Diwali / Lakshmi Puja in Agra

Date and timing in this city

In Agra (आगरा), India, the observance of Diwali and Lakshmi Puja falls on Kartik Amavasya. For 2026, the date computed for Agra is Sunday 8 November 2026. For 2027, the date computed for Agra is Friday 29 October 2027. Agra follows the Asia/Kolkata time zone.

The puja is observed in Pradosh kaal, the window around dusk. Because the tithi is tied to the moon's movement rather than to a fixed clock hour, the correct date and the puja window are determined by the panchang computed for Agra's own sunrise and sunset — not simply by a national calendar listing. The deity honoured is Lakshmi, with Ganesha worshipped alongside her.

Why the date can differ from India

Diwali is observed pan-India, but the tithi begins and ends at moments that do not fall at the same local time everywhere. A panchang is calculated for a specific place and its sunrise; when Amavasya begins or ends close to a sunrise or sunset boundary, cities can arrive at a different civil date for the observance. Agra's own sunrise, sunset and the resulting Pradosh kaal therefore decide the date shown above.

Traditions also differ in how the lunar month is reckoned. Some communities follow the amanta system and others the purnimanta; Smarta and Vaishnava practices may differ in emphasis and sequence. These are genuine regional and sampradaya variations, and families in Agra commonly follow the convention of their own lineage or family priest. Where customs differ, both readings can be correct within their own tradition.

Where and how the community celebrates

Observance is at home and within the local community, across Agra and pan-India. The general pattern is a clean and decorated home, lamps lit at dusk, and Lakshmi and Ganesha invoked during Pradosh kaal. Households vary in the order of the ritual, the number of lamps, and whether the puja is led by a family priest or by the family itself. Neighbourhoods light rows of lamps, and sweets are shared. Because customs differ between regions and sampradayas, the details of the vidhi are best confirmed with your family's own tradition or a qualified jyotishi.

Practical tips

• Confirm the date and the Pradosh kaal window from a panchang computed for Agra, not from a general national listing.
• For 2026, plan around Sunday 8 November 2026; for 2027, around Friday 29 October 2027.
• Prepare the home and the lamp arrangement before dusk, so the puja can begin as Pradosh kaal opens.
• Follow your family's or sampradaya's sequence where traditions differ; there is no single universal order.
• For personal chart-based questions, consult a qualified jyotishi.