar used across most of North India. In the amanta calendar used in much of western and southern India, the same night is called Ashvin Amavasya.

AT A GLANCE

What you need

Chowki with red clothलाल कपड़े से ढकी चौकी
Ganesha and Lakshmiगणेश और लक्ष्मी
Kalashकलश
Rangoli coloursरंगोली के रंग
Lota and spoonलोटा और आचमनी
Roli, haldi, akshat, mauliरोली, हल्दी, अक्षत, मौली
Flowers and garlandफूल और माला
Incenseधूप-अगरबत्ती
Ghee lamp, camphor, bellघी का दीपक, कपूर, घंटी
Sweets and fruitमिठाई और फल
Paan, supari, coinsपान, सुपारी, सिक्के
Account bookबही-खाता
Clay diyas and wicksमिट्टी के दीये और बाती
Heat-safe trayगर्मी सहने वाली थाली
Water and sandपानी और रेत

BEFORE YOU BEGIN

What to gather

The puja place

The puja plate

Offerings

Lamps for the home, safely

HOW IT IS ARRANGED

The puja place, labelled

Illustration of the arranged puja place12345678910111213
  1. Ganesha and Lakshmi गणेश और लक्ष्मी
  2. Kalash कलश
  3. Flowers and garland फूल और माला
  4. Roli, haldi, akshat, mauli रोली, हल्दी, अक्षत, मौली
  5. Lota and spoon लोटा और आचमनी
  6. Chowki with red cloth लाल कपड़े से ढकी चौकी
  7. Sweets and fruit मिठाई और फल
  8. Paan, supari, coins पान, सुपारी, सिक्के
  9. Incense धूप-अगरबत्ती
  10. Ghee lamp, camphor, bell घी का दीपक, कपूर, घंटी
  11. Clay diyas and wicks मिट्टी के दीये और बाती
  12. Account book बही-खाता
  13. Rangoli colours रंगोली के रंग

One common arrangement; families differ. Follow your family’s practice.

THE BOOK

Deepotsav: The Diwali-week pujas at home, Dhanteras to Bhai Dooj

₹99 · Order on WhatsApp, the PDF comes to your phone.

See the book

THE BOOK

Lakshmi–Ganesha Puja: The complete home puja for Diwali night

₹49 · Order on WhatsApp, the PDF comes to your phone.

See the book

Prasad to make

Safety

Keep lamps and camphor away from curtains, paper decorations, hair and loose clothing such as dupattas and saris. Never leave a flame where children or pets can reach it unattended. Put out lamps nobody will be watching before you sleep.

AT A GLANCE

12 steps

Quick mode keeps the essentials. Full mode adds āchamana and the complete Śrī Sūktam.

Open the companion →
  1. Prepare the home and the puja place
  2. Purify yourself and the place
  3. Light the main lamp
  4. State your intention (sankalpa)
  5. Worship Ganesha first
  6. Honour the kalash (if installed) optional
  7. Invite and worship Mahalakshmi
  8. Recite Śrī Sūktam (optional) optional
  9. Aarti: Ganesha, then Lakshmi
  10. Flowers, bowing and forgiveness
  11. Light the home and share prasad
  12. After the puja

One festival, many traditions

Families keep Diwali for different reasons. Many in North India remember Rama's return to Ayodhya and worship Lakshmi and Ganesha for well-being and prosperity. In Bengal and parts of eastern India the night is Kali Puja. In parts of South India, Naraka Chaturdashi marks Krishna's victory over Narakasura. Jains remember Mahavira's nirvana, and Sikhs observe Bandi Chhor Divas. This companion follows one common North Indian household method; if your family does things differently, your family's way comes first.