नवीनतम
Seven-Day Diwali festival begun with Govatsa Dwadashi
NEW DELHI [Maha Media]: Diwali which is also known as Deepawali is the most famous festival of the year. Diwali is the five days festivity period which begins on Dhanteras and ends on Bhaiya Dooj. However, in Maharashtra Diwali festivities begin one day earlier on Govatsa Dwadashi while in Gujarat Diwali festivities begin two days earlier on Agyaras and culminates on Labh Panchami.
During five days festivity various rituals are followed and with Goddess Lakshmi several other Gods and Goddesses are worshipped. However Goddess Lakshmi is the most significant deity during Diwali Puja. The new moon day, which is known as Amavasya, is the most significant day of five days Diwali festivities and known as Lakshmi Puja, Lakshmi-Ganesh Puja and Diwali Puja.
Diwali Puja is done not only in families but also in offices. Diwali Puja is the significant day for the most traditional Hindu businessmen. On this day, ink bottle, pens and new account books are worshipped. Ink bottle and pen, which are called Davat and Lekhani respectively, are sanctified by worshipping Goddess Maha Kali on them. New account books, which are called Bahi-Khate, are sanctified by worshipping Goddess Saraswati on them.
The most auspicious time to do Diwali Puja is after sunset. The time period after sunset is known as Pradosh. The day of Diwali Puja is decided when Amavasya Tithi prevails during Pradosh. Hence no other Diwali Puja Muhurat is as good as Puja Muhurat during Pradosh even if it is available for one Ghati (approximately 24 minutes).
The festival progresses with several major observances:
Govatsa Dwadashi
Govatsa Dwadashi is celebrated one day before Dhanteras. On Govatsa Dwadashi day cows and calves are worshipped. The wheat products are given to cows and calves after worship. People who observe Govatsa Dwadashi abstain from eating any wheat and milk products during the day. Govatsa Dwadashi is also observed as Nandini Vrat. Nandini is divine cow in Hinduism.
In Maharashtra Govatsa Dwadashi is known as Vasu Baras and it is considered first day of Deepavali.
POOJA TIMING:
Pradoshkala Govatsa Dwadashi Muhurat - 05:49 PM to 08:20 PM
Dhantrayodashi Puja
Dhantrayodashi which is also known as Dhanteras is the first day of five days long Diwali festivities. On the day of Dhantrayodashi, Goddess Lakshmi came out of the ocean during the churning of the Milky Sea. Hence, Goddess Lakshmi, along with Lord Kubera who is the God of wealth, is worshipped on the auspicious day of Trayodashi. However, Lakshmi Puja on Amavasya after two days of Dhantrayodashi is considered more significant.
Lakshmi Puja on Dhanteras or Dhantrayodashi should be done during Pradosh Kaal which starts after sunset and approximately lasts for 2 hours and 24 minutes.
Dhanteras Puja is also known as Dhantrayodashi. The day of Dhanteras is also observed as Dhanwantari Triodasi or Dhanvantri Jayanti, the birth anniversary of the God of Ayurveda. Yamadeep is another ritual on the same Trayodashi Tithi when the lamp for the God of death is lit outside home to ward off any untimely death of any family members.
POOJA TIMING:
Dhanteras Puja Muhurat - 07:16 PM to 08:20 PM
Hanuman Puja
A day before Diwali Puja, Hanuman Puja is performed in some parts of India especially in Gujarat. The day of Hanuman Puja coincides with the day of Kali Chaudas. It is believed that the bad spirits are most powerful during the night of Kali Chaudas. Lord Hanuman, who gives strength to fight evil spirits, is worshipped to seek strength, power and the protection from all sorts of bad spirits.
According to another legend, Diwali is celebrated to mark the return of Lord Rama to Ayodhya after defeating demon Ravana and completing His fourteen years of exile. The devotion and dedication of Hanuman pleased Shri Rama so much that He blessed Hanuman for getting worshipped before Him. Hence people worship God Hanuman a day before Diwali celebrations.
