Diwali Puja, or the worship rituals performed during the festival, is a sacred and elaborate tradition that holds immense significance in the hearts of millions. The puja not only celebrates the return of Lord Rama from Lanka after defeating demon king Ravana (according to Ramayana), but is also a way to pray for prosperity, good luck and good health all year long. The Diwali Puja begins with thorough cleaning and decorating of the house. A clean and pure environment is essential before beginning the rituals that have huge cultural significance for people in India.

Date and timing of Diwali 2023 puja

Diwali Puja is typically performed on the main day of the festival, which falls on the new moon day of the Hindu lunar month of Kartik. The auspicious timing is determined by the Panchang, an ancient Hindu calendar. This year, the festival will be celebrated on Sunday (Novemebr 12).

According to Drik Panchang, the Lakshmi Puja muhurat for Diwali 2023 will begin at 5:39 pm and continue till 7:35 pm.

How to perform Diwali Puja

The puja begins with an invocation to Lord Ganesha (according to Hindu beliefs, he is invoked before starting any auspicious activity), the remover of obstacles, seeking his blessings for a successful and obstacle-free prayer session.

The central deity of Diwali Puja is Goddess Lakshmi, the goddess of wealth and prosperity. Devotees offer prayers and seek her blessings for financial well-being. The elders of the house recite sacred mantras and hymns while performing the puja. These chants are believed to bring divine blessings and energy into the home.

Devotees offer a variety of items to the deities, including flowers, fruits, sweets, and incense. These offerings are considered a way of showing devotion and gratitude.

The puja concludes with the singing of aartis, devotional songs that expresses reverence and gratitude to the deities.

Celebrations begin

After the Diwali puja, people prepare and light earthen lamps (diyas), which is a significant part of the festival. It symbolises the victory of light over darkness and the dispelling of ignorance.

Diwali Puja is a time for families to come together, strengthening bonds, and celebrating the festival’s spiritual and cultural significance as a unit.

Fashion designer Nandita Mahtani shared pictures on Instagram with Bhutan’s King Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck during his recent visit to Mumbai. Nandita expressed her honor and pleasure in hosting the King, praising his kindness and visionary leadership. Fans complimented the encounter, with one user even suggesting a visit to Bhutan and Bangladesh. The official Instagram account of the King also shared images, highlighting his warm welcome in Mumbai and his meetings with political figures and business leaders.

A 30-year-old woman delivered a baby on a road in Mumbai’s Kurla area on Thursday prompting the police to rush the mother and her newborn to a civic hospital, an official said.

An official from VB Nagar police station said they were informed in the afternoon about a woman giving birth to a baby near Kamani Junction.

The woman, identified as Suvarna Mirgal, became unconscious after the delivery. 

The Nirbhaya Squad of the police station rushed to the spot and shifted her and the infant to the nearby civic hospital, he said, adding that both are doing fine.

Later, senior inspector Rajeen Chavan and other officials visited the woman and her baby at the hospital, he said.