Diwali - Lakshmi Puja

Name: Diwali
Start: 2026-11-08
Location: Mumbai, Maharashtra

The Festival of Lights: the main evening worship of Goddess Lakshmi.

Sunday, 8 November 2026·Kartik Amavasya, at Pradosh Kala (evening)·Mumbai, Maharashtra

Main Muhurta★★★★★

Lakshmi Puja Muhurat

6:27 pm – 8:27 pm(2 hr 0 min)

Time to muhurta…

On the Day

Perform Lakshmi–Ganesha Puja in the Pradosh / Vrishabha muhurat
Light rows of lamps (deepavali) at every threshold
Draw rangoli and keep doors open for Lakshmi
Chopda Pujan - worship of new account books (west)

Muhurtas

Lakshmi Puja Muhurat★★★★★

6:27 pm – 8:27 pm · 2 hr 0 min

Main worship of Lakshmi and Ganesha for wealth and wisdom.

Why this rank: Vrishabha (fixed sign) rising within Pradosh Kala - the classical, most auspicious Lakshmi Puja window.

Deity: Lakshmi & GaneshaDo: Lakshmi–Ganesha Puja, Chopda / ledger worship, Lighting the household lampsAvoid: Interruptions once the puja begins

Pradosh Kala★★★★☆

6:02 pm – 8:34 pm · 2 hr 32 min

Evening Lakshmi worship and lamp-lighting.

Why this rank: The core evening worship window on Amavasya; auspicious even outside the Vrishabha overlap.

Deity: Lakshmi

Vrishabha (Sthir) Lagna★★★★☆

6:27 pm – 8:27 pm · 2 hr 0 min

Sthir-lagna window for lasting prosperity.

Why this rank: A fixed sign keeps Lakshmi 'seated' in the home - the reason this lagna is chosen.

Deity: Lakshmi

Mahanishita Kalaregional★★★☆☆

11:58 pm – 12:46 am · 48 min

Midnight (tantric) Lakshmi or Kali worship.

Why this rank: The midnight window for tantric worship of Lakshmi/Kali; used by pandits and specific traditions.

Deity: Mahakali / Lakshmi

Auspicious Choghadiya★★★☆☆

Labh 9:32 am – 10:57 am
Amrit 10:57 am – 12:22 pm
Shubh 1:47 pm – 3:12 pm

Alternative auspicious windows for shorter puja or shop-opening.

Why this rank: The day's good Choghadiya blocks - secondary windows if the main muhurat can't be kept.

This day's panchang

TithiKrishna Chaturdashi

NakshatraSwati

YogaAyushman

KaranaShakuni

MasaAshwin

SamvatVikram 2082

Significance

Importance

The heart of the festival. On the darkest night of the month, homes blaze with lamps to welcome Lakshmi, goddess of wealth and fortune. The Lakshmi Puja performed in the Pradosh Kala - with Vrishabha, a fixed sign, on the ascendant - is the single most sought muhurta of the Hindu year.

Religious significance

Light over darkness, knowledge over ignorance, good over evil. The lamps represent the inner light that protects and guides; the worship of Lakshmi with Ganesha seeks prosperity tempered by wisdom.

Why it is celebrated

To welcome Lakshmi into a bright, clean home on Amavasya night, to celebrate Rama's homecoming, and to begin the new financial year (in western India).

The story

Diwali marks Lord Rama's return to Ayodhya after fourteen years of exile and the defeat of Ravana; the citizens lit rows of lamps (deepavali) to guide him home. It also commemorates Lakshmi's emergence from the churning of the ocean on this night. Ganesha is worshipped alongside her for wisdom and auspicious beginnings.

Who celebratesHindus, and also Jains (Mahavira's nirvana), Sikhs (Bandi Chhor Divas) and Newar Buddhists - across the world.

Where observedPan-India and the global diaspora; Chopda Pujan and Muhurat Trading are distinctive to Gujarat and the markets of the west.

Associated deities

LakshmiGaneshaKuberaSaraswati

What to do

Avoid

Leaving the house dark on Amavasya night
Gambling to excess (though play is customary, restraint is advised)
Delaying the puja past the Pradosh window

Regional variations

Chopda Pujan: Gujarati businesses worship new account books tonight.
Muhurat Trading: stock exchanges hold a special one-hour session during the Lakshmi Puja muhurat.
Bengal worships Kali (Kali Puja) on this Amavasya night instead of Lakshmi.
Jains observe Mahavira's nirvana; Sikhs observe Bandi Chhor Divas.

Special notes

Diwali is fixed by the Amavasya prevailing at Pradosh Kala, not at sunrise - matching Drik Panchang.
The Lakshmi Puja Muhurat shown here is Vrishabha lagna clipped to Pradosh Kala for your exact location.

Frequently asked questions

What is the Lakshmi Puja muhurat?

The window when Vrishabha (Taurus) is rising during Pradosh Kala on Diwali evening - shown above for your location.

Why is Vrishabha lagna preferred?

Vrishabha is a sthir (fixed) sign; performing the puja while it rises is said to keep Lakshmi firmly settled in the home.

Which takes precedence if timings overlap?

The Pradosh ∩ Vrishabha (Lakshmi Puja Muhurat) takes precedence; use plain Pradosh Kala only if the two do not overlap at your place.

Can I do the puja at midnight instead?

Midnight (Mahanishita) worship is a specific tantric tradition. For household Lakshmi Puja, the Pradosh / Vrishabha evening window is standard.

All timings are computed for Mumbai, Maharashtra and follow Drik-style rules (sunrise/sunset, Pradosh-vyapini placement, sthir-lagna muhurtas). Times shift with your location - change your city on the calendar to recompute.