Diwali 2024 - Date and Time Laxmi Puja Muhurt

Diwali, celebrated on November 1st in 2024, is a festival of lights and joy marking the victory of light over darkness. Laxmi Puja, a significant ritual during Diwali, will be observed during the auspicious muhurat from 6:08 PM to 8:04 PM (IST). This time is considered ideal for invoking blessings from Goddess Laxmi, the deity of wealth and prosperity, amidst festive rituals, prayers, and the illumination of homes with diyas (oil lamps).

When is Diwali in 2024?

Diwali in 2024 falls on November 1st. Celebrated widely across India and by Hindu communities worldwide, Diwali signifies the victory of light over darkness and good over evil. It is a festival of joy, where homes are adorned with lights and diyas (oil lamps), symbolic of the inner light that protects from spiritual darkness. Families gather for feasts, exchange gifts, and perform prayers to Goddess Laxmi for prosperity. The day is also marked by fireworks displays and cultural festivities, emphasizing unity and the renewal of hope for a prosperous year ahead.

Diwali Laxmi Puja Muhurat (Time) 2024

Diwali, celebrated by Hindus every year, will take place this year on November 1st. The Puja of Goddess Laxmi and Lord Ganesha is conducted during this Amavasya tithi, the 15th day of Kartik month. The Laxmi puja Muhurat will start at 06:08 PM and end at 08:04 PM.

Five Auspicious Days of Diwali in 2024

The festival of Diwali generally falls between the month of October and November, following the lunar cycle of the concerned year. Diwali 2024 is a five-day festival, with each day holding a major significance in Indian culture. The way the festival is celebrated varies from region to region. Still, generally, the festival goes in the following order:

Day 1: Dhanteras: Marks the start of the financial year for many business communities. The day is celebrated to worship the goddess of wealth, Laxmi.

Day 2: Naraka Chaturdasi: The day before Diwali, the preparation of special delicacies is undertaken, and the cleansing of houses and offices takes place.

Day 3: Diwali: The official day when the festival is celebrated throughout India. It is also a public holiday. The festival is commemorated on the day of the new moon, Amavasya.

Day 4: Karthika Suddha Padyami: The day holds relevance to the mythological tale of when the tyrant king Bali stepped out of hell to rule the planet.

Day 5: Bhai Dooj: The festival is celebrated to symbolise the love between brothers and sisters. The festival holds a lot of relevance to Indian culture.   

Diwali Puja Vidhi: Step-by-step guide

Are you wondering about the right steps or rules to conduct Diwali Puja? If yes, then this section is for you! Below are the steps one must follow while initiating Diwali Puja Vidhi in 2024.  

• Clean every nook and corner of your house and sprinkle Gangajal (Holy Water from River Ganga) to purify the surroundings of your home.
• Set up a puja room platform in your puja or living room by spreading a red cotton cloth on a stool or table. Remember to keep some grains in the centre. 
• Place a silver or bronze kalash (pot) in the middle of the grains and fill the Kalash with 75% water. Put some marigold flowers, a coin, a betel nut (supari) and some rice grains in the pot. Also, place five mango leaves in a circular design on the pot. 
• Place Goddess Laxmi and Lord Ganesha’s idol near the Kalash. 
• Take a small plate and place some coins for rice grains and draw a lotus flower or satya with haldi. Now, place the thali in front of the idol. 
• Make sure you place wealth-related items like account books before the idol. 
• You can now apply tilak to Goddess Laxmi, Lord Ganesha and Kalash. 
• Light some diyas, keep some flowers in your palm and recite puja mantras. After prayer, offer flowers to the idol. 

That’s all! Make sure you follow all these steps carefully to get the Diwali puja done right!

What things are required for Diwali puja?

Before beginning the Laxmi Puja on Deepavali 2024, make sure you collect all the below-listed Puja Samagri:

• Dhoop Batti
• Agarbatti
• Chandan
• Kapoor
• Kesar
• Chawal
• Abeer
• Gulal
• Haldi
• Cotton
• Roli, Sindoor
• Supari
• Paan ke Patte
• Pushpmala
• Panch Mewa
• Honey
• Gangajal
• Milk, etc. 

History and Significance of Diwali

The festival of Diwali symbolises and celebrates the triumph of good over evil. The history of the festival dates back to the Ramayana, as the festival was first celebrated on the day when Lord Rama returned to Ayodhya after defeating Ravana after 14 years in exile.

According to the epic, Lord Ram was sent into exile by King Dasharatha in the forest along with his wife Sita and younger brother Laxman. In the jungle, Ravana abducted Sita, driven by arrogance and malice. Lord Ram then waged war against Ravana to free his wife from the clutches of the tyrant king. The war concluded when Lord Ram killed Ravana and freed his wife from captivity. After winning the war, they returned to Ayodhya on the auspicious day of Kartik Amavasya, a dark moon night. 

Lord Ram’s subjects were excited and thrilled to see their king back and lit diyas to commemorate the auspicious occasion. That is why Diwali is called the festival of lights, hope, and triumph of good over evil.

Importance of Deepavali 

Diwali or Deepavali is one of the most important festivals in India. The day Diwali is observed is considered very auspicious, and the season marks the commencement of prosperity, peace, and a rich harvest. The devotees across India partake in rituals to pray to goddess Laxmi and Lord Ganesha during the festival to seek eternal prosperity and peace. 