POOJA TIMING:
Hanuman Puja Muhurat - 11:41 PM to 12:31 AM, Oct 20
Kali Chaudas Puja
Kali Chaudas is also known as Bhut Chaturdashi. Kali Chaudas is mainly observed in Western states especially in Gujarat.
Kali Chaudas is observed during Chaturdashi Tithi during Diwali festivity. However Kali Chaudas day should not be mixed with Roop Chaudas and Narak Chaturdashi as it might fall one day before of Narak Chaturdashi. The day of Kali Chaudas is decided when Chaturdashi prevails during midnight which as per Panchang is known as Maha Nishita time.
As rituals of Kali Chaudas involve visiting crematorium during midnight for offering Puja to the Goddess of darkness and to Veer Vetal, the day of Kali Chaudas is decided when Chaturdashi prevails during midnight.
POOJA TIMING:
Kali Chaudas Muhurat - 11:41 PM to 12:31 AM, Oct 20
Narak Chaturdashi
Abhyang Snan on Chaturdashi day, which is popularly known as Narak Chaturdashi, is the most significant one. It is believed that people, who do Abhyang Snan on this day, can avoid going to Narak. Til (i.e. sesame) oil should be used for Ubtan during Abhyang Snan.
Abhyang Snan on Narak Chaturdashi might be one day before or on same day of Lakshmi Puja day on English Calendar. When Chaturdashi Tithi prevails before sunrise and Amavasya Tithi prevails after sunset then Narak Chaturdashi and Lakshmi Puja fall on the same day. Abhyang Snan is always done during moonrise but before sunrise while Chaturdashi Tithi is prevailing.
Abhyang Snan Muhurat - 05:13 AM to 06:25 AM
Chaturdashi Tithi Begins - 01:51 PM on Oct 19, 2025
Chaturdashi Tithi Ends - 03:44 PM on Oct 20, 2025
Lakshmi Puja
On the day of Diwali, people should get up early in the morning and pay tribute to their ancestors and worship family gods. Being Amavasya day, people also perform Shradh for their ancestors. Traditionally, most Puja are performed after keeping a day long fast. Hence, the devotees of Goddess Lakshmi observe a day long fast on the day of Lakshmi Puja. The fast is broken after Lakshmi Puja in the evening.
On Diwali, Lakshmi Puja should be done during Pradosh Kaal which starts after sunset and approximately lasts for 2 hours and 24 minutes. Some sources propose Mahanishita Kaal also to perform Lakshmi Puja. In our opinion Mahanishita Kaal is best suited for Tantrik community and practicing Pandits who know the best about Lakshmi Puja during this special time. For common people we propose Pradosh Kaal Muhurat.
POOJA TIMING:
Lakshmi Puja Muhurat - 07:08 PM to 08:18 PM
Duration - 01 Hour 11 Mins
Pradosh Kaal - 05:46 PM to 08:18 PM
Vrishabha Kaal - 07:08 PM to 09:03 PM
Kali Puja
Kali Puja is a Hindu festival dedicated to the Goddess Kali. Kali Puja is celebrated on new moon day during Diwali festivity. While most people in India worship Goddess Lakshmi on Amavasya Tithi during Diwali, folks in West Bengal, Orissa and Assam worship Goddess Kali on new moon day, the most important day of Diwali.
In most of the years, Diwali Puja and Kali Puja falls on the same day but in some years Kali Puja might fall one day before Diwali Puja. For Kali Puja, the day when Amavasya prevails during midnight is considered while for Lakshmi Puja the day when Amavasya prevails during Pradosh is considered.
In West Bengal, Orissa and Assam, the most important day to worship Goddess Lakshmi falls on the full moon day in lunar month Ashwin. Lakshmi Puja on Purnima Tithi in month of Ashwin is known as Kojagara Puja and more commonly known as Bengal Lakshmi Puja.
Kali Puja is also known as Shyama Puja.
POOJA TIMING:
Kali Puja Nishita Time - 11:41 PM to 12:31 AM, Oct 21
Govardhan Puja
Most of the time Govardhan Puja day falls next day after Diwali Puja and it is celebrated as the day when Lord Krishna defeated God Indra. Sometimes there might be one day gap between Diwali and Govardhan Puja.
