Diwali Vastu Tips 2026: Invite Lakshmi Into Every Direction
Diwali is when Vastu matters most — the house is cleaned, rearranged and lit for Goddess Lakshmi. This checklist tells you where to set up the Lakshmi Puja, where to place diyas, which corners to clear first and what to avoid, direction by direction.
In this guide
- Diwali 2026 dates
- Lakshmi Puja time on 8 November: sunset and Pradosh Kaal
- Best direction for Lakshmi Puja
- Diwali cleaning by direction
- Main door Vastu for Diwali
- Where to place diyas on Diwali
- Dhanteras: what to buy and where to keep it
- Diwali decoration colours by direction
- Diwali Vastu mistakes to avoid
- Diwali Vastu FAQs
Diwali 2026 dates
The five days of Deepotsav in 2026:
Lakshmi Puja time on 8 November: sunset and Pradosh Kaal
Lakshmi Puja is performed in Pradosh Kaal, the 2 hours 24 minutes after sunset — ideally while the fixed (Sthir) Vrishabha lagna rises. Sunset changes by city, so Pradosh Kaal does too. Times below are calculated for each city’s own sunset on Sunday, 8 November 2026:
| City | Sunset | Pradosh Kaal |
|---|---|---|
| New Delhi | 5:31 PM | 5:31 PM – 7:55 PM |
| Mumbai | 6:02 PM | 6:02 PM – 8:26 PM |
| Kolkata | 4:55 PM | 4:55 PM – 7:19 PM |
| Chennai | 5:40 PM | 5:40 PM – 8:04 PM |
| Bengaluru | 5:51 PM | 5:51 PM – 8:15 PM |
| Jaipur | 5:39 PM | 5:39 PM – 8:03 PM |
| Lucknow | 5:19 PM | 5:19 PM – 7:43 PM |
| Ahmedabad | 5:58 PM | 5:58 PM – 8:22 PM |
Best direction for Lakshmi Puja
The North-East (Ishaan) is the most sacred corner of the home and the first choice for the Diwali puja. The North, ruled by Kubera, the lord of wealth, is the second.
Set up the puja in the North-East or North
Clean the corner thoroughly and lay a red or yellow cloth on a raised chowki. If the North-East is a toilet or store, use the North or East of the living room instead.
Idols face West or East
Place Lakshmi and Ganesha so that you sit facing North-East, North or East while you pray. Avoid facing South during the puja.
Lakshmi on Ganesha’s right
Seat Lord Ganesha first, with Goddess Lakshmi to his right, and Saraswati or Kubera beside them if you worship them.
Keep a kalash in the North-East
A copper or brass kalash with water, mango leaves and a coconut, set in the North-East of the puja, represents abundance and the water element.
Diwali cleaning by direction
Vastu says Lakshmi enters a clean, open home. If you only have time for a few corners, clear these first:
North-East — clear everything heavy
Shoes, dustbins, storage boxes and broken things block the most auspicious zone. Keep it light, bright and open.
North — the Kubera zone
Clear clutter, fix leaking taps and keep this side well lit. It governs money and new opportunities.
Brahmasthan — the centre of the home
Move heavy furniture away from the centre so energy can flow through every room.
South-West — heavy and stable
This is where heavy storage belongs. Tidy it, but keep it weighted and closed.
Throw out before Diwali
Stopped clocks, cracked mirrors, broken idols or photo frames, torn clothes, old shoes and dried plants are traditionally removed before Lakshmi Puja.
Room-by-room rules: main entrance, pooja room, kitchen.
Main door Vastu for Diwali
The main entrance is the mouth of the home — where Lakshmi is welcomed.
Toran of mango or ashoka leaves
Hang fresh leaves (or marigold) across the door frame. Replace a dried toran rather than leaving it up.
Rangoli at the threshold
A rangoli with lotus or diya motifs at the door welcomes guests and positive energy. Draw Lakshmi’s footprints pointing inward.
Swastik and Shubh-Labh
Mark a swastik with roli or haldi on the door and “Shubh” and “Labh” on either side.
Light up the door
The entrance must never be dark on Diwali night. Fix the nameplate, the bell and any lights that have stopped working.
Where to place diyas on Diwali
Diyas carry the fire element. Place them where they lift each zone:
Both sides of the main door
Two diyas at the entrance on Diwali evening, and keep one burning through the night if it is safe.
North-East and the puja
A ghee diya in the puja and a diya in the North-East corner of the home.
Tulsi, kitchen and water
One diya by the Tulsi plant, one in the kitchen (South-East is the fire zone) and one near the drinking water.
Yama Deepam facing South
On Dhanteras evening, a four-wick diya is lit outside the home facing South for Yama — the one time a lamp faces South.
Dhanteras: what to buy and where to keep it
Dhanteras on 6 November is the most auspicious day of the year for buying metal.
Metal, silver and gold
Brass or copper utensils, a silver coin with Lakshmi-Ganesha, or gold. A new broom is also bought, as it sweeps out poverty.
Locker in the South-West, opening North
Keep cash and jewellery in the South-West of the home, with the locker door opening towards North — Kubera’s direction.
Avoid iron, glass and black items
Iron, sharp objects and black clothes are traditionally not bought on Dhanteras.
Diwali decoration colours by direction
Use decor colours that suit each zone’s element:
North and North-East
White, cream, light blue and green — keep these zones light.
East
Green and fresh flowers; toran and plants work well here.
South-East and South
Red, orange and pink — diyas, lanterns and rangoli colours.
South-West and West
Yellow, earthy brown and gold for stability; brass decor suits these zones.
Diwali Vastu mistakes to avoid
- Leaving shoes and slippers piled at the main door.
- Keeping any corner of the house dark on Diwali night.
- Placing Lakshmi-Ganesha idols facing South or in a bedroom.
- Doing the puja under a staircase, beam or next to a toilet wall.
- Keeping broken idols, cracked mirrors or stopped clocks in the house.
- Leaving the North-East cluttered with storage or dustbins.
Check your home’s Vastu before Diwali
Walk through your home with the Vastu Laabh app. It scans each room with your phone’s compass, finds the doshas and gives remedies that need no demolition — in time for Lakshmi Puja.
Diwali Vastu FAQs
When is Diwali in 2026?
Diwali (Lakshmi Puja) is on Sunday, 8 November 2026. Dhanteras is on 6 November, Choti Diwali on 7 November, Govardhan Puja on 9 November and Bhai Dooj on 10 November.
Which direction is best for Lakshmi Puja?
The North-East (Ishaan) corner is best, followed by the North, which belongs to Kubera. Place the idols so that you face North-East, North or East while you pray, and never face South.
Which direction should Lakshmi-Ganesh idols face?
The idols should face West or East, so the person praying faces East or North. Lakshmi is seated on Ganesha’s right.
What time is Lakshmi Puja on Diwali 2026?
Lakshmi Puja is done in Pradosh Kaal after sunset on 8 November 2026. In New Delhi sunset is around 5:31 PM, so Pradosh Kaal runs until about 7:55 PM. The exact window varies by city — check the table on this page or your city’s Panchang.
Where should diyas be placed on Diwali?
On both sides of the main door, in the puja and the North-East, by the Tulsi plant, in the kitchen and near drinking water. On Dhanteras evening a lamp is lit facing South for Yama.
What should be thrown away before Diwali?
Broken idols and photo frames, cracked mirrors, stopped clocks, torn clothes, old shoes, dried plants and anything broken or unused — especially from the North-East and the centre of the home.
Where should the locker be kept for Lakshmi’s blessings?
Keep the locker or safe in the South-West of the home or room, with its door opening towards the North.