Diwali 2025 Puja Muhurat: Complete Timing Guide

Diwali 2025 falls on Monday, October 20, with the Lakshmi Puja muhurat spanning from 5:36 PM to 8:11 PM. This festival of lights marks the most auspicious occasion for wealth, prosperity, and spiritual blessings in the Hindu calendar. According to the Skanda Purana and Padma Purana, Goddess Lakshmi descends to earth on this night, blessing homes with abundance and success.

The efficacy of Diwali puja depends significantly on performing it during the precise muhurat—the astrologically determined window when cosmic energies peak for wealth attraction. In my consultation practice, I consistently observe that families who adhere to proper muhurat timings report a deeper sense of blessing and spiritual connection during their worship.

The Five Days of Diwali 2025

• Day 1 - Dhanteras (Saturday, October 18) — Purchase of gold, silver, and new items. Worship Lord Dhanvantari and Goddess Lakshmi. Light 13 diyas in the evening.
• Day 2 - Naraka Chaturdashi (Sunday, October 19) — Commemorates Lord Krishna's victory over Narakasura. Practice early morning oil bath and apply ubtan to remove negative energies.
• Day 3 - Diwali/Lakshmi Puja (Monday, October 20) — The main festival day. Lakshmi Puja muhurat: 5:36 PM - 8:11 PM. Complete Lakshmi-Ganesha puja and family celebration.
• Day 4 - Govardhan Puja (Tuesday, October 21) — Celebrates Lord Krishna lifting Govardhan mountain. Prepare Annakoot offering and worship cows.
• Day 5 - Bhai Dooj (Wednesday, October 22) — Honors the sacred bond between brother and sister. Sister applies tilak to brother and exchanges gifts.

Precise Amavasya Timings

The Muhurta Chintamani emphasizes that Lakshmi Puja must be performed during Amavasya tithi for maximum effect:

• Amavasya Tithi Begins: October 20, 2025, at 3:52 PM
• Amavasya Tithi Ends: October 21, 2025, at 6:18 PM
• Best Puja Time: During Amavasya after sunset (5:36 PM onwards)

The primary and most auspicious Diwali 2025 puja muhurat is the Pradosh Kaal from 5:36 PM to 8:11 PM on October 20, 2025. This 2-hour 35-minute window represents the optimal cosmic alignment for Lakshmi worship.

Why Pradosh Kaal Is Most Auspicious

Classical Jyotish texts explain the significance of Pradosh Kaal:

• The Sun has set, meaning tamasic (heavy) energies recede
• On new moon night, the Moon hasn't risen, creating a cosmic vacuum for divine descent
• Goddess Lakshmi traditionally descends during this twilight period
• Vrishabha Lagna (Taurus Ascendant) rises during this window—Lakshmi's preferred lagna

Alternative Muhurats

If you cannot perform puja during Pradosh Kaal, the Nishita Kaal (approximately 11:39 PM to 12:31 AM) offers an alternative. The Lakshmi Tantra describes this midnight hour as when Goddess Lakshmi is most active on the earthly plane. This 52-minute window is particularly suited for tantric practitioners and those performing extended worship.

Times to avoid: Before sunset (Sun still dominant), during Rahu Kaal (inauspicious period), or after 8:11 PM unless specifically using Nishita Kaal. To understand how planetary periods affect your worship, use our Dasha Calculator.

The Puja Prakash and various Dharma Shastras outline the traditional materials for Lakshmi worship. While the specific items may vary by regional tradition, certain elements remain essential.

Essential Puja Items

Deities and Sacred Objects:

• Lakshmi-Ganesha idols or pictures (essential)
• Saraswati image (recommended for complete trinity)
• Lakshmi Yantra (copper or silver)
• Kalash (sacred pot) with mango leaves

Diyas and Lights:

• 13 traditional clay diyas (this number is specifically auspicious)
• Cotton wicks (minimum 21)
• Ghee for diyas (preferred over oil for Lakshmi worship)

Puja Ingredients:

• Rice (Akshata), turmeric powder (Haldi), kumkum
• Sandalwood paste (Chandan), incense sticks, camphor
• Panchamrit ingredients (milk, curd, honey, ghee, sugar)

Offerings:

• Five types of sweets (essential—represents pancha bhutas)
• Freshly made kheer (rice pudding)
• Five types of fruits, lotus or red flowers
• Betel leaves and nuts (five sets), coconut with husk
• Coins and new currency notes for blessing

The complete Lakshmi Puja follows the Shodashopachara (sixteen-step worship) format described in the Agama Shastras. This structured approach ensures you honor the goddess properly and create the optimal conditions for receiving her blessings.

Preparation (2-3 Hours Before Muhurat)

1. Clean and Purify: Deep clean your entire home, especially the puja area. Take a bath and wear fresh clothes. Remove clutter from wealth corners (North, Northeast). Draw rangoli at the entrance.
2. Set Up Altar: Place a red cloth on a clean platform facing East or North. Arrange deities with Ganesha on the left and Lakshmi in the center. Place the Lakshmi Yantra before the goddess image. Position the kalash with water, mango leaves, and coconut on top.
3. Prepare Offerings: Cook fresh kheer, arrange sweets on separate plates, keep fruits clean and arranged. Fill diyas with ghee and set wicks. Keep all puja items within easy reach.

