Diwali / Lakshmi Puja in Chidambaram

Date and timing in this city

In Chidambaram (चिदम्बरम), India, Diwali and Lakshmi Puja fall on Sunday 8 November 2026. The following year, the observance falls on Friday 29 October 2027. These dates are computed for Chidambaram's own sunrise, using the Asia/Kolkata time zone.

The day is Kartik Amavasya, the new moon of the Kartik month. Lakshmi puja is observed in Pradosh kaal, the window around dusk. The presiding deities are Lakshmi and Ganesha, worshipped together in keeping with the usual practice of inviting prosperity and removing obstacles.

Why the date can differ from India

It is common to see a single "Diwali date" quoted for the whole country, but the tithi is tied to the moon and to local sunrise. Chidambaram's sunrise is its own reference point, so the date here is worked out for this location rather than borrowed from a national listing.

This is why the date in Chidambaram can differ from what is shown for India as a whole, and why the two can agree in some years and not in others. When the tithi boundary sits close to a sunrise, even nearby cities can land on different days. Readers who follow a specific panchangam are best guided by the one their family or tradition uses.

Where and how the community celebrates

Lakshmi puja on this day is pan-India in scope, and Chidambaram observes it as part of that wider practice. Households clean and light the home, and the evening puja is timed to Pradosh kaal. Ganesha is honoured alongside Lakshmi.

Regional and sectarian customs differ, and it is worth saying so plainly rather than settling on one. North and South Indian households often keep different routines. Smarta and Vaishnava families may differ in emphasis, and the amanta and purnimanta reckonings of the month place the observance differently on the calendar. Customs also vary from family to family.

Practical tips

• Plan the puja for the dusk window, Pradosh kaal, rather than a fixed clock time.
• Confirm the date against a panchangam computed for Chidambaram's sunrise.
• Follow your own family's or sampradaya's convention where traditions differ.
• For anything tied to your personal chart, consult a qualified jyotishi.

These notes are descriptive of the observance and its timing. They are not predictions for any individual.