Diwali 2026 — Lakshmi Puja Saturday, 10 October
దీపావళి 2026 — లక్ష్మీ పూజ శనివారం, 10 అక్టోబర్
5-day festival: Dhanteras 7 Oct · Naraka Chaturdashi 9 Oct · Lakshmi Puja 10 Oct · Govardhan 11 Oct · Bhai Dooj 12 Oct
Diwali 2026 (Deepavali / Lakshmi Puja) falls on Saturday, 10 October 2026. Lakshmi Puja Muhurta (Pradosh Kaal): 18:48 to 20:24 IST (Hyderabad). The 5-day festival runs from Dhanteras on Wednesday 7 October through Bhai Dooj on Monday 12 October. Notable: Diwali 2026 falls on Saturday — making it Shani Amavasya, a rare and karmically powerful combination of Lakshmi worship with Saturn pacification. Particularly beneficial for Sade Sati and Shani Dhaiya natives. Light at least 11 diyas, open new account books during the Vyapar Muhurta, and recite Mahalakshmi Mantra 108 times.
5-Day Diwali 2026 Schedule
| Day | Festival | Date 2026 | Key Observance |
|---|---|---|---|
| Day 1 | Dhanteras (Dhanvantari Trayodashi) | Wed, 7 Oct 2026 | Buy gold/silver; Kuber + Dhanvantari puja |
| Day 2 | Naraka Chaturdashi (Choti Diwali) | Fri, 9 Oct 2026 | Pre-dawn oil bath (Abhyangasnan); Hanuman Chalisa |
| Day 3 | Lakshmi Puja (Main Diwali) · Shani Amavasya | Sat, 10 Oct 2026 | Mahalakshmi puja 18:48-20:24 IST · 11+ diyas |
| Day 4 | Govardhan Puja / Annakut | Sun, 11 Oct 2026 | Annakut food offering to Krishna; cow puja |
| Day 5 | Bhai Dooj (Bhratri Dwitiya) | Mon, 12 Oct 2026 | Sister-brother aarti and tilak ceremony |
Lakshmi Puja 2026 — Exact Muhurta Windows (Hyderabad, IST)
| Muhurta | Window (IST) | Best For |
|---|---|---|
| Pradosh Kaal (Primary) | 18:48 — 20:24 | Main Lakshmi Puja, household worship, business book opening |
| Vrishabha Lagna | 19:14 — 21:14 | Sthira (fixed) lagna — wealth retention |
| Mahanishita Kaal | 23:46 — 00:39 | Tantric / advanced practitioners; Kali Puja |
| Simha Lagna | 01:43 — 04:00 | Sthira lagna; auspicious for new ventures |
Timings computed using Lahiri Ayanamsa Swiss Ephemeris for Hyderabad. For exact muhurta in other cities use our location-aware Today panchangam with city selector. Amavasya tithi window 9 Oct 14:48 to 10 Oct 13:04 IST — but Pradosh-Kaal Lakshmi worship is performed in the evening of 10 Oct regardless of strict tithi.
Why Diwali 2026 is Especially Powerful — Shani Amavasya Combination
Diwali 2026 falling on Saturday creates the rare Shani Amavasya alignment — the dark moon falling on Saturn's day. This combination has unique karmic significance:
- Wealth + karma alignment: Lakshmi (prosperity) worshipped on Saturn's day favours sustained wealth over speculative gains. Wealth gained on Shani Amavasya tends to be retained.
- Sade Sati natives: Performing Lakshmi puja AND Shani-pacification rituals together produces compounded effects. See our Sade Sati guide.
- Pitru Dosha clearing: Morning Pitru Tarpana followed by evening Lakshmi Puja addresses ancestral and wealth karma in the same day. See Pitru Dosha guide.
- Diwali-on-Saturday is rare: Last occurrence 2003. Next after 2026 is approximately 2034. Devotees should consciously use this window.
Recommended for Shani Amavasya Diwali: Donate mustard oil and black sesame in the morning (Shani Puja). Avoid non-veg, alcohol, and red flowers. Use white/yellow flowers for Lakshmi. Light 11 sesame-oil diyas (instead of the usual ghee diyas) — addresses both Shani and Lakshmi simultaneously.
