Diwali 2026 Lakshmi Puja Muhurat: City-Wise Timings Across India

The Diwali 2026 Lakshmi Puja Muhurat in New Delhi is from 5:54 PM to 7:50 PM on Sunday, November 8. The auspicious time differs from city to city because sunset and the rising Lagna change with location. If you are preparing to welcome Goddess Lakshmi and Lord Ganesha into your home, checking your local muhurat will help you plan the evening without rushing. 

Here are the city-wise Lakshmi Puja timings, the reason Diwali falls on November 8, and a simple guide to preparing for the worship.

When Is Diwali 2026, and What Is the Lakshmi Puja Muhurat?

Diwali falls on Sunday, November 8, 2026. The main Lakshmi Puja is performed in the evening on Kartik Amavasya, the new-moon night associated with worshipping Goddess Lakshmi and Lord Ganesha.

For New Delhi, the important timings are:

These timings are for New Delhi. Other cities have their own Lakshmi Puja Muhurat.

What Is the Lakshmi Puja Muhurat in Your City?

The Lakshmi Puja Muhurat on Diwali 2026 depends on where you will perform the puja. Find your city in the table below to plan your worship.

All times are local Indian Standard Time. Small differences of a minute or two can occur between Panchang calculations. If your city is not listed, use a muhurat calculated for your exact location rather than assuming a nearby city’s timing will be identical.

Why Is Diwali Celebrated on November 8 Instead of November 9?

If you have seen November 9 mentioned in a Diwali calendar, the reason is the timing of Amavasya Tithi. It begins on November 8 and continues into the following afternoon.

Here is the important distinction:

• Amavasya begins at approximately 11:27 AM on November 8.
• The evening Lakshmi Puja Muhurat falls between 5:54 PM and 7:50 PM in New Delhi.
• Amavasya ends at approximately 12:31 PM on November 9.

The main Lakshmi Puja is therefore observed on Sunday evening, November 8, when the Amavasya Tithi is in progress.

A lunar Tithi does not always begin or end at midnight, which is why its dates can span two calendar days. For Diwali, the relevant evening observance is central to determining the main Lakshmi Puja date.

Why Is Vrishabha Lagna Important for Lakshmi Puja?

You may notice that Diwali muhurat calendars mention Vrishabha Lagna, or Taurus Ascendant. In traditional Vedic astrology, Vrishabha is a fixed sign associated symbolically with stability and continuity.

When Vrishabha Lagna overlaps with the evening Pradosh period, it is traditionally considered favourable for Lakshmi Puja. The symbolism fits the intention behind the worship: not merely welcoming wealth, but praying for stability, wise use of resources and well-being within the home.

For New Delhi, the listed Lakshmi Puja window is 5:54 PM–7:50 PM. Other cities have different timings because the Lagna changes with local geography.

How Should You Prepare for Lakshmi Puja at Home?

You do not need to make the evening complicated to make it meaningful. A little preparation beforehand lets you focus on the worship instead of searching for flowers, incense or a missing diya at the last minute.

What Should You Keep Ready for Lakshmi Puja?

Prepare these essentials before the muhurat begins:

• Idols or pictures of Goddess Lakshmi and Lord Ganesha
• A clean altar and puja thali
• Kalash, water, mango leaves and coconut, according to family custom
• Flowers, kumkum, turmeric and rice
• Incense, diyas and ghee or oil
• Fruits, sweets and prasad
• Coins or account books if your family observes Chopda Puja

The list can vary by family and region. Do not worry if your customs differ from someone else’s; follow the tradition you have grown up with.

How Do You Perform Lakshmi Puja on Diwali?

A common home-puja sequence is simple:

1. Clean and prepare the altar. Arrange the idols, flowers and puja items before the muhurat.
2. Begin with Lord Ganesha. Pray for wisdom and the removal of obstacles.
3. Worship Goddess Lakshmi. Offer flowers, kumkum, rice, sweets and a lit diya.
4. Chant a mantra. You may recite Om Shreem Mahalakshmyai Namah with devotion.
5. Perform the aarti. Offer prasad and complete the worship according to your family tradition.
6. Light diyas around your home. Keep them away from curtains and other flammable materials.

Business families may also worship their account books during Chopda Puja. If you follow a particular regional ritual, prepare for it in advance so the main worship remains peaceful and unhurried.

What Is Mahanishita Kaal on Diwali?

Mahanishita Kaal is a late-night period associated with particular forms of worship and spiritual practice. In New Delhi, it is listed from 11:39 PM on November 8 to 12:31 AM on November 9.

Some traditions observe Goddess Kali Puja or other forms of late-night worship during this period. However, Mahanishita Kaal is not a replacement for the usual evening Lakshmi Puja followed by most households.

If your family observes a late-night ritual, follow the timing and procedure associated with that tradition. Otherwise, focus on the main evening Lakshmi Puja Muhurat.

When Are Choti Diwali and Kali Chaudas in 2026?

Choti Diwali, Naraka Chaturdashi and Kali Chaudas are connected with the days surrounding Diwali, but their observance can vary by regional calendar.

In 2026, the Chaturdashi Tithi continues into the morning of November 8 before Amavasya begins. This creates some overlap in the way festivals appear on calendars.

• Saturday, November 7: Kali Chaudas and Choti Diwali are observed in many regional traditions.
• Sunday, November 8: Naraka Chaturdashi rituals, including Abhyang Snan, are listed in some calendars, while the main Lakshmi Puja takes place in the evening.
• Sunday evening, November 8: The main Diwali Lakshmi Puja.

If your family follows a specific regional tradition, use the calendar associated with that observance. The timing of a particular ritual can differ even when two festivals fall close together.

Conclusion

Diwali is a time to welcome prosperity, but it is also a chance to pause, give thanks and spend time with the people who make a home feel like home. Check the Lakshmi Puja Muhurat for your city, prepare the essentials early and give yourself enough time to worship without rushing.

Once the aarti is complete, let the rest of the evening be about family, gratitude and the simple joy of seeing your home glow with diyas.

Shubh Deepavali to you and your family.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. When Is Diwali in 2026?

Diwali falls on Sunday, November 8, 2026. The main Lakshmi Puja takes place in the evening during the muhurat calculated for your city.

2. What Is the Lakshmi Puja Muhurat in New Delhi?

The Lakshmi Puja Muhurat in New Delhi is 5:54 PM–7:50 PM on November 8, 2026. The period overlaps with Pradosh Kaal and Vrishabha Lagna.

3. Why Does the Lakshmi Puja Muhurat Differ by City?

The muhurat depends on local sunset, Pradosh Kaal and the rising Lagna. Because these change across India, the suitable puja window differs from city to city.

4. Is Diwali on November 8 or November 9 in 2026?

The main Lakshmi Puja is on November 8. Amavasya continues into November 9 but ends around midday, before the following evening’s sunset.

5. What Should You Do if You Miss the Lakshmi Puja Muhurat?

If you miss the listed window, follow the guidance of your family tradition or trusted local priest rather than assuming another city’s timing applies. Prepare beforehand where possible so the puja can begin within the suitable window.

6. Which Mantra Should You Chant During Lakshmi Puja?

You can chant Om Shreem Mahalakshmyai Namah while worshipping Goddess Lakshmi. Many families also recite the Lakshmi-Ganesha aarti or other prayers they traditionally use on Diwali.