Lakshmi Puja Vidhi 2026: Step-by-Step Diwali Puja at Home
Diwali Lakshmi Puja is on Sunday, 8 November 2026, with the New Delhi muhurat from 5:54 PM to 7:50 PM. This guide walks through the full household puja: the samagri to gather, how to set up the chowki and kalash, the order of worship from Ganesha to the aarti, and the mantras to chant.
Lakshmi Puja 2026 muhurat
- Lakshmi Puja
- Sunday, 8 November 2026
- Lakshmi Puja muhurat
- 5:54 PM to 7:50 PM
- Pradosh Kaal
- 5:31 PM to 8:09 PM
- Vrishabha Kaal (sthir lagna)
- 5:54 PM to 7:50 PM
- Amavasya tithi
- 11:27 AM, 8 Nov to 12:31 PM, 9 Nov
- Mahanishita Kaal
- 11:39 PM to 12:31 AM
Times are for New Delhi (IST), from Drik Panchang. Some panchangs give Pradosh Kaal a few minutes later. You can begin the puja a little before the muhurat so that the Lakshmi worship itself falls inside it.
Puja samagri checklist
- Altar
- Lakshmi and Ganesha idols or a picture, a wooden chowki, red cloth, a kalash, mango leaves, a coconut, Gangajal
- Puja items
- Roli, kumkum, sindoor, chandan, akshat (unbroken rice), moli (kalava), supari, paan, panchamrit (milk, curd, ghee, honey, sugar)
- Flowers and leaves
- Lotus or rose garlands, other flowers, durva grass for Ganesha, kamalgatta
- Light and fragrance
- Earthen diyas, cotton wicks, ghee and oil, dhoop, agarbatti, camphor for the aarti
- Bhog
- Khil-batashe, sweets, kheer or laddus, fruits, panchmeva (dry fruits)
- For prosperity
- A silver or gold coin, yellow cowries, whole coriander, haldi knots, cloves, cardamom, account books (bahi-khata) and a pen
Lakshmi Puja vidhi, step by step
- 1
Prepare the space
Clean the home, especially the entrance, and bathe again before the evening puja. Set the chowki in the east or north-east of the room so that you face east or north while worshipping. Cover it with red cloth and draw a Swastik with roli.
- 2
Place the idols and kalash
Seat Ganesha and Lakshmi side by side on the chowki; families differ on which side each sits, so follow your own tradition. For the kalash, place a heap of grain, set the kalash on it, fill it with water and add supari, a flower, a coin and a few grains of rice. Arrange five mango leaves around the mouth, top it with a coconut and apply tilak.
- 3
Purify and take sankalp
Sprinkle Gangajal on yourself and the altar and light the main diya. Then take water, akshat and a flower in your right palm, say your name, gotra, place and your wish for the puja, and release the water before the idols.
- 4
Worship Ganesha first
Every puja begins with Ganesha, the remover of obstacles. Offer him tilak, akshat, flowers, durva, fruit and a sweet, and chant 'Om Gam Ganapataye Namah'.
- 5
Invoke and worship Lakshmi
Meditate on Lakshmi and invite her with folded hands. Bathe the idol, or a coin if you use a picture, with water, then panchamrit, then clean water again. Offer moli as clothing, then sindoor, kumkum, chandan, akshat, flowers, a lotus or garland, and kamalgatta. Light dhoop and a ghee diya before her, and offer bhog, paan with supari, and dakshina.
- 6
Chant the mantra
Chant a Lakshmi mantra from the list below on a kamalgatta or rudraksha mala. Reciting the Shri Sukta after the puja is also traditional.
- 7
Kuber and account book puja
Worship Kuber at your safe or cash box, and the account books and pen as forms of Saraswati and Kali. Business families write 'Shubh Labh' and a Swastik in the new books.
- 8
Aarti and kshama prarthana
Perform the aarti 'Om Jai Lakshmi Mata' with the family, followed by the Ganesh aarti. Offer pushpanjali, bow, and close with a prayer asking forgiveness for any mistakes in the puja.
- 9
Light the home
Take diyas lit from the puja lamp to every room, the kitchen, the Tulsi and the main door. Keep the main puja diya burning through the night.
