Festival companion · 6–11 November 2026 · Lakshmi Puja Sun 8 Nov

Diwali

The festival of lights. Everything for one festival in one place: the story to tell, the puja, a recipe, a craft for children and a shopping list.

Tell the story

The Story of Diwali

Long ago, Prince Rama, his wife Sita and his brother Lakshmana returned to Ayodhya after fourteen years in the forest and a great battle with Ravana. The people lit rows of lamps along every street to welcome them home on the darkest night of the year.

In South India the same festival remembers Krishna defeating the demon Narakasura, who had imprisoned thousands of people. Before dying, Narakasura asked that his death be celebrated with lights, and so the day begins with an oil bath before sunrise.

On the new-moon night families pray to Lakshmi, the goddess of prosperity, who is said to visit homes that are clean, bright and welcoming.

How families celebrate

Diwali marks the victory of light over darkness. Homes are cleaned and lit with rows of clay diyas, rangoli is drawn at the doorstep, sweets are shared with neighbours, and the family gathers for Lakshmi Puja on the new-moon night. In South India the main day begins before dawn with an oil bath for Naraka Chaturdashi.

Day 1 Dhanteras (6 Nov): buy something new, often brass or silver. Day 2 Naraka Chaturdashi: oil bath before sunrise. Day 3 Lakshmi Puja (8 Nov): lamps, puja and sweets. Day 4 Govardhan Puja or Bali Padyami. Day 5 Bhai Dooj (11 Nov): sisters pray for their brothers.

At home

The Puja

A home puja anyone can follow, step by step, with the words to say.

Short puja 30 minutes · freeFull puja 90 minutes · members

Before you begin

  1. Prepare

    Bathe, wear clean clothes and clean the puja place. Set out a lamp, incense, flowers, kumkum, turmeric, rice, water in a small vessel with a spoon, a bell and the naivedya (food offering).

  2. Light the lamp

    Light the lamp with ghee or oil and fold your hands.

    SayShubham karoti kalyanam arogyam dhana sampadah, shatru buddhi vinashaya deepa jyotir namostute

  3. Pray to Ganesha first

    Every puja begins with Ganesha, so the rest goes without obstacles. Offer a flower or a little rice.

    SayVakratunda mahakaya suryakoti samaprabha, nirvighnam kuru me deva sarva karyeshu sarvada

  4. Achamana and sankalpa

    Sip a spoon of water three times. Then hold a little water, rice and a flower and say, in your own language, who you are, where you are, and why you are doing this puja today. Let it fall in a plate.

    SayOm Keshavaya namah · Om Narayanaya namah · Om Madhavaya namah

Short puja

  1. Abhyanga snana (Naraka Chaturdashi)

    Before sunrise, an elder puts a little warm sesame oil on each person's head. Everyone takes a full bath and wears new clothes. Light lamps and burst a small cracker or sparkler where allowed.

  2. Set up for Lakshmi Puja

    In the evening, on a cloth, place a kalasha of water with mango leaves and a coconut, and a picture or coin of Lakshmi with Ganesha on her left. Draw a rangoli at the door and small footprints coming in.

  3. Invite Lakshmi

    Offer flowers, kumkum and turmeric to the kalasha and the picture, while chanting.

    SayOm Shreem Mahalakshmyai namah

  4. Worship the account books

    Many families place their account books, a pen, coins and jewellery before Lakshmi and draw a swastika and "Shubh Labh" on them.

  5. Light rows of lamps

    Light as many diyas as you can, at the altar first, then in every room, at the doorstep and on the windows.

    SayDeepa jyotih parabrahma deepa jyotir janardanah, deepo haratu me papam deepa jyotir namostute

Closing

  1. Naivedya

    Place the food before the deity, sprinkle a little water around it and offer it with your hands open.

    SayOm pranaya svaha · Om apanaya svaha · Om vyanaya svaha · Om udanaya svaha · Om samanaya svaha

  2. Aarti

    Wave the camphor or ghee lamp clockwise in front of the deity, ringing the bell, while the family sings an aarti or bhajan.

  3. Pradakshina and namaskara

    Turn around once clockwise where you stand, then bow or prostrate. Ask forgiveness for anything done wrongly.

    SayYani kani cha papani janmantara kritani cha, tani tani vinashyanti pradakshina pade pade

  4. Share the prasada

    Share the naivedya with everyone at home and with neighbours.