In religious texts, Govardhan Puja celebrations are suggested during Pratipada Tithi of Kartik month. Depending on starting time of Pratipada, Govardhan Puja day might fall one day before on Amavasya day on Hindu calendar.
Gowardhan Puja is also known as Annakut Puja. On this day food made of cereals like wheat, rice, curry made of gram flour and leafy vegetables is cooked and offered to Lord Krishna.
In Maharashtra the same day is celebrated as Bali Pratipada or Bali Padva. The day commemorates victory of Vamana, an incarnation of Lord Vishnu, over King Bali and subsequent pushing of Bali to Patal Lok (the underworld). It is believed that due to boon given by Lord Vamana, Asura King Bali visits the Prithvi Lok from the Patala Lok on this day.
Most of the time Govardhan Puja day coincides with Gujarati New Year day, which is celebrated on Shukla Paksha Pratipada of Kartik month. Depending on starting time of Pratipada Tithi, Govardhan Puja celebrations could be done one day before Gujarati New Year day.
POOJA TIMING:
Govardhan Puja Pratahkala Muhurat - 06:26 AM to 08:42 AM
Bhai Dooj
As per the Hindu calendar, the festival of Bhai Dooj is celebrated on the second day of the bright fortnight of the month of Kartik. On the auspicious occasion of Bhai Dooj, sisters apply a 'tika' (ceremonial mark) on their brothers' foreheads and pray for their long and happy life. Brothers, in turn, give gifts to their sisters. Bhai Dooj is also known by the names Bhaubeej, Bhai Tika, Bhatru Dwitiya, Bhai Dwitiya, and Bhartru Dwitiya.
On the day of Bhai Dooj, sisters apply 'tilak' to their brothers, wishing them a long, prosperous, and blissful life. On this day, sisters take a bath in the morning, make a vow (sankalp) for the ritual, invite their brother, and prepare a decorated plate (thali). They apply the 'tilak' to their brother, tie a sacred thread (kalava), and perform the aarti. Afterwards, the sister offers sweets and food to her brother. The brother, according to his capacity, gives gifts to his sister, such as clothes and money.
One of the reasons Bhai Dooj is called Yam Dwitiya is that this day holds special significance for bathing in the Yamuna River, commemorating the meeting of Yamraj and Yamuna. According to mythological beliefs, bathing in the Yamuna on this day washes away all sins and increases one's longevity and wealth. It is also believed that taking a holy dip on this day ensures that the messengers of Yamraj (Yamdoot) do not come to take the soul at the end of life.
POOJA TIMING:
Bhai Dooj Aparahna Time - 01:13 PM to 03:28 PM
Yama Dwitiya Aparahna Muhurat - 01:13 PM to 03:28 PM
Chitragupta Puja
Chitragupta Puja is celebrated on the second day of the waxing moon phase in the Hindu lunar calendar month of Kartik, known as Kartik Shukla Dwitiya. The festival is primarily observed by the Kayastha community of Hinduism; they worship Lord Chitragupta on this day. According to Hindu beliefs, Lord Chitragupta keeps a record of the deeds of all living beings using a pen and inkpot. As a result, during Chitragupta Puja, pens, inkpots, and account ledgers are also worshipped. The inkpot is traditionally referred to as Masyadhara which is why Chitragupta Puja is often called Masyadhara Puja.
Lord Chitragupta is also revered as Chitragupta Maharaj. In Hinduism, Lord Chitragupta holds a significant place, as He is worshipped as the assistant to Lord Yama or Yamaraj, the god of death. According to scriptures (Granthas), Chitragupta Maharaj meticulously records the deeds, both known and unknown, of all living beings in the world. Some intellectuals believe that He is called Chitragupta because He records not only the visible deeds (Chitra) but also the hidden ones (Gupta).
POOJA TIMING:
Chitragupta Puja Aparahna Muhurat - 01:13 PM to 03:28 PM
