Lakshmi Puja is the heart of Diwali. Performed on Sunday, November 8, 2026 in the Pradosh Kaal muhurat (6:00 PM to 8:30 PM local time), it invokes Goddess Lakshmi + Lord Ganesha for wealth, prosperity, and wisdom in the coming year. This is the complete guide for NRIs abroad.
Preparation (Before the Puja)
- Deep clean the entire home 1-2 days before Diwali
- Prepare rangoli at the main entrance
- Wash puja items — brass diyas, thali, glasses, silver Lakshmi coin
- Take a bath, wear traditional clean clothes (red or yellow preferred)
- Arrange Lakshmi + Ganesha idols on the puja chowki
- Keep water kalash, red cloth, akshat (rice), turmeric, kumkum ready
Diwali 2026 Muhurat Times
- Amavasya (new moon) starts: Nov 8 evening
- Amavasya ends: Nov 9 morning
- Pradosh Kaal (best window): 6:00 PM to 8:30 PM local time
- Nishita Kaal (midnight puja): 11:30 PM to 12:15 AM (for Tantric traditions)
Choose based on your family time — Pradosh Kaal is universally recommended.
16-Step Shodashopachara Puja Vidhi
- Dhyanam — Meditation, invoke Lakshmi + Ganesha
- Sankalpa — State your intention for the puja
- Avahanam — Welcome the deities
- Asanam — Offer seat (chowki)
- Padyam / Arghyam / Achamaniyam — Offer water for feet, arghya, sipping
- Snanam — Symbolic bath (panchamrit — milk + curd + honey + ghee + sugar mix), then rinse with water + rose water
- Vastram — Offer clothes (red cloth to Lakshmi, yellow to Ganesha)
- Chandanam — Sandalwood paste
- Kumkum + Akshat — Vermillion + rice
- Pushpam — Fresh flowers (red lotus especially favoured by Lakshmi)
- Dhoopam — Incense
- Deepam — Light the diya (main diya)
- Naivedyam — Offer prasad (sweets, fruits, coconut, halwa)
- Tambulam — Betel leaves + areca nuts
- Sri Suktam recital + Ashtottara + Aarti
- Pradakshina + Namaskaram + Kshama Prarthana — closing
Key Mantras
Lakshmi Beej Mantra
Om Hreem Shreem Lakshmi Bhyo Namah
Chant 108 times during the puja.
Lakshmi Gayatri
Om Mahalakshmyai Vidmahe Mahavaishnavyai Dheemahi Tanno Lakshmi Prachodayat
Sri Suktam
Ancient Vedic hymn from Rig Veda in praise of Sri Lakshmi. Full 15 verses; family can recite together or play audio version.
Lakshmi Ashtottara Shatanamavali (108 Names)
Chanted during archana. Key names:
- Om Shreem Shreeyai Namah
- Om Kamalayai Namah
- Om Padmalayayai Namah
- Om Padmastithayai Namah
Ganesha Puja Comes First
Tradition dictates worshipping Lord Ganesha BEFORE Lakshmi at any puja. Brief Ganesha invocation:
- Chant Om Gam Ganapataye Namah
- Offer red hibiscus or durva grass
- Then transition to full Lakshmi puja
Prasad Offerings
Common Lakshmi Puja prasad:
- Kheer + Puri (rice pudding + fried bread)
- Halwa (sooji or besan)
- Batasha (traditional Diwali sugar candy)
- Modak / Ladu / Barfi
- Fresh fruits (banana, pomegranate, coconut)
- Chana / dry fruits
- Coconut — auspicious offering, broken during aarti
The Kalash + Silver Coin Ritual
Place a copper/silver kalash filled with water on the puja chowki. Add:
- Mango leaves at the mouth
- Coconut on top
- Turmeric-akshat mark on the kalash
- Silver Lakshmi coin inside
Symbolizes the Goddess's presence + auspiciousness.
Aarti
Sing "Om Jai Jagdish Hare" + "Om Jai Lakshmi Mata" during aarti. Rotate the lit diya clockwise 3 times before the deities.
Adaptations for NRI Households
- Idols available on Amazon USA/UK/Canada/Australia or Indian sweet shops
- Skip elements you don't have — devotion matters more than exact ritual
- Play Sri Suktam audio recording if no one can chant Sanskrit
- Involve kids in offering flowers + doing rangoli
- Video-call grandparents in India during puja
Closing Ritual
- Distribute prasad to family + neighbours + friends
- Light diyas at every entrance + window of the home
- Leave the puja area lit through the night (electric bulb OK)
- Kids can enjoy safe sparklers (in permitted areas)
Related Diwali 2026 Coverage
- Complete Diwali 2026 5-Day NRI Guide (Nov 8)
- Diwali 2026 in New Jersey — Biggest NRI Events
- Diwali 2026 in London — Trafalgar Square + UK
- Diwali 2026 in Toronto — Biggest Canadian Diwali
- Diwali 2026 in Sydney + Melbourne Australia
- 25+ Diwali Sweets Mithai Recipes for NRI Families
- Eco-Friendly Diwali Abroad — Fireworks Laws by Country
Shubh Deepavali! Happy Diwali 2026!
May Goddess Lakshmi bless every NRI home with wealth, wisdom, and infinite light this Diwali.