Diwali Celebration November 6 - 10, 2026

ramdasbill

Oct 12

6 min read

Preface: The history so far… By Keiko Ito

At Mahalaya Amavasya, the honouring of the ancestors (Pitris Paksha) ends the night before Navaratri begins. The ancestors are fed and released. Old debts are settled before new power is invoked. Then, during the waxing Moon fortnight, mainly when the Sun is in Kanya/Virgo, linked to purification, discrimination and service, we celebrate Sharad (autumn) Navaratri, when the Goddess’ power builds night after night and undergoes a three-stage purification (Durga, Lakshmi, and Saraswati). As the Moon waxes, the mind (Moon) is filled with Shakti. On Vijayadashami, Goddess Durga defeats Mahishasura, completing the purification.

After Sharad Purnima, the Moon wanes again, bringing more surrender. After fullness comes the letting go of the ego that achieved it. The mind returns towards its source. Diwali Amavasya is the light born in total darkness. On this night, the Moon has no light of its own. People light diyas, or oil lamps, the light of the atman. It is also Lakshmi’s night, and in Bengal, people celebrate Kali Puja. The Goddess, who began as fierce Durga, appears again as the dark, fierce Kali and the radiant Lakshmi. Darkness and fortune are shown as two faces of the same Mother.

The teaching is that true prosperity does not appear at the Full Moon of outer success. It appears when the mind has emptied itself, and the inner light shines without borrowing reflection from an outer source.

Diwali: The Light on the Darkest Night

Diwali (sometimes called Deepavali) celebrates the triumph of light over darkness and good over evil. Popular tradition ties it to Rama’s return to Ayodhya after fourteen years of exile and his victory over Ravana, with rows of lamps guiding him home.

The festival carries other regional threads, but renewal sits at its centre: clearing the old, inviting prosperity, and clarity for the year ahead. At Diwali, the Sun is in Tula/Libra, its sign of debilitation. The outer, solar light is at its weakest of the year, so people light diyas or oil lamps to remember it. The New Moon, or the Sun/Moon conjunction, also falls in Tula/Libra, Lakshmi’s sign, typically around Swati Nakshatra (in 2026, it happens in Vishakha Nakshatra), governed by Vayu, the breath and prana that carries the flame.

Why the Darkest Night?

The main night of Diwali falls on Amavasya, just before the new Moon, when the Moon is at its darkest and reflects no light from the Sun.

There are several reasons why the festival happens on Amavasya.

The lamps are lit precisely when the sky offers none. The ritual act of lighting becomes the source of illumination rather than something layered on top of the existing moonlight.
In the lunar cycle, the new Moon is tied to dissolution, inward turning and quiet, a threshold point. Lakshmi Puja happens in this stillness because prosperity and clarity are invited into a space first emptied out, which is why cleaning the home and wearing fresh clothes precede the Puja.
Light has no meaning or power without darkness to resolve. The diyas (small traditional oil lamps) don’t fight the dark; they transform its condition. This is also why the Puja timing leans into the darkest window. It is said that performing Lakshmi Puja during Pradosh Kaal, just after sunset, is most auspicious. Darkness is the proving ground, not the enemy.
The five-day period follows this logic: wealth and health are invited in first (Dhanteras), negativity is cleared out (Naraka Chaturdashi), the main invocation happens at the heart of the dark (Lakshmi Puja), and then the light is stabilised through relational rituals (Govardhan Puja, Bhai Dooj).

Let us listen to what Swami Sivananda writes in his book “Hindu Fasts and Festivals”:

“Many Deepavali festivals have come and gone. Yet the hearts of the vast majority are as dark as the night of the new moon. The house is lit with lamps, but the heart is full of the darkness of ignorance. O man! Wake up from the slumber of ignorance. Realise the constant and eternal light of the soul which neither rises nor sets, through meditation and deep inquiry.

May you all attain full inner illumination! May the supreme light of lights enlighten your understanding! May you all attain the inexhaustible spiritual wealth of the Self! May you all prosper gloriously on the material as well as spiritual planes!”

