Diwali Puja Muhurat Timing Live Updates: Grand celebration of lights and Laxmi puja across India

The Indian Army's Romeo Force Rashtriya Rifles battalion celebrated Diwali with locals in DKG Dehra Ki Gali of Tapa Pir and Manyal village in Jammu and Kashmir's Rajouri district.

The event, organised by the Romeo Force RR battalion, saw widespread participation from villagers, including women, children, and the elderly.

Soldiers distributed sweets to villagers, shared in the festive spirit, and interacted with locals, fostering bonds and trust.

On the occasion of Diwali, solar lights were installed in the village, illuminating homes and streets.

A soldier told ANI, "We are proud to serve the nation and bring joy to the people. Diwali is a symbol of hope and unity."

Actor Suniel Shetty gave fans a glimpse into his family festivities on Diwali.

The actor took to his Instagram account on Thursday to share an adorable family selfie. In the picture the actor can be seen smiling with his wife Mana Shetty, daughter Athiya Shetty, and son-in-law KL Rahul, all dressed up in traditionals.

However, the picture felt incomplete as Suniel's son, Ahan Shetty, was missing.

In his caption, the 'Dhadkan' actor wished fans a happy Diwali and mentioned missing his son. "Happy Diwali. Missing you @ahan.shetty," he wrote.

Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah Thursday greeted the people of the Union Territory on the occasion of Diwali. "Wishing everyone celebrating today a very happy Diwali. May the light of all the lamps fill our lives with good health, happiness, and success," Abdullah said on X. He expressed hope that the festival of lights would bring peace and prosperity to every household in the region.

Several shops selling firecrackers were gutted in a blaze in Jharkhand's Bokaro district on Thursday evening, police said. However, no casualty has been reported so far, a police officer said.

The incident took place near Garga Bridge in Bokaro Steel City police station area.

Bokaro City DSP Alok Ranjan said around 13-14 makeshift shops selling firecrackers have been gutted.
He said that the