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🪔 October 29, 2026 · Thursday

Diwali 2026
Date, Lakshmi Puja Muhurat & Mantras

Complete Diwali 2026 guide — exact puja muhurat, step-by-step Lakshmi puja vidhi, Sanskrit mantras with meaning, and the full story of Deepavali.

Diwali date
Oct 29, 2026
Thursday
Tithi
Amavasya
Kartik month
Puja muhurat
6:00–8:30 PM
Pradosh Kaal
Amavasya starts
~3:52 PM Oct 29
IST
Amavasya ends
~6:16 PM Oct 30
IST

Sanskrit Meaning of Deepavali (Diwali)

दीप
Dīpa
Lamp, light
Root: dīp = to shine
+
आवली
Āvalī
Row, line
A sequence of things
=
दीपावली
Deepāvalī
A row of lamps

The word "Diwali" is the Hindi pronunciation of Deepavali. The Sanskrit Dīpa (lamp) shares its root with the word Dīpti (radiance) and Pradīpa (lantern). The festival is literally named for the sight of thousands of lamps lit in a single night — the visual that became the symbol.

Diwali 2026 — 5 Days Complete Calendar

Day 1
Oct 27 (Tue)
Dhanteras
Dhan = wealth, Teras = 13th. Lakshmi and Kuber puja. Buying gold, silver, or utensils is auspicious.
Day 2
Oct 28 (Wed)
Naraka Chaturdashi
Also Chhoti Diwali. Commemorates Krishna's defeat of the demon Narakasura. Oil bath at sunrise.
Day 3
Oct 29 (Thu)
Diwali (Main) 🪔
Lakshmi puja on Amavasya night. Fireworks, diyas, family gatherings. The central day.
Day 4
Oct 30 (Fri)
Govardhan Puja
Annakut — mountain of food offered to Krishna. Celebrates Krishna lifting Govardhan hill.
Day 5
Oct 31 (Sat)
Bhai Dooj
Sisters pray for brothers' long life. Yama visited his sister Yamuna — origin of this day.

Lakshmi Mantras for Diwali Puja — Sanskrit with Meaning

Main Lakshmi mantra (chant 108 times)
ॐ श्रीं महालक्ष्म्यै नमः
Om Shreem Mahalakshmiyai Namah
"I bow to the great Lakshmi." Shreem (श्रीं) is the bija (seed) mantra of Lakshmi — the sacred syllable that contains her entire energy. Mahalakshmi = the great (mahā) Lakshmi, the cosmic goddess of abundance.
Lakshmi Gayatri (for wisdom and prosperity)
ॐ महालक्ष्म्यै च विद्महे विष्णुपत्न्यै च धीमहि। तन्नो लक्ष्मीः प्रचोदयात्॥
Om Mahālakshmyai ca vidmahe viṣṇupatnyai ca dhīmahi। tanno lakṣmīḥ pracodayāt॥
"We know the great Lakshmi, we meditate on the wife of Vishnu — may Lakshmi inspire our intellects." The Lakshmi Gayatri in the form of the Vedic Gayatri meter.
Shri Sukta opening verse (Rigveda)
ॐ हिरण्यवर्णां हरिणीं सुवर्णरजतस्रजाम्। चन्द्रां हिरण्मयीं लक्ष्मीं जातवेदो म आवह॥
Om hiraṇyavarṇāṃ hariṇīṃ suvarṇarajatasrajām। candrāṃ hiraṇmayīṃ lakṣmīṃ jātavedo ma āvaha॥
"O Jataveda (Agni), bring to me Lakshmi — golden in color, shining, wearing garlands of gold and silver, radiant as the moon, golden throughout." From the Shri Sukta of the Rigveda — the oldest hymn to Lakshmi in existence.
Kuber mantra (chant alongside Lakshmi)
ॐ यक्षाय कुबेराय वैश्रवणाय धनधान्याधिपतये धनधान्यसमृद्धिं मे देहि दापय स्वाहा।
Om yakṣāya kuberāya vaiśravaṇāya dhanadānyādhipataye dhanadānyasamṛddhiṃ me dehi dāpaya svāhā
"Om, to Kuber, to the Yaksha king, to Vaishravana, the lord of wealth and grain — grant me abundance of wealth and grain, I offer this." Kuber is the god of material wealth; invoking him alongside Lakshmi ensures both material and spiritual prosperity.