This is the common household order. A full Vedic puja led by a pandit also includes Navagraha and Shodasha Matrika worship and a sixteen-step (shodashopachar) offering to Lakshmi; the steps above keep its core.
Mantras for Lakshmi Puja
Ganesh mantra
ॐ गं गणपतये नमः॥
Om Gam Ganapataye Namah
Lakshmi beej mantra
ॐ ह्रीं श्रीं लक्ष्मीभयो नमः॥
Om Hreem Shreem Lakshmibhayo Namah
Mahalakshmi mantra
ॐ श्रीं ह्रीं श्रीं कमले कमलालये प्रसीद प्रसीद ॐ श्रीं ह्रीं श्रीं महालक्ष्म्यै नमः॥
Om Shreem Hreem Shreem Kamale Kamalalaye Praseed Praseed Om Shreem Hreem Shreem Mahalakshmyai Namah
Lakshmi Gayatri
ॐ श्री महालक्ष्म्यै च विद्महे विष्णु पत्न्यै च धीमहि, तन्नो लक्ष्मी प्रचोदयात् ॐ॥
Om Shri Mahalakshmyai Cha Vidmahe Vishnu Patnyai Cha Dhimahi, Tanno Lakshmi Prachodayat Om
Kuber mantra
ॐ यक्षाय कुबेराय वैश्रवणाय धनधान्याधिपतये धनधान्यसमृद्धिं मे देहि दापय स्वाहा॥
Om Yakshaya Kuberaya Vaishravanaya Dhanadhanyadhipataye Dhanadhanyasamriddhim Me Dehi Dapaya Svaha
Want a remedy matched to your own sign as well? See our Diwali 2026 upay by rashi.
Dos and don'ts on Diwali night
Do
- Keep the puja diya burning through the night with enough ghee or oil.
- Worship Lakshmi with Ganesha, never alone.
- Use earthen diyas for the puja rather than candles.
- Keep the entrance clean and lit, and do not turn away anyone who comes asking for help.
Avoid
- Do not lend or borrow money on Diwali.
- Avoid gambling, alcohol and non-vegetarian food.
- Do not leave the puja place dark or empty during the night.
- Avoid a Ganesha idol with the trunk turned to his right for home worship.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Diwali 2026 on 8 or 9 November?
Diwali Lakshmi Puja is on Sunday, 8 November 2026. Amavasya begins at 11:27 AM on 8 November and ends at 12:31 PM on 9 November, so only the evening of 8 November has Amavasya during Pradosh Kaal, which is the rule for Lakshmi Puja.
What is the best time for Lakshmi Puja in 2026?
In New Delhi it is 5:54 PM to 7:50 PM, when Pradosh Kaal overlaps the fixed Vrishabha lagna. A fixed lagna is believed to make Lakshmi stay in the home. Other cities have slightly different times, so check your local panchang.
Can I do Lakshmi Puja at midnight in Nishita Kaal?
Drik Panchang notes that Mahanishita Kaal (11:39 PM to 12:31 AM in Delhi) is meant for tantric practice and experienced pandits. For a household puja, Pradosh Kaal is the recommended time.
Can I use a Choghadiya slot for Lakshmi Puja?
Drik Panchang advises against it. Choghadiya slots are suited to travel and shopping; Lakshmi Puja should be done in Pradosh Kaal, ideally during the sthir lagna.
Do I need a pandit for Lakshmi Puja?
No. Most families do the puja themselves using the steps above. If an item is missing, Drik Panchang notes that akshat can be offered in its place. Sincerity matters more than an exhaustive samagri list.
Should I fast on Diwali?
Many devotees keep a day-long fast, either without water or with fruit, and break it after the evening puja. It is optional; fast only as your health allows.
Why is Ganesha worshipped before Lakshmi?
Ganesha is worshipped first in every Hindu ritual as the remover of obstacles. On Diwali he is paired with Lakshmi so that wealth comes with the wisdom to use it well.
Outside Delhi? Find your city's sunset and full-day timings in the Panchang, or generate your free Kundli.
Disclaimer: This vidhi is compiled from published panchangs and puja guides for general information. Rituals vary by family, region and sampradaya, so follow your own tradition where it differs. Muhurat times are for New Delhi; please confirm with your local panchang.