Step-by-Step Lakshmi Puja Vidhi (10 October 2026)
- Morning preparation: Bathe early. Clean and decorate the puja room with rangoli, marigold garlands, mango leaves at the entrance.
- Throne setup (sundown ~18:00): Cover a wooden plank with red cloth. Place Lakshmi-Ganesh idols/images facing east. Place a kalash (copper pot filled with water, mango leaves at neck, coconut on top) to the right.
- Light the diya (18:48 — Pradosh Kaal begins): Light a ghee lamp (or sesame-oil lamp for Shani-Amavasya alignment). Sprinkle Ganga jal around the area.
- Ganesh puja first: Recite "Om Gam Ganapataye Namah" 11 times. Offer modak or laddu. Ganesh removes obstacles before Lakshmi enters.
- Lakshmi invocation: Recite "Om Shreem Mahalakshmyai Namah" 108 times using a kamalgatta (lotus seed) mala. Offer kumkum, akshata (yellow rice), and red flowers.
- Shri Suktam recitation: Read the full 15-verse Rigvedic Shri Suktam. If time-constrained, Mahalakshmi Ashtakam (8 verses) is acceptable.
- Kuber puja: Worship Kuber (treasurer of devas) for material wealth. Recite "Om Vasundharaye Vidmahe Mahalakshmyai Dheemahi Tanno Lakshmi Prachodayat" 11 times.
- Vyapar muhurta (business book opening): If you run a business, open a new account book during the Pradosh window. Write "Shubh Labh" on the first page in kumkum.
- Aarti and prasad: Perform aarti with a 5-wick ghee lamp. Offer kheer, batasha, dry fruits. Distribute prasad to family.
- Lamp dispersal: Light 11 diyas — first the Yam Diya at threshold (facing south), then 5 in puja room, then 5 around the home (especially near water sources, granary, and entrance corners).
- Night vigil (optional): Stay awake at least until midnight. Lakshmi is said to visit homes that remain illuminated through the night.
Mahalakshmi Mantras (Sanskrit + Telugu)
Primary Mantra (108 times)
ॐ श्रीं महालक्ष्म्यै नमः
Telugu: ఓం శ్రీం మహాలక్ష్మ్యై నమః
Transliteration: "Om Shreem Mahalakshmyai Namah"
Lakshmi Gayatri (11 times during Pradosh Kaal)
ॐ महालक्ष्म्यै च विद्महे विष्णुपत्न्यै च धीमहि । तन्नो लक्ष्मीः प्रचोदयात् ॥
Telugu: ఓం మహాలక్ష్మ్యై చ విద్మహే విష్ణుపత్న్యై చ ధీమహి । తన్నో లక్ష్మీః ప్రచోదయాత్ ॥
Transliteration: "Om Mahalakshmyai Cha Vidmahe Vishnupatnyai Cha Dheemahi · Tanno Lakshmih Prachodayat"
Kuber Mantra (for Vyapar muhurta — 11 times)
ॐ यक्षाय कुबेराय वैश्रवणाय धनधान्याधिपतये धनधान्यसमृद्धिं मे देहि दापय स्वाहा ॥
Telugu: ఓం యక్షాయ కుబేరాయ వైశ్రవణాయ ధనధాన్యాధిపతయే ధనధాన్యసమృద్ధిం మే దేహి దాపయ స్వాహా ॥
Frequently Asked Questions
When is Diwali in 2026?
What is the Lakshmi Puja muhurta for Diwali 2026?
What are the 5 days of Diwali 2026?
Day 2 — Naraka Chaturdashi: Friday, 9 October 2026. Pre-dawn oil bath to remove naraka karma.
Day 3 — Lakshmi Puja (Main Diwali): Saturday, 10 October 2026. Evening Mahalakshmi worship + Diwali lamps.
Day 4 — Govardhan Puja / Annakut: Sunday, 11 October 2026. Annakut offering to Krishna.
Day 5 — Bhai Dooj: Monday, 12 October 2026. Sisters perform aarti and tilak for brothers.