Main Puja Sequence (During Muhurat: 5:36 PM - 8:11 PM)

Begin by lighting the diyas: Light the primary diya first (never extinguish with mouth—use a snuffer or fan). Light incense sticks and all 13 diyas, placing them around the altar and at your home's entrance.

Ganesha Puja (Always First): Lord Ganesha must always be worshipped first to remove obstacles from your puja. Chant "Om Gam Ganapataye Namah" 21 or 108 times while offering flowers, rice, and sweets. Request his blessings for successful worship.

Kalash Puja: Invoke Goddess Lakshmi into the kalash by placing your right hand on it and chanting her name. Sprinkle kalash water on yourself and the altar for purification.

Lakshmi Puja (Main Worship): Begin with the primary mantra: "Om Shreem Mahalakshmiyei Namah." Then perform the sixteen offerings in sequence:

1. Avahana — Invite the goddess with flowers
2. Asana — Offer a seat (visualize her seated on the altar)
3. Padya — Symbolically wash her feet with water
4. Arghya — Offer water in cupped hands
5. Achamana — Offer water to sip
6. Snana — Bathe with panchamrit
7. Vastra — Offer cloth (touch new red cloth to image)
8. Gandha — Apply sandalwood paste
9. Akshata — Offer rice grains
10. Pushpa — Offer flowers (lotus or red roses preferred)
11. Dhupa — Offer incense smoke
12. Deepa — Offer light (aarti with camphor)
13. Naivedya — Offer food (kheer, sweets, fruits)
14. Tambula — Offer betel leaf and nut
15. Dakshina — Offer coins and currency
16. Namaskara — Final prostration

After the sixteen offerings, chant "Om Shreem Mahalakshmiyei Namah" 108 times using a mala. Conclude with the full Lakshmi Aarti.

Kuber Puja for Business Owners

After Lakshmi Puja, business owners should face North (Kubera's direction) and perform Kuber worship. Place your account book (Bahi Khata) with pen before you, write "Shubh Labh" on the first page, and chant: "Om Yakshaya Kuberaya Vaishravanaya Dhanadhanyadi Padayeh." Place coins and currency on the book and request blessings for business prosperity.

Beyond the main puja, classical texts describe additional practices that amplify Lakshmi's blessings. These traditions have been passed down through generations of practitioners and carry the accumulated spiritual power of centuries of observance.

The Significance of 13 Diyas

The Lakshmi Tantra prescribes placing 13 diyas in specific locations to create a field of light that attracts the goddess:

• Main entrance (facing outward)
• Puja room (before deities)
• Kitchen (the wealth generator of the home)
• Cash box or safe
• Near water source
• At Tulsi plant (if present)
• Living room, master bedroom, and around the home perimeter

Practices Before, During, and After Puja

Before puja: Keep the main door open (symbolically invites Lakshmi). Clean all mirrors (Lakshmi is attracted to reflection and cleanliness). Place fresh water in a vessel near the entrance.

During puja: Some traditions recommend clapping hands three times to awaken Lakshmi's attention. Ring the bell continuously during mantra chanting. Blow conch (shankh) if available—its sound purifies the atmosphere.

After puja: Keep lights burning throughout the night if possible. Don't sweep the floor until the next morning. Don't remove the rangoli until the next day. These practices ensure Lakshmi's blessings remain undisturbed.

Traditional texts outline specific prohibitions for Diwali night. While some may seem superstitious to modern minds, experienced practitioners observe that honoring these boundaries creates a more conducive environment for divine blessing.

Traditional Prohibitions

• Do not sleep during Lakshmi Puja time — Classical texts state that Goddess Lakshmi bypasses homes where residents sleep during her descent
• Do not keep the home dirty or cluttered — Lakshmi resides where cleanliness prevails; her sister Alakshmi (misfortune) dwells in dirt
• Avoid quarreling or harsh speech — Negative energy repels the goddess of prosperity
• Abstain from non-vegetarian food and alcohol — Maintain sattvic (pure) energy throughout the day
• Do not lend money on Diwali — Tradition holds that wealth should enter, not leave, on this night

Handling Inauspicious Signs

If a diya extinguishes during puja, immediately relight it while chanting Lakshmi's mantra. If items fall during the ceremony, pause, reorganize calmly, and continue. These minor disruptions don't negate your worship—your sincere intention carries the greatest weight.

To understand how planetary influences affect your prosperity throughout the year, consider checking your daily horoscope and learning about your Moon sign for deeper insights into your prosperity potential.

While the core Lakshmi Puja remains consistent across India, regional traditions add unique elements that reflect local culture and spiritual understanding.

North Indian Traditions

North Indian families typically worship Lakshmi-Ganesha together, emphasizing wealth and prosperity. Business families perform elaborate Kuber Puja and open new account books. The celebration includes extensive fireworks and family gatherings.

South Indian Traditions

In South India, Naraka Chaturdashi receives greater emphasis, commemorating Lord Krishna's victory over the demon Narakasura. Early morning oil baths with special ubtan preparations are essential. In some regions, Diwali is celebrated for only one day rather than five.

Bengali and Eastern Traditions

Bengal celebrates Kali Puja on Diwali night, worshipping the fierce aspect of the Divine Mother. This reflects the region's strong Shakta (goddess-worshipping) tradition. Elaborate pujas are held at temples and pandals throughout the night.

Regardless of regional variations, the essential principle remains: inviting divine prosperity into your home through sincere worship during the auspicious muhurat. Follow your family tradition while ensuring the core elements of proper timing, genuine devotion, and complete offerings.