Diwali is five days of lamps, from Dhanteras to Bhai Dooj. Each day is tied to a lunar day (tithi) at a particular time of day, which is why the dates move every year. Here are this year’s, computed for New Delhi.
The days of Diwali 2031
Dhanteras · Dhanvantari Jayanti
The first lamp of Diwali: the day of Dhanvantari, healer of the gods, and of a small purchase of metal for the home. In the evening a lamp facing south is lit for Yama.
Kuber mantra with meaning · Kuber Yantra meaning
- Tithi: Krishna Trayodashi
- 06:10 – 05:36 (Thu 13 Nov)
- Sunset
- 17:29
- Pradosh kaal
- 17:29 – 20:07
- Vrishabha (Taurus) rising, a fixed sign
- 17:41 – 19:35
Naraka Chaturdashi · Choti Diwali
An oil bath before sunrise, for Krishna’s victory over Narakasura, and the first rows of lamps in the evening.
- Tithi: Krishna Chaturdashi
- 05:36 – 04:24 (Fri 14 Nov)
- Abhyanga snan (arunodaya, before sunrise)
- 05:05 – 06:41
Diwali · Lakshmi Puja
The new-Moon night of Kartika: Lakshmi and Ganesha are worshipped after sunset, in pradosh, and the house is lit end to end. Many families wait for a fixed (sthira) sign to rise, so that what is begun stays.
Lakshmi Puja vidhi, step by step · Shri Yantra meaning
- Tithi: Amavasya
- 04:24 – 02:39 (Sat 15 Nov)
- Sunset
- 17:28
- Pradosh kaal
- 17:28 – 20:07
- Vrishabha (Taurus) rising, a fixed sign
- 17:33 – 19:28
- Lakshmi Puja muhurta (pradosh with Vrishabha)
- 17:33 – 19:28
- Simha (Leo) rising, the midnight fixed sign
- 00:04 (Sat 15 Nov) – 02:20 (Sat 15 Nov)
Govardhan Puja · Annakut
Krishna lifted Govardhan hill to shelter the people of Vraj from the storm; homes and temples offer a mountain of food (annakut).
- Tithi: Shukla Pratipada
- 02:39 – 00:29 (Sun 16 Nov)
- Sunrise
- 06:43
Bhai Dooj
Sisters mark a tilak on their brothers’ foreheads, usually in the afternoon (aparahna), and pray for their long life; brothers promise their care in return.
- Tithi: Shukla Dwitiya
- 00:29 – 22:00
- Aparahna (afternoon)
- 13:10 – 15:18
Times shown for New Delhi (UTC+5:30), computed with the Sunyra engine (sidereal Lahiri). Sunrise, sunset and the rising signs shift with your city, by up to an hour or more: check the panchang for your own place. Panchang for your city →
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