Full puja

The full puja follows the sixteen offerings, the shodashopachara, with every mantra in Devanagari, Kannada or Telugu script. It takes about 90 minutes.

  1. DhyanaThink of the deity
  2. AvahanaInvite the deity
  3. AsanaOffer a seat (a flower or rice)
  4. PadyaWater to wash the feet
  5. ArghyaWater to wash the hands
  6. AchamaniyaWater to sip
  7. SnanaA bath (sprinkle water, or abhisheka)
  8. VastraClothes (a cloth or cotton thread)
  9. Yajnopavita / AbharanaSacred thread or ornaments
  10. GandhaSandal paste, turmeric and kumkum
  11. PushpaFlowers and leaves
  12. DhupaIncense
  13. DeepaA lamp
  14. NaivedyaFood
  15. TambulaBetel leaf and nut, or fruit
  16. Nirajana and namaskaraAarti, flowers and bowing

Full puja for members: Devanagari · Kannada script · Telugu script

Members: open the full pujaShort of time? The short puja is complete on its own: flowers, a lamp and food offered with love are enough.

Print

Short puja guide to print

Full puja for members: Devanagari · Kannada script · Telugu script

Every family and region has its own customs, so follow your elders or priest where they differ.

Across India

How Each Region Celebrates

The same festival has many faces. Find your region, and what to do at home.

South India

Naraka Chaturdashi

The morning of the main day

  1. Before sunrise an elder puts warm sesame oil on everyone's head.
  2. Take an oil bath with shikakai or besan, then wear new clothes.
  3. Light a lamp, burst one small cracker or sparkler where allowed, and eat a sweet before breakfast.
North and West India

Lakshmi Puja

The new-moon evening

  1. Clean the house and draw a rangoli with small footprints coming in.
  2. Worship Ganesha and Lakshmi with a kalasha, coins and the account books.
  3. Light diyas in every room and at the door.
East India (Bengal)

Kali Puja

The new-moon night

  1. Families and neighbourhoods worship Kali late at night with red hibiscus flowers.
  2. Light 14 small lamps the evening before (Bhoot Chaturdashi) to guide the ancestors.
  3. Offer sweets and khichdi as prasada.
South India (Karnataka)

Bali Padyami

The day after the new moon

  1. Make a small figure of King Bali from cow dung or clay, or draw him in rangoli at the door.
  2. Decorate it with flowers and light lamps around it, welcoming Bali back for one day.
  3. Worship the cattle and cook holige or a festive meal for the family.
North India

Govardhan Puja and Annakut

The day after the new moon

  1. Shape a small hill from cow dung, clay or food to stand for Govardhan.
  2. Prepare many dishes (annakut, the mountain of food) and offer them to Krishna.
  3. Walk around the hill seven times and share the food.
North, West and South India

Bhai Dooj, Bhau Beej, Bhagini Hasta

Two days after the new moon

  1. Sisters put tilak on their brothers' foreheads and do arati.
  2. Brothers give a gift, and the family eats together at the sister's home.

Cook together

Besan Laddu

More recipes →
All India · Diwali

Besan Laddu

Gram flour sweets

  • 35 min
  • Serves 12 laddus
Ingredients and method

Ingredients

  • 1 cup besan (gram flour)
  • ⅓ cup ghee
  • ½ cup powdered sugar
  • ¼ tsp cardamom powder
  • Chopped almonds or pistachios

Method

  1. Roast the besan in ghee on low heat, stirring all the time, for 15 to 20 minutes until golden and fragrant.
  2. Cool until warm.
  3. Mix in sugar, cardamom and nuts.
  4. Shape into balls while still warm.

The slow roast is the secret. Raw besan tastes bitter, so be patient.

For children

Paint your own clay diyas

You need

  • Plain clay diyas
  • Acrylic paints and brushes
  • Glitter or small mirrors (optional)
  • Cotton wicks and ghee

Steps

  1. Wipe the diyas clean and let them dry.
  2. Paint a base colour and let it dry for 30 minutes.
  3. Add dots, lines or petals in contrasting colours.
  4. Leave the inside unpainted, add a wick and a little ghee, and light with an adult.

Get ready

Shopping List

Tick things off as you go, or print the list for the Indian store.

Shopping list

Looking for something, or want to help? Ask us for a festival, ceremony or recipe from your region, or tell us how you would like to help.

Contact us