Diwali 2026 Dates

Friday 6 November - Dhanteras

Saturday 7 November - Naraka Chaturdashi

Sunday 8 November - Lakshmi Puja

Monday 9 November - Govardhan Puja

Tuesday 10 November - Bhai Dooj

How To Join:

If you are currently participating in the Japa Group, you do not need to re-register for this program.
To join the English Cohort: Email Ramdasbill@outlook.com and he will send you the links to join the WhatsApp groups.
To join the Spanish Cohort: Email Esther Rodriguez Bown at admin@egofriendlyliving.com and she will send you the links to join the group.
To join the Chinese Cohort: Contact Sivani at Wechat: Light108Sivani and she will send you the links to join the group.
The Japanese Cohort is moderated by Keiko Shanti via a private Facebook group.

WhatsApp Groups

The English Cohort has 2 WhatsApp groups. The first is the Silent group where the Moderators post the daily reflection and the Second is the Interactive group which, in addition to seeing the daily posts, also allows participants to chat with each other about the practice and share support with each other. You can join one or both of these groups.

Donation (optional and highly recommended):

We have established a GoFundMe site to thank Panditji as he supports us through this Mantra Japa Practice. You can donate at https://gofund.me/cf43e2e6f . All proceeds will be sent to Pandit Yogesh and to the Temple in Chandigarh.

Please note that you can adjust the GoFundMe Tip amount at the top of the last screen by moving the green slider to the left or right. This Tip goes to support the GoFundMe platform which is free for fundraisers like our group to use. The tip money does not go to the fundraiser (our group).

Some Suggestions for Planning Your Practice

Mantra

A mantra will be given every day when available, but instead of switching mantras, I would suggest chanting this Lakshmi Mantra for the five festival days. It is recommended to start with a Ganesha mantra to clear the obstacles, such as Om Gam Ganapataye Namah.

Om Shreem Maha Lakshmiyei Namaha

Meaning: My salutations to the great Goddess Lakshmi

You can chant it 3, 12, or 108 times. If we want to do more, we can start with one mala (108) and increase to more malas, or 1,008 times (about 10 malas), on Lakshmi Puja night.

How to count your mantras: You can use a Rudraksha or other mala if you have one and know how to use it. It takes your mind off counting how many times you have chanted. You may also consider keeping a simple journal to track your daily progress. This way you can ensure that you don’t miss a day.

Define Your Practice:

Prepare your practice space: Find a quiet comfortable area where you will not be disturbed. If you like you can light a diya or white candle and burn incense if you like. Some people choose to ring a bell to harmonize the energy in the area.
Asana: You can choose to sit on a cushion or in a chair, in either case, you should be sure that you are comfortable and there is a slight curve at the base of your spine to allow your chest and shoulders to be open and relaxed. Take your seat and breathe for a moment to settle into the moment.
When you are focused, you may want to start with three Mantras to Ganesha so that he will remove all obstacles for your practice. Om Gam Ganapataye Namah x3.
Then you can complete your Lakshmi Mantras. See Mantra Options below.
As you end your Mantras, take a moment to be still and receive the practice. Then you can close by chanting:
- MANTHRA HEENAM, KRIYAA HEENEM, BAKTHI HEENAM,
- YA MATH POOJITHAM,
- (MAYA DEVI, SURESWARI, or GANAPATHI) PARI POORNAM THADASTHU ME
- Meaning: Oh Devi, Sureswari, or (Ganapathi) kindly rectify and complete properly any errors or deficiency in my pronunciation, or in my devotion or in my performance of the pooja ritual.
Chant OM Shanti, Shanti, Shanti.

Other Mantra Options:

Ashta Lakshmi Mantra:

Om Shreem Hreem Kleem Maha Ashta Lakshmiyei Namaha

Meaning: Salutations to the eight forms of Lakshmi—each governing a different domain of prosperity (wealth, courage, wisdom, progeny, victory, etc.).

Use: For holistic abundance across all areas of life.

Lakshmi Gayatri Mantra:

Om Mahalakshmyai Cha Vidmahe

Vishnu Patnyai Cha Dheemahi

Tanno Lakshmi Prachodayat

Meaning: We meditate on Mahalakshmi, consort of Vishnu. May she illuminate our minds and guide us toward prosperity.

Use: For deeper spiritual connection and clarity in invoking Lakshmi’s presence.

Ramdas Bill Sinclair