Diwali 2026: how to place your diyas and do Lakshmi puja at home

Every year someone in the family asks the same thing on Diwali evening, usually with a matchbox in hand. How many diyas? Where do they go? Which oil? And why does nobody remember how Dadi used to do it?

This guide is for that moment. Keep it open on your phone and follow along.

The short answer: clean the house, light 11 diyas in the right places, keep Lakshmi ji and Ganesh ji on a clean chowki, and do the puja in the evening muhurat. You do not need a pandit or long mantras.

When is Diwali in 2026?

Lakshmi puja is on Sunday, 8 November 2026. Amavasya starts at 11:27 AM on 8 November and ends at 12:31 PM on 9 November.

Do the puja in the evening. Here is the muhurat for the big cities. If your city is not here, use the nearest one.

First, clean the house

We clean because we are expecting a guest, and this guest is Lakshmi ji. You would not welcome your samdhi into a messy drawing room either.

• Throw out broken things: cracked utensils, stopped clocks, old newspapers and torn clothes.
• Clean the main door first. This is where she enters.
• Clean the kitchen and the puja place well.
• Wipe the windows, mop the floors and clear the balcony.
• Keep the dustbin away from the main door.
• Make a small rangoli and hang a toran at the door.

How many diyas, and where?

There is no fixed number. 11 is right for most homes. If you have more space, light 21. Here is a simple way to place 11:

Live in a small flat with no tulsi? No problem. Keep that diya on the balcony or at a window. A few diyas lit with care are better than 51 lit in a rush.

Which oil should you use?

• Ghee for the main diya at the puja place.
• Mustard oil or til oil for all the other diyas.

Here is a tip from our grandmothers. Soak new clay diyas in water for an hour and let them dry. They will drink less oil and burn longer.

Keep every diya on a steady surface, away from curtains, paper torans, small children and pets.

Where to keep Lakshmi ji and Ganesh ji

Choose the north-east corner of the house if you can. If not, the east or north side is fine. Keep a clean wooden chowki and cover it with a red cloth.

As you stand facing them, keep Lakshmi ji on your left and Ganesh ji on your right. Pick idols in a seated pose, not standing.

Keep these ready

• A kalash with water, mango leaves and a coconut
• Roli, haldi and rice
• Flowers, marigold or lotus
• Coins, and whatever you bought on Dhanteras
• Kheel, batasha, mithai and fruit
• A ghee diya, agarbatti and a matchbox

Lakshmi puja, step by step

1. 1Take a bath and wear clean clothes. Let the whole family sit together.
2. 2Sprinkle a little water on the chowki and on yourselves.
3. 3Light the main ghee diya.
4. 4Pray to Ganesh ji first. Say Om Gan Ganpataye Namah 11 times.
5. 5Offer roli, rice and flowers to Ganesh ji, then to Lakshmi ji.
6. 6Keep your coins, jewellery and account books in front of them.
7. 7Offer kheel, batasha, mithai and fruit.
8. 8Say Om Shreem Mahalakshmyai Namah 11 or 108 times.
9. 9Do the aarti, Om Jai Lakshmi Mata.
10. 10Light the other diyas from the main diya and place them around the house.
11. 11Share the prasad and touch the feet of your elders.

Do not know the mantras? That is fine. Sit with a clean heart and pray in your own words, in your own language. Lakshmi ji understands them all.

Three things people get wrong

• Electric lights are enough. Keep your fairy lights, but light at least a few real diyas with oil.
• You must light 51 or 101 diyas. No. Light what you can look after safely.
• You need silver idols. No. A simple, clean idol is enough.

Planning something new after Diwali, like a griha pravesh, a new shop or a wedding? Find a good date first.

See shubh muhurat

Shubh Deepawali to you and your family.