Diwali 2025 Hindu Calendar: Diwali, celebrated by millions worldwide, is a vibrant five-day Hindu festival filled with rituals, traditions, and devotion. In 2025, the main festivities will span from Saturday, October 18, to Thursday, October 23, with each day carrying unique customs and spiritual significance. The celebration begins with Dhanteras (October 18), a day dedicated to prosperity and the purchasing of new gold or silver items to welcome wealth. This is followed by Choti Diwali (October 19), or Naraka Chaturdashi, where rituals focus on dispelling evil and darkness. The central day is Diwali or Lakshmi Puja (October 20), a time for worshipping Goddess Lakshmi and Lord Ganesha to seek blessings for wealth and wisdom, marked by lighting countless diyas. The fourth day, Govardhan Puja (October 22), honors Lord Krishna and features the Annakut (mountain of food) offering. Finally, the festival concludes with Bhai Dooj (October 23), a celebration of the sacred bond between brothers and sisters. These five days unite families and communities in celebrating the timeless victory of light over darkness and good over evil.
Diwali 2024 Hindu Calendar
| Festival | Date (2025) | Day | Main Puja Timings (Muhurat) – India (approximate) |
| Dhanteras (Day 1) | October 18 | Saturday | Lakshmi Puja Muhurat: 07:16 PM to 08:20 PM |
| Choti Diwali / Narak Chaturdashi (Day 2) | October 19 (Main day for some, rituals start on the 19th) | Sunday | Abhyang Snan Muhurat: 05:13 AM to 06:25 AM (on Oct 20) |
| Diwali / Lakshmi Puja (Main Day) | October 20 | Monday | Lakshmi Puja Muhurat: 07:08 PM to 08:18 PM |
| Govardhan Puja / Annakut (Day 4) | October 22 | Wednesday | Pratahkala Muhurat: 06:26 AM to 08:42 AM |
| Bhai Dooj / Yama Dwitiya (Day 5) | October 23 | Thursday | Aparahna Muhurat (Tilak): 01:13 PM to 03:28 PM |
Also Read | Diwali 2025 Date: When is Deepawali, October 31 or November 1?
1. Dhanteras 2025: The Day of Wealth and Prosperity
Date: Saturday, October 18, 2025
The first day of Diwali 2025 is Dhanteras, celebrated to invite wealth and good fortune into homes. But why is Dhanteras celebrated before Diwali? This day, marking the thirteenth lunar day (Trayodashi Tithi) of the Krishna Paksha in the Kartik month, is dedicated to buying precious metals like gold and silver, believed to bring prosperity. The purchases are symbolic, meant to increase Dhana (wealth) in the family. People also worship Lord Dhanvantari, the physician of the gods, honoring health and healing, and Goddess Lakshmi. The celebration precedes the main Diwali night as it serves to cleanse, prepare, and illuminate the home to formally welcome the Goddess of Wealth, thereby setting the stage for the grand festival of light and prosperity.
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2. Naraka Chaturdashi 2025: Triumph of Good Over Evil
Date: Monday, October 20, 2025 (The day begins with Chaturdashi Tithi and leads into Diwali/Amavasya on the same evening)
The second day, Naraka Chaturdashi 2025, also known as Choti Diwali or Kali Chaudas, commemorates the triumph of Lord Krishna over the demon Narakasura. This victory of good over evil is celebrated with specific rituals. On this day, many perform the Abhyanga Snan (ritualistic oil bath) early in the morning, which is a symbolic cleansing to ward off negativity and sin. People also light lamps early and engage in cleaning rituals, discarding old and unused items, which emphasizes letting go of negativity and starting afresh before the main Lakshmi Puja in the evening. In some regions, especially in South India, this day is celebrated as the main Deepavali.
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Also Read | Diwali 2025 Festival Dates: When to Celebrate Dhanteras, Choti Diwali, Bhai Dooj, and Govardhan Puja
3. Lakshmi Puja 2025: The Festival’s Main Day
Date: Monday, October 20, 2025
Lakshmi Puja 2025 falls on the third and most significant day of Diwali 2025. This day coincides with the new moon (Amavasya Tithi) and is when the main festival of lights is celebrated. As the main day, people ask, when is Lakshmi Puja during Diwali 2025? It is on this evening that families gather to worship Goddess Lakshmi and Lord Ganesha, seeking blessings for wealth, prosperity, and wisdom. Beautiful rangolis, decorative lights, and special offerings symbolize the household’s invitation to the Goddess. The puja is ideally performed during the Shubh Muhurat (07:08 PM to 08:18 PM). Celebrations include family gatherings, sharing sweets, and lighting fireworks, embodying the spirit of unity and the triumph of light over darkness.
