Diwali 2025: Date, Puja Vidhi, Timings & NRI Guide (USA • UK • Canada)
Diwali 2025 falls on Monday, October 20, 2025. It is the Amavasya Tithi of Kartik month—considered highly auspicious for invoking Goddess Lakshmi, Lord Ganesha, and Lord Kubera for prosperity, wisdom, and well-being.
- Amavasya Tithi (IST): Starts 3:44 PM, Oct 20 and ends 5:54 PM, Oct 21
- Main Lakshmi Puja Muhurat (IST): 7:08 PM – 8:18 PM (Pradosh Kaal & Vrishabha Lagna alignment)
Swarn Prasadam: Jaipur’s Gold Sweet for Diwali 2025
This festive season, Jaipur’s Swarn Prasadam—a gold-infused mithai priced around ₹1.11 lakh (~$1,330)—is drawing attention for blending luxury with Ayurveda-inspired tradition. It’s positioned as a unique temple offering or premium gift for those seeking something truly memorable.
Spiritual Meaning in Brief
Diwali celebrates light over darkness and knowledge over ignorance, echoing the homecoming of Lord Rama to Ayodhya. Lighting diyas symbolizes inner clarity; worshipping Lakshmi and Ganesha together balances material abundance (Artha) with righteous wisdom (Dharma)—the foundation of lasting happiness.
Shubh Muhurat Windows (IST)
| Ritual | Date & Time (IST) |
|---|---|
| Main Lakshmi Puja | 7:08 PM – 8:18 PM, Oct 20 |
| Pradosh Kaal | 5:46 PM – 8:18 PM, Oct 20 |
| Vrishabha Lagna | 7:08 PM – 9:03 PM, Oct 20 |
| Nishita Kaal (midnight) | 11:41 PM – 12:31 AM |
Pradosh Kaal is ideal for household pujas. Nishita Kaal is preferred by those performing deeper, meditative or tantric sadhana.
Step-by-Step Lakshmi–Ganesha Puja Vidhi (Home)
1) Shuddhi & Setup
- Clean the home and altar to symbolically remove negativity.
- Sprinkle Gangajal, light incense.
- Spread a red or yellow cloth on the altar.
- Place Lakshmi–Ganesha idols (or images) and a Kalash (water, mango leaves, coconut on top).
2) Sankalp (Intention)
- Hold a few drops of water; close your eyes and set a vow for devoted worship.
- Chant for purity:
“Om Apavitrah Pavitro Va, Sarvavasthangato’pi Va,
Yah Smaret Pundarikaksham, Sa Bahyabhyantarah Shuchih.”
3) Ganesh Puja (Vighna Vinash)
- Offer sandalwood, modak, and flowers.
- Chant:
“Vakratunda Mahakaya, Suryakoti Samaprabha,
Nirvighnam Kuru Me Deva, Sarva-Kaaryeshu Sarvada.”
4) Lakshmi Puja (Aishwarya)
- Offer flowers, kumkum, coins, sweets; chant “Om Shreem Mahalakshmyai Namah.”
- Recite Lakshmi Aarti; visualize auspicious light filling your home.
5) Kubera & Saraswati Smaran
- Offer betel leaves, fruits, dry fruits to Kubera (wise wealth) and Saraswati (discernment), so prosperity stays guided by knowledge.
6) Deepdaan & Naivedya
- Light at least 11 diyas—entrance, tulsi, balconies, and key rooms.
- Offer naivedya (sweets), then perform aarti with the family.
7) Samapti (Conclusion)
- Bow to the deities; seek forgiveness for any lapses.
- Distribute prasad and keep one diya lit overnight at the entrance for enduring prosperity.
NRI Guide: City-Wise Lakshmi Puja Windows & IST Conversion
Use these windows to synchronize home/temple puja locally and virtually with family in India.
| City | Local Puja Time (2025) | Equivalent IST |
|---|---|---|
| New York | 7:17 PM – 8:45 PM | 4:47 AM – 6:15 AM (Oct 21) |
| Toronto | 7:05 PM – 8:25 PM | 4:35 AM – 5:55 AM (Oct 21) |
| London | 6:10 PM – 8:30 PM | 10:40 PM – 1:00 AM (Oct 20) |
| Vancouver | 7:18 PM – 8:32 PM | 7:48 AM – 9:02 AM (Oct 21) |
| Houston | 8:14 PM – 9:19 PM | 6:44 AM – 7:49 AM (Oct 21) |
Community note: Temples such as BAPS Swaminarayan Mandir (Toronto), Sanatan Mandir (New Jersey), and Shree Sanatan Mandir (London) frequently host synchronized or virtual aartis so families can join across time zones.
Do’s & Don’ts for Diwali Night
Do
- Perform the puja in Pradosh Kaal.
- Keep one diya burning overnight at the entrance.
- Maintain a calm, grateful mindset.
Don’t
- Lend or borrow money on Diwali night.
- Use loud firecrackers that disturb the sanctity and the environment.
Why Lakshmi & Ganesha Together?
Lakshmi invites wealth and abundance; Ganesha grants clarity and auspicious beginnings. Worshipping them jointly ensures that prosperity arrives with wisdom, stability, and good intent. Tradition also holds that Lakshmi prefers homes where Ganesha is honored—signifying the union of intellect and fortune.
Global Celebrations & Cultural Bridge
From Times Square and Leicester to Mississauga, public light shows, melas, and temple rituals make Diwali one of the most visible Indian festivals worldwide. For the diaspora, it’s both a spiritual anchor and a cultural bridge, uniting generations through seva, community events, and digital live streams.
Final Blessing
Observing the Diwali 2025 Puja Vidhi with sincerity aligns you with the night’s sacred energy. May the lamps you light bring prosperity, health, and inner clarity—wherever you are in the world. Shubh Deepavali!