Diwali 2024

Fri, 1 November 2024 · Varanasi time (IST)

1. Day 1·Tue, 29 October

   Dhanteras

   The festival of wealth. Lord Dhanvantari, the physician of the gods, emerged from the ocean with Ayurveda on this day. People buy gold, silver, and utensils.

   Rituals: Buy gold/silver, light diyas, worship Lord Dhanvantari and Goddess Lakshmi

   Sunrise

   6:04 am

   Sunset

   5:19 pm

   That day's panchang: Tue, 29 October
2. 30 October · the festival continues

3. Day 2·Thu, 31 October

   Naraka Chaturdashi (Chhoti Diwali)

   Lord Krishna defeated the demon Narakasura on this day. People wake before dawn for an oil bath (abhyanga snan) and light diyas.

   Rituals: Pre-dawn oil bath, light 14 diyas, burst firecrackers

   Sunrise

   6:05 am

   Sunset

   5:17 pm

   That day's panchang: Thu, 31 October

4. Day 3·Fri, 1 NovemberMain muhurat · 5:17 – 6:17 pm

   Diwali (Lakshmi Puja)

   The main day of Diwali — the festival of lights. Lord Rama returned to Ayodhya after 14 years of exile. Goddess Lakshmi is worshipped for prosperity.

   Rituals: Lakshmi-Ganesh puja during pradosh kaal, light diyas and candles, rangoli, new clothes, sweets

   Sunrise

   6:05 am

   Sunset

   5:17 pm

   That day's panchang: Fri, 1 November

5. Day 4·Sat, 2 November

   Govardhan Puja

   Lord Krishna lifted Govardhan Hill to protect villagers from Indra's fury. Also called Annakut — a mountain of food is offered to the deity.

   Rituals: Build Govardhan hill from cow dung, prepare 56 types of food (chhappan bhog), worship cows

   Sunrise

   6:06 am

   Sunset

   5:16 pm

   Govardhan Puja muhurat

   1:05 – 2:28 pm

   That day's panchang: Sat, 2 November

6. Day 5·Sun, 3 November

   Bhai Dooj

   Celebrates the bond between brothers and sisters. Yama (god of death) visited his sister Yamuna on this day, who applied tilak on his forehead.

   Rituals: Sister applies tilak on brother's forehead, aarti, exchange gifts and sweets

   Sunrise

   6:07 am

   Sunset

   5:15 pm

   That day's panchang: Sun, 3 November

Tithi

Amavasya, then Pratipada

Nakshatra

Swati

Yoga

Priti

Karana

Naga

Paksha

Krishna

Masa

Kartika

Tithi

AmavasyaFrom 31 October, 3:53 pmUntil 1 November, 6:17 pmThen Pratipada · until 2 November, 8:22 pm

Nakshatra

SwatiFrom 1 November, 12:44 amUntil 2 November, 3:31 am

It celebrates the victory of light over darkness, knowledge over ignorance, and good over evil.

Rituals

Light diyas and candles for 5 days. Main Lakshmi Puja on Day 3 during pradosh kaal. Create rangoli, wear new clothes, distribute sweets, and burst firecrackers (eco-friendly).

Fasting

Fasting is observed on Dhanteras and the main Diwali day until after Lakshmi Puja in the evening.

Varanasi transforms into a city of lights during Diwali. Every ghat is illuminated with thousands of diyas. Dev Deepawali, celebrated on Kartik Purnima — the full moon after Diwali — sees over a million diyas lit on the ghats — a uniquely Varanasi tradition. The view from a boat on the Ganga is unforgettable.