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4. Govardhan Puja 2025: Honoring Nature and Divine Protection
Date: Wednesday, October 22, 2025
On the fourth day of the Diwali festival, Govardhan Puja 2025 is celebrated to honor Lord Krishna for his act of divine protection and to express gratitude towards nature. This day is also widely known as Annakut, meaning a “mountain of food,” where devotees prepare a huge variety of vegetarian dishes as an offering to God. Govardhan Puja’s significance lies in Lord Krishna’s legendary lifting of the Govardhan Hill on his little finger to shield the villagers of Vrindavan from the torrential rains sent by Lord Indra. This celebration emphasizes the importance of protecting and honoring nature’s gifts, especially in rural areas where communities perform rituals honoring cows and the Govardhan Hill (often represented by a small hillock of cow dung or mud). The ritual takes place on the day following the main Diwali/Lakshmi Puja.
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5. Bhai Dooj 2025: The Bond of Siblings
Date: Thursday, October 23, 2025
The final day, or the grand conclusion, of the five-day Diwali festival in 2025 is Bhai Dooj, also known as Bhau Beej or Yama Dwitiya. This day is specifically dedicated to celebrating the sacred bond between brothers and sisters, much like Raksha Bandhan. As the question of how to celebrate Bhai Dooj after Diwali arises, sisters perform special rituals—including applying a tilak or tika on their brothers’ foreheads—and offer prayers for their brothers’ long life, happiness, and well-being. In return, brothers present gifts to their sisters, reaffirming their lifelong promise of protection and support. This cherished tradition strongly reaffirms family ties, love, and unity, bringing the entire cycle of the Diwali festivities to a joyful and emotional close.
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Also Read | Diwali 2024: Date, History, Significance, Celebrations, and Key Facts
You Learn: Diwali 2025 – A Five-Day Festival of Light, Love, and Prosperity
Diwali 2025 is not just a festival; it’s an embodiment of spiritual values, togetherness, and new beginnings. The significance of each day of Diwali in the Hindu calendar 2025 brings a unique charm, starting with Dhanteras (October 18) rituals for wealth and prosperity, moving to the core celebration of Lakshmi Puja (October 20), and culminating in Bhai Dooj (October 23)‘s celebration of sibling bonds. This year’s Diwali 2025 dates and rituals for each of the five days reflect centuries-old traditions that continue to light up hearts and homes across the world, uniting families and communities in a shared celebration of hope, joy, and renewal.
FAQs about Diwali 2025 Hindu Calendar
1. What are the five days of Diwali 2025?
The five days of Diwali 2025 are Dhanteras (October 18), Naraka Chaturdashi (October 20, also known as Choti Diwali), Lakshmi Puja (October 20, the main Diwali day), Govardhan Puja (October 22), and Bhai Dooj (October 23), each with unique traditions and significance.
2. Why is Dhanteras celebrated before Diwali?
Dhanteras, observed on the first day (Saturday, October 18, 2025), is dedicated to wealth and prosperity. People clean their homes and buy gold or silver to ceremonially invite good fortune and Goddess Lakshmi before the main Diwali festivities begin.
3. What is the significance of Naraka Chaturdashi?
Naraka Chaturdashi, or Choti Diwali (October 20, 2025), marks the triumph of good over evil. It celebrates Lord Krishna’s victory over the demon Narakasura, symbolizing spiritual cleansing and renewal. People perform the ritualistic oil bath (Abhyanga Snan) on this day.
4. When is Lakshmi Puja during Diwali 2025?
Lakshmi Puja, the main Diwali day, falls on Monday, October 20, 2025. It is dedicated to worshiping Goddess Lakshmi and Lord Ganesha for wealth, prosperity, and blessings during the Pradosh Kaal (evening auspicious time).
5. How is Bhai Dooj celebrated?
On Bhai Dooj (Thursday, October 23, 2025), sisters apply a tilak or tika on their brothers’ foreheads, praying for their well-being, long life, and prosperity. In return, brothers promise support and protection, strengthening their sibling bond. It is celebrated on the final day of Diwali.
