Diwali 2026 in USA: Sun, Nov 8 — Puja Time by City

Related days (New York)

Other cities may differ by a day; open the festival's own page for city-wise dates.

How the Diwali (Lakshmi Puja) date is decided

The day on which Amavasya (new-moon tithi) prevails during Pradosh Kaal (the period right after local sunset); Lakshmi Puja is done in Pradosh Kaal when the fixed sign Vrishabha (Taurus) rises.

Significance

Lighting lamps on the darkest night of the Amavasya symbolises the victory of light over darkness and knowledge over ignorance. Lakshmi appeared from the churning of the ocean on this day, hence Lakshmi puja; along with Ganesha (wisdom), Saraswati (learning) and Kuber (treasury). The traders' new year (account books) begins here.

On Diwali night the woman of the house is called 'Griha Lakshmi' — she conducts the puja, she lights the lamps, and she sprinkles the water of the Ahoi/Karwa Chauth karwa in the house. This festival belongs to the woman of the house.

Puja vidhi (brief)

1. Bathe in the morning; final cleaning of the house; at the main door rangoli, a toran (mango/ashoka leaves and marigold), Lakshmi's footprints on both sides (from the threshold inwards), swastik and shubh-labh.
2. Evening puja place: in the north-east (Ishan) or east, a red/yellow cloth on a wooden seat; in the centre a new idol of Lakshmi-Ganesha (Ganesha to Lakshmi's right), with pictures of Kuber and Saraswati, a kalash (water, betel nut, coin, mango leaves, coconut), a silver/copper coin, account books, the key of the safe.
3. In Pradosh Kaal (time above) sit with the family; with water, akshat and flowers in hand take the sankalp — 'I worship Lakshmi and Ganesha for the happiness and prosperity of the family.'
4. First Ganesha puja (durva, modak/laddoo, sindoor), then kalash puja, then Lakshmi puja — bath (water and panchamrit), cloth, lotus/rose flowers, perfume, roli-akshat, kheel-batasha, sweets, fruit, paan-supari, cloves-cardamom; chant 'Om Shreem Hreem Shreem Kamale Kamalalaye Praseed Praseed Shreem Hreem Shreem Om Mahalakshmyai Namah' or recite Shri Sukta/Lakshmi Chalisa.
5. Worship Kuber, Saraswati, the account books and the safe; keep new coins and ornaments in the puja. Roli-akshat on household tools/vehicles too.
6. Aarti — 'Om Jai Lakshmi Mata', then 'Jai Ganesh Deva'; camphor aarti; all family members touch the feet of elders, elders give blessings and shagun to the young.
7. Deepdaan: light all the lamps of the house from the puja lamp — the door first, then Tulsi, kitchen, water place, terrace, every room, out to the lane/drain; one large lamp (or akhand) burns all night at the puja place. The count of lamps 11, 21, 51 or as per family custom.
8. If the Ahoi/Karwa Chauth karwa has been kept, sprinkle its water in the house and wipe the Ahoi Mata picture. Distribute prasad; give sweets and shagun to neighbours, sanitation workers and household help.
9. Keep the main door open/lit with lamps at night for Lakshmi's arrival; next morning (Govardhan/Pratipada) clean the puja place and prepare the Annakut.

Frequently asked questions

Is Diwali (Lakshmi Puja) 2026 on the same day in USA and India?

Yes — Sunday, November 8, 2026.

What is the puja time for Diwali (Lakshmi Puja) 2026 in New York?

Lakshmi Puja Muhurat (Pradosh Kaal with Vrishabha Lagna): 5:03 PM to 6:52 PM (EST). Other cities are in the table above.

Which time zone are these timings in?

Each row is in that city's own local time with daylight saving applied (Eastern Time (EST/EDT) for New York).

Which deities are worshipped in the Diwali puja?

Ganesha (first), Lakshmi (main), Kuber, Saraswati, the kalash (Varuna), and by family custom Kali/Durga or the kul-devi; account books, the safe and tools are worshipped too.

What kind of Lakshmi-Ganesha idol, and what to do with the old one?

Clay, seated (on a lotus), Ganesha to Lakshmi's right; new every year. Immerse the old idol in water or the soil of a plant before the next Diwali, never in the garbage.

Is a fast kept on Diwali?

Not compulsory; many women take only fruit on the Amavasya day and eat after the Lakshmi puja. The puja, the lamps and the family together are what matter.

Why is Kali Puja held on Diwali night in Bengal?

The midnight of Kartik Amavasya is considered a night of Shakti sadhana; in Bengal-Assam the Lakshmi puja has already been done earlier (on Kojagari Purnima), so the Amavasya belongs to Maa Kali. The same night, a different tradition.

Daily panchang in USA

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