Festival
Loading the article and its upcoming dates…
Diwali, or Deepavali, celebrates the victory of light over darkness with Lakshmi Puja on Kartika Amavasya, the darkest night of the year.
Diwali marks Lord Rama's return to Ayodhya after fourteen years of exile and the victory over Ravana, when the whole city was lit with rows (avali) of lamps (deepa). It is equally the night of Goddess Lakshmi, worshipped at Pradosh Kaal on Kartika Amavasya for prosperity in the year ahead. In Bengal the same night is Kali Puja.
Homes are cleaned and decorated with diyas and rangoli. Lakshmi Puja is performed in the Pradosh Kaal after sunset. The exact muhurat for your city is on this site's daily panchang page.