Lakshmi Puja Vidhi & Muhurat: How to Do Diwali Puja at Home
A step-by-step Lakshmi-Ganesh puja vidhi for Diwali night — how the evening muhurat is chosen, the sequence of worship, and a simple home version — with city timing referred to your Panchang.
1. When Lakshmi Puja Is Performed
The main Lakshmi-Ganesh puja is performed on the evening of Diwali (Amavasya). Unlike a morning ritual, it is an evening observance, so the muhurat and the mood are those of dusk and night.
2. The Muhurat: How the Time Is Chosen
The Diwali puja muhurat is not one fixed clock time — it depends on your city and the year's Panchang. It is commonly chosen within the Pradosh Kaal (the period after sunset) and, where possible, during a sthir lagna (a "fixed" ascendant such as Vrishabha/Taurus), which many consider auspicious for Lakshmi worship. Rather than a single time that would be wrong for most readers, look up the exact window for your city in a reliable Panchang — Valkala's Diwali puja chart gives preset city references you can use as a starting point and then verify.
3. Prepare the Space and Samagri
Clean the home and the altar, place idols or images of Maa Lakshmi and Shri Ganesh on a chowki with a fresh cloth, and set a puja thali with roli, akshat, flowers, a lamp and sweets. The complete list is in the Diwali samagri checklist.
4. Lakshmi Puja Vidhi, Step by Step
- Sankalp: light the lamp, take a moment of resolve, and begin with Ganesh, who is worshipped first.
- Invoke Lakshmi: offer roli, akshat, flowers, incense and a lamp to Maa Lakshmi and Shri Ganesh.
- Offer bhog: place sweets or fruit, and items your family traditionally offers.
- Aarti: perform the aarti with the bell, singing Om Jai Lakshmi Mata and Jai Ganesh Deva.
- Mantra jaap: many keep a round of Lakshmi mantra jaap — see the Kamal Gatta mala guide or use the digital 108 counter.
5. A Simple Home Version
If an elaborate vidhi is not possible, a sincere short puja — a clean altar, a lamp, flowers, aarti and a few minutes of prayer within the evening window — is widely held to be enough. Steps and elaborations differ by region and family; consistency and sincerity matter more than matching any one script.
6. Around Diwali Night
See the Diwali 2026 guide for the full five days, the diya guide for lighting, and browse Pooja Essentials to assemble your setup.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Lakshmi Puja muhurat on Diwali?
The Lakshmi Puja muhurat is an evening window, commonly within the Pradosh Kaal after sunset and, where possible, during a sthir lagna such as Vrishabha (Taurus). The exact time depends on your city and the year, so confirm it in a reliable Panchang or use the preset city references in Valkala's Diwali chart.
How do you perform Lakshmi puja step by step?
A common sequence is: light the lamp and take a sankalp, worship Ganesh first, then invoke Lakshmi with roli, akshat, flowers, incense and a lamp, offer bhog, perform the aarti, and keep a round of mantra jaap. Steps vary by family and region; a simple sincere puja is widely held to be enough.
Can Lakshmi puja be done in the morning?
The main Diwali Lakshmi puja is traditionally an evening observance, performed during the Pradosh Kaal after sunset. Some families keep smaller observances at other times, but the principal puja is at night. Confirm the muhurat for your city in a Panchang.