Diwali 2026 Today: Lakshmi Puja Muhurat Timings in Your City

The festival of lights is here. Diwali is being celebrated across India today, Sunday, November 8, 2026, and the most important ritual of the day, Lakshmi Puja, will be performed in the evening. In New Delhi, the auspicious window for the puja runs from 5:54 PM to 7:50 PM, giving families just under two hours to offer prayers to Goddess Lakshmi and Lord Ganesha.

Because the muhurat depends on local sunset, the timing shifts from city to city. Mumbai and Bengaluru get a later window, while Kolkata and Guwahati start earlier. Here is a simple guide to help you plan your evening.

Why Lakshmi Puja Is Done in the Evening

Diwali falls on Kartik Amavasya, the new-moon night of the Hindu month of Kartik. Traditional panchangs recommend performing Lakshmi Puja during Pradosh Kaal, the period that begins at sunset and lasts roughly two and a half hours. Within it, priests prefer the Vrishabha Kaal, when the fixed (sthir) Taurus lagna is rising. The belief is that worship done during a fixed lagna helps the goddess of wealth stay in the home.

This year, the Amavasya is in effect at sunset on November 8, which is why the whole country is marking Lakshmi Puja today rather than splitting between two dates.

Lakshmi Puja Muhurat in New Delhi

According to timings based on Drik Panchang, published by several outlets, the key windows for the national capital are:

City-Wise Lakshmi Puja Timings Today

If you live outside Delhi, use your own city's window. The timings below follow the same Drik Panchang method; small differences of a minute or two between calendars are normal.

A few calendars list slightly earlier timings for some cities. If your family follows a particular panchang or a local temple's announcement, go with that; the overall evening window is broadly the same.

How to Prepare for Lakshmi Puja: A Simple Checklist

1. Clean the house in the afternoon. Tradition holds that Lakshmi enters a clean, well-lit home, so finish sweeping and decorating before sunset.
2. Set up the altar. Place idols or pictures of Goddess Lakshmi and Lord Ganesha on a raised platform covered with a red or yellow cloth.
3. Keep the puja items ready. Diyas, ghee or oil, cotton wicks, flowers, kumkum, haldi, rice, sweets, a kalash with water and coins or new account books are commonly used.
4. Light the first diya at the start of the muhurat. Begin with a prayer to Ganesha, then perform Lakshmi Puja and aarti within your city's window.
5. Light diyas around the home. After the puja, families place lamps at the entrance, windows and balconies to welcome prosperity.

The Five Days of Deepavali

Diwali is the high point of a five-day festive stretch that opened with Dhanteras on Friday, November 6. After today's Lakshmi Puja come Govardhan Puja and Annakut, along with Bali Pratipada, which falls on Tuesday, November 10 (stock markets are shut that day). Some calendars mark Govardhan Puja on Monday, November 9, so follow your local panchang. The festivities conclude with Bhai Dooj, when sisters pray for their brothers' well-being; check your local calendar for the exact date in your region.

Celebrate Safely

Air quality in Delhi-NCR is already in the 'very poor' range and GRAP Stage 3 curbs are in force, so many families are choosing diyas and electric lights over heavy firecrackers this year. Where green crackers are allowed, stick to permitted timings, keep a bucket of water or sand nearby, and keep children and pets at a safe distance. Fire services in several cities, including Delhi, have stepped up preparedness for the night.

Whatever your plans, the message of the festival stays the same: light over darkness, and time with the people who matter. ViralDose wishes all its readers a very happy and safe Diwali.

Also Read

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• Diwali Firecracker Noise: How to Protect Your Ears, Kids and Pets
• GRAP Stage 3 in Delhi-NCR Before Diwali: What Is Banned
• SC Allows Green Crackers in Delhi-NCR on Diwali: Timings, Rules