Diwali (Lakshmi Puja) 2012
The festival of lights — Lakshmi Puja while Amavasya prevails during pradosh.
Muhurat & timings
Kashi/IST · astronomically computed- Sankalp (sunrise)06:14
- Pradosh puja muhurat17:11 – 19:35
- Fasting window (tithi)07:17 → 2012-11-14 · 03:43
- Parana (tithi ends)03:432012-11-14
Festival days follow the classical attribution rules — udaya (sunrise), pradosha (evening), nishita (midnight), madhyahna or aparahna vyapini as each festival prescribes — computed for Kashi/Varanasi (IST). Regional observance can differ by a day in some years.
Read the Diwali (Lakshmi Puja) puja vidhi, vrat rules and kathaDiwali (Lakshmi Puja) — Frequently Asked Questions
What is the correct time for Lakshmi Puja on Diwali?
Lakshmi Puja is performed in pradosh kaal, the window beginning at sunset, and preferably during a sthir (fixed) lagna such as Vrishabha. Exact timings shift by city, since they depend on local sunset.
Why is Diwali celebrated on a new moon night?
Kartika Amavasya is the darkest night of the lunar year. Lighting lamps on it is the point: the festival is about producing light where none is given, rather than celebrating light that already exists.
Should Ganesha be placed to the left or right of Lakshmi?
Ganesha is placed to Lakshmi's right as you face the idols. He is invoked first, as every Hindu rite begins with him.
Other major festivals in 2012
- Makar Sankranti — 15 January 2012
- Vasant Panchami — 28 January 2012
- Maha Shivaratri — 20 February 2012
- Holika Dahan — 7 March 2012
- Holi — 9 March 2012
- Chaitra Navratri begins — 23 March 2012
- Ram Navami — 1 April 2012
- Akshaya Tritiya — 24 April 2012
- Jagannath Rath Yatra — 21 June 2012
- Guru Purnima — 3 July 2012
- Nag Panchami — 24 July 2012
- Raksha Bandhan — 2 August 2012
- Krishna Janmashtami — 8 September 2012
- Hartalika Teej — 18 September 2012
- Ganesh Chaturthi — 19 September 2012
- Anant Chaturdashi — 29 September 2012
- Pitru Paksha begins — 1 October 2012
- Sharad Navratri begins — 16 October 2012
- Durga Ashtami — 22 October 2012
- Maha Navami — 23 October 2012
- Dussehra / Vijayadashami — 24 October 2012
- Karwa Chauth — 2 November 2012
- Dhanteras — 11 November 2012
- Naraka Chaturdashi (Choti Diwali) — 13 November 2012
- Govardhan Puja — 14 November 2012
- Bhai Dooj — 15 November 2012
- Chhath Puja — 19 November 2012
- Kartik Purnima (Dev Deepawali) — 28 November 2012
- Guru Nanak Jayanti — 28 November 2012
- Hindu Festivals 2012 →