The festival is celebrated with rich customs and rituals as it is believed that the Goddess Laxmi travels to the earth on Diwali. The Goddess visits homes that are clean and filled with prosperity and happiness. The day holds a lot of significance for the business community as well. Many business owners commemorate the festival in their place of business for a successful year ahead.

Moreover, people worship Lord Ganesha on Diwali to obtain knowledge, wisdom, and prosperity.

How is Diwali Celebrated?

Diwali is celebrated throughout India with vibrancy and optimism. The people across India light their homes with diyas, bulbs and fairy lights to commemorate the prosperity and optimism associated with the festival. The joyful and celebratory spirit is mirrored on the streets of India as the festival’s ambience is filled with magnificence and allure.

The devotees celebrate diwali 2024 festival of light by worshipping Lord Ganesh and Goddess Laxmi. Diwali is a Paanch Parva Festival which commences when the people clean every inch of their home for the Goddess and commemorate a fresh start free from all the baggage and malice from the previous year. 

On the second day, people decorate their homes with design patterns on the entrance of their homes, also known as Rangoli. They also decorate their house with tiny light bulbs and clay lamps. On the third day, the devotees offer prayers, sweets, aarti, and chants to goddess Laxmi and Lord Ganesh, along with flowers. It is believed that the pooja brings an abundance of wealth and prosperity to the homes of the devotees. On the fourth day, the people visit each other’s homes with good wishes and gifts to celebrate Diwali, strengthening the community. 

On the fifth day, the brothers and sisters celebrate the festival, commemorating their eternal bond.

Diwali Decoration Ideas for 2024

With Deepavali comes an alluring display of decorations, diyas and lights. The best home decoration ideas for Diwali 2024 are as follows:

• You can use string lights or fairy lights along with scented candles and diyas in your living room. This will help in setting the festive mood.
• You can create patterns like satya using diyas or hang colourful or single-tone lights on the wall for a simple and classic look.
• Flowers are another decorative item that can be used to decorate your house this Diwali. You can use flowers to decorate not only the walls of your house but also the puja room. 
• You can consider revamping your mandir with lighting and flower decoration. 
• You can draw a beautiful rangoli in the open space of your house. This will not only add to the beauty of your house but will also attract good luck. 
• One can create or buy torans to decorate the walls, hallways or doors of your house. 
• You can decorate the veranda or balcony of your house with string or pendant lights. You can also place LED lights outside. 
• Why not sprinkle some flower petals across the furnishings of your house? This will give your humble abode an inviting and charming look.  

Public Life During Diwali Holidays

Diwali is known as the festival of lights due to the vibrant ambience and joyous atmosphere. People celebrating the festival decorate their homes from the inside and the outside to welcome spiritual goodness and ward off all the negativity and darkness. Also, people visit each other’s homes with gifts and sweets to share happiness and strengthen community ties. The people also set off firecrackers to fend off all the world’s evils.

Diwali can be termed a celebration of the light everyone carries within themselves and can remove all the hatred and malice one carries. The festival is to be celebrated with families solidifying the eternal family values of our Indian culture.

Top Indian Destination for Diwali 2024

The diversity of India enriches the festival’s uniqueness. Every region of the county celebrates the festival in its own way. People who want to experience the vibrancy of the festival to enrich their experiences can visit the following places on Diwali in 2024. 

1. Goa: In Goa, one can partake in their age-old tradition of burning effigies of the Demon Narakasura that celebrates the conquest of good over evil.
2. Mumbai: In Mumbai, the beautiful skyline is accentuated by the lights and firecrackers.
3. Kumaon: One can also visit the serene lanes of Kumaon, where the locals paint their houses red. The art form is called Aipan.
4. Jaipur: The city of Jaipur also radiates beauty and magnificence during the festival. The city of Jaipur also hosts the Jaipur Shopping Festival, where traders showcase and promote their goods to stimulate trade. One can also experience various cultural performances organised throughout the city.

Each of these destinations will surely offer you a mesmerising experience this Diwali. 

Diwali 2024 – Do’s and Don’ts

Get ready to enjoy this Diwali to the fullest by taking extra precautions and following the do’s and don’ts stated below. 

Do’s 

• After burning firecrackers, make sure you pour a large amount of water on the burnt area.
• Wear cotton clothes while bursting crackers and prevent wearing synthetic fibre clothes. Also, avoid wearing flowing or loose clothes. 
• If you have small kids at home, keep an eye on them while they light up diyas, candles and crackers.
• Do make sure that your pets feel relaxed and comfortable. Also, remember to feed them properly before you start bursting crackers. 
• Always tie your hair while burning crackers. 
• Burst crackers in an open area which is a bit away from the structures. 

Don’ts

• Don’t light crackers whilst they are in your hand.
• Don’t allow small children to handle or play with crackers.
• Don’t keep your face near the cracker while lighting it up.
• Don’t burn firecrackers inside your house.  
• Don’t use sanitiser while bursting crackers as sanitisers are alcohol-based and can catch fire.

Diwali Holiday Date for Upcoming Years 2024 to 2030

The following table showcases the observance of Diwali for the next seven years.