Diwali 2026: Lakshmi Puja Samagri, Rituals, Date and Muhurat

Diwali, also known as Deepavali, will be celebrated on Sunday, 8 November 2026, in many parts of India. The main Lakshmi Puja is performed on Amavasya, the new moon day of the Hindu lunar month of Kartik.

The festival is celebrated differently across regions. In several South Indian traditions, Deepavali is closely associated with Naraka Chaturdashi and the story of Lord Krishna's victory over Narakasura. Families should check their local panchangam for the applicable observance date and timings.

Lakshmi Puja Muhurat for Diwali 2026

Lakshmi Puja is traditionally performed during the evening Pradosh Kaal. The auspicious window is determined by local sunset, the Amavasya tithi and the prevailing astrological period, so timings differ between cities.

City	Lakshmi Puja Muhurat
New Delhi	5:54 pm to 7:50 pm
Chennai	6:07 pm to 8:09 pm
Mumbai	6:27 pm to 8:27 pm
Bengaluru	6:17 pm to 8:20 pm
Pune	6:24 pm to 8:24 pm
Hyderabad	6:07 pm to 8:08 pm
Jaipur	6:03 pm to 7:59 pm
Kolkata	5:20 pm to 7:18 pm

These are indicative timings. Confirm the exact Lakshmi Puja muhurat with a city-specific panchangam before performing the ritual.

Why Are Lakshmi and Ganesha Worshipped Together?

Goddess Lakshmi represents prosperity, abundance and good fortune, while Lord Ganesha symbolises wisdom, auspicious beginnings and the removal of obstacles.

Their combined worship carries an important message: prosperity is most meaningful when guided by wisdom. During Diwali, families pray for financial stability, peace, success and the ability to make thoughtful decisions throughout the coming year.

How to Perform Lakshmi Puja at Home

A traditional Diwali Lakshmi Puja at home can be simple and meaningful. Prepare the worship area in advance so that the family can participate comfortably.

1. Prepare the altar: Cover a clean chowki with a fresh cloth and place the idols or pictures of Goddess Lakshmi and Lord Ganesha.
2. Arrange the kalash: If your family follows this custom, place a water-filled kalash with leaves and a coconut near the altar.
3. Light diyas: Arrange oil or ghee lamps and light incense.
4. Pray to Ganesha: Begin with prayers to Lord Ganesha for an auspicious start.
5. Offer prayers to Lakshmi: Present flowers, kumkum, turmeric, sandal paste and akshata.
6. Present naivedyam: Offer fruits, sweets or freshly prepared vegetarian food.
7. Include prosperity symbols: Some families place coins, account books or business ledgers near the deities.
8. Chant mantras and perform aarti: Conclude the main worship with prayers and aarti.
9. Distribute prasad: Share the blessed offerings with family members.

The precise sequence varies by household and regional tradition. Sincere participation matters more than the number of ritual items.

Diwali Puja Samagri : Essential Items Checklist

Gathering the necessary Diwali puja samagri beforehand makes the ritual easier to perform.

Puja item	Purpose
Lakshmi and Ganesha idols or pictures	Main deities
Chowki and clean cloth	Prayer altar
Kalash, water, leaves and coconut	Traditional sacred arrangement
Diyas, oil or ghee	Lighting the prayer area
Kumkum, turmeric and sandal paste	Ritual offerings
Flowers or lotus	Floral offering
Rice or akshata	Traditional puja offering
Fruits and sweets	Naivedyam and prasad
Incense and camphor	Worship and aarti
Betel leaves and nuts	Traditional offerings
Coins or account books	Prosperity prayers in some traditions

Not every item is compulsory. If you cannot arrange a complete puja set, you can worship with a diya, flowers, fruit and sincere prayers.

Lakshmi and Ganesha Mantras for Diwali

Simple mantras can be included in your Diwali prayers, whether you follow an elaborate ritual or a shorter home puja.

Goddess Lakshmi mantra:

Om Shreem Mahalakshmyai Namah

This mantra is recited as an invocation to Goddess Mahalakshmi for auspiciousness and prosperity.

Lord Ganesha mantra:

Om Gam Ganapataye Namah

This mantra honours Lord Ganesha and is commonly recited before beginning important activities.

Devotees may also recite Sri Suktam, Lakshmi Ashtakam or other prayers familiar to their family tradition.

Diwali Aarti and Prasad

Aarti usually concludes the main Lakshmi-Ganesha Puja. Families hold a lit lamp before the deities while singing traditional devotional hymns. Prasad is distributed afterwards, allowing everyone present to participate in the celebration.

There is no need to include numerous chants if they make the ritual difficult to follow. A few familiar prayers, performed with attention and devotion, can be equally meaningful.

Celebrate Diwali 2026 with Faith and Gratitude

Diwali brings together spiritual reflection, family traditions and the joy of welcoming new beginnings. From preparing the Lakshmi Puja samagri to lighting diyas and chanting mantras, every part of the celebration offers an opportunity to reconnect with loved ones and cherished customs.

For those unable to arrange a full home puja, participating in a temple service or following a priest-led worship remotely may be an alternative. The essential message of Diwali remains the same: welcome light with awareness, prosperity with wisdom and every new beginning with gratitude.