Five-Day Festival Calendar from 18-23 October Anchors Diwali 2025

Mumbai, 20 October 2025: As the festival of lights approaches, devotees are keenly preparing for the key moment of worship – the Diwali-2025 Lakshmi Puja. According to the Hindu calendar (Drik Panchang), the Amavasya Tithi begins at 3:44 PM on 20 October and ends at 5:54 PM on 21 October, meaning Diwali should be celebrated on Monday, 20 October 2025.

Within this window, the most auspicious period for Lakshmi Puja is during Pradosh Kaal (sunset to night) and specifically the Vrishabha Kaal lagna (fixed-position zodiac sign). For 2025, the key timing for Lakshmi Puja is 07:08 PM to 08:18 PM for cities such as New Delhi; Mumbai’s equivalent timing is reported as 07:41 PM to 08:41 PM.

This timing is critical because tradition holds that performing the Puja during Pradosh Kaal ensures the blessing of prosperity and stability from the goddess of wealth. Hence households across the country are aligning their worship to this window.

Samvat 2082 Muhurat Trading on 21 October, 1:45 PM-2:45 PM

Market watchers and financial professionals are also focusing on the Muhurat Trading session in conjunction with Diwali and the Hindu New Year, Samvat 2082. The National Stock Exchange of India (NSE) and Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE) will hold a one-hour trading window on Tuesday, 21 October 2025, from 1:45 PM to 2:45 PM (with a pre-open session from 1:30 PM).

This marks the official beginning of Samvat 2082 in financial terms and blends ritual significance with market operations. Notably, the 2025 session has been shifted to the afternoon departing from the evening slot used historically.
Both the holiday schedule markets closed for routine trade on 21 and 22 October—and the Muhurat Trading window highlight how cultural celebration and financial markets continue to intersect in India.

Five-Day Festival Calendar from 18–23 October Anchors Diwali 2025

A fuller calendar view helps families and businesses prepare:

• Saturday, 18 October: Dhanteras – auspicious for buying gold, silver and conducting Puja to Lord Dhanvantari
• Sunday, 19 October: Choti Diwali / Narak Chaturdashi
• Monday, 20 October: Main Diwali day with Lakshmi Puja
• Tuesday, 21 October: Some states mark Dev Puja / Diwali Snan; markets hold Muhurat Trading
• Wednesday, 22 October: Govardhan Puja / Balipratipada – new year in some regions

A clear understanding of the schedule dispels confusion this year around whether the main Diwali day falls on 20 or 21 October. Religious scholars and tradition-wise bodies have confirmed 20 October as the primary Lakshmi Puja day.

For this Diwali season, households and firms should mark their calendars for key timings: the Lakshmi Puja window around 07:08 PM-08:18 PM on 20 October and the Muhurat Trading session on 21 October from 1:45 PM–2:45 PM. Aligning ritual, financial and celebratory preparations with these windows enables a harmonious and timely observance of the festival’s spiritual and cultural dimensions.