Lakshmi Puja Vidhi — Step by Step 2026

1
Clean and decorate
Clean the puja space. Draw rangoli at the entrance (Lakshmi's footprints pointing inward = she is entering). Place the Lakshmi murti or image facing east or north.
2
Sankalpa
Take the intention: "I am performing Lakshmi puja for the welfare of my family, for prosperity, and to honor the goddess on this Diwali night."
3
Ganesh puja first
Always begin with Ganesha — "Vakratunda Mahakaya" shloka. No puja is complete without Ganesha's blessing first.
4
Invoke Lakshmi
Light the main diya with ghee (5-wick for puja). Offer flowers, kumkum, turmeric, and lotus petals. Offer sweets (kheel, batasha) and coins.
5
Lakshmi mantra chanting
Chant "Om Shreem Mahalakshmiyai Namah" 108 times. Or recite the Shri Sukta (Rigveda hymn to Lakshmi) in full.
6
Kuber puja
Offer puja to Kuber (deity of wealth) alongside Lakshmi — place coins in the puja space. Kuber mantra: "Om Kuberaya Namah."
7
Aarti
Perform Lakshmi aarti: "Om Jai Lakshmi Mata." Wave the aarti thali clockwise, offer prasad.
8
Keep diyas lit
Leave all diyas burning through the night — Lakshmi is said to visit homes lit with diyas on Diwali night. Do not sleep early.

Why is Diwali Celebrated? — The Stories

Vaishnavism (most widespread)
Ram, Sita, and Lakshman returned to Ayodhya after 14 years of exile and the defeat of Ravana. The citizens lit diyas along every path — this is Deepavali.
Krishnaism
The day before Diwali (Naraka Chaturdashi) commemorates Krishna's defeat of the demon Narakasura, who had imprisoned 16,100 women. He freed them at dawn after an oil bath.
Shaktism
Diwali is Lakshmi's birthday — she emerged from the churning of the cosmic ocean (Samudra Manthan) on this day. Worshipping her on Amavasya night ensures she stays in the home.
Jainism
Lord Mahavira, the 24th Tirthankara, attained moksha (liberation) on Diwali night. Jains light lamps as a symbol of the knowledge Mahavira achieved.
Sikhism
The 6th Sikh Guru, Guru Hargobind Ji, was released from Gwalior Fort on Diwali day (1619 CE) along with 52 Hindu kings. The Golden Temple was lit in celebration.

Diwali 2026 — Frequently Asked Questions

Is Diwali on October 29 or 30 in 2026?

Diwali (main Lakshmi puja) is on October 29, 2026. The Amavasya tithi starts at approximately 3:52 PM on Oct 29 and continues through Oct 30. The puja is performed during Pradosh Kaal on the evening of Oct 29.

Which direction should Lakshmi face in the puja?

The Lakshmi murti or image should face east or north (both are auspicious). The worshipper faces east during the puja. Do not place Lakshmi facing south.

What is the significance of keeping diyas lit all night?

According to the Agni Purana, Lakshmi visits homes on Diwali night and blesses households where lamps are burning. Keeping diyas lit overnight invites her to stay — hence the saying "Deepavali par diye jalte rakho."

Can the Shri Sukta be recited at home without a priest?

Yes. The Shri Sukta is a Rigvedic hymn and can be recited by anyone with sincere devotion. Traditionally recited in the early morning or during Lakshmi puja. Each of the 15 verses invokes a different aspect of Lakshmi.

Related Reading

Karva Chauth 2026 →Dussehra 2026 →Ramayana Complete Story →108 Names of Lakshmi →Navratri 2026 →108 Sanskrit Mantras →

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