Diwali / Lakshmi Puja in Delhi

Date and timing in this city

In Delhi, Diwali and Lakshmi Puja fall on Kartik Amavasya, the new moon of the Kartik month. The date is reckoned for Delhi's own sunrise and the local sky, so it is the Delhi date that governs observance in the city.

For the coming years, the date in Delhi is:

• 2026: Sunday 8 November 2026
• 2027: Friday 29 October 2027

Delhi follows the Asia/Kolkata time zone. The puja is traditionally observed in Pradosh kaal, the dusk period, which is why the tithi's start and end are read against Delhi's own sunset rather than a single all-India clock time. Families often begin preparations well before dusk and complete the main ritual as evening settles in.

Why the date can differ from India

Diwali is observed pan-India, but the calendar date is not always uniform across the country. Amavasya is a tithi, a segment of the lunar day, and tithis begin and end at different clock times in different places. When the tithi's window falls awkwardly around sunrise or sunset, cities can end up observing on adjacent dates.

Delhi's date is therefore computed from Delhi's sunrise and the local sequence of tithis, not from a national average. Regions also differ in how they name and count the lunar month. Some traditions follow the amanta reckoning, others the purnimanta; Smarta and Vaishnava households may also mark subsidiary rituals on slightly different days. These are recognised variations, not contradictions, and each family follows the practice of its own lineage and region.

Where and how the community celebrates

Diwali in Delhi is a home-centred festival, with observance spread across neighbourhoods rather than tied to any single location. The deity honoured is Lakshmi, with Ganesha worshipped alongside her. Households clean and light their homes, set out lamps, and gather for the evening puja in Pradosh kaal.

Customs vary by family and community. Some keep a simple lamp and offering, others arrange a fuller mandir setup with flowers, sweets and a kalash. Many read or recite Lakshmi and Ganesha prayers, and some keep a fast or a lighter meal through the day. In Delhi, as across India, the details are shaped by family tradition, regional background and the guidance of one's elders or family priest.

Practical tips

• Confirm the puja window for Delhi from a local panchang, since Pradosh kaal shifts with the city's sunset.
• Plan lamp lighting and offerings for the evening rather than fixed clock hours.
• Prepare the puja space earlier in the day so the dusk ritual is unhurried.
• Follow your own family's or sampradaya's method where customs differ.
• For personal chart-based questions, consult a qualified jyotishi rather than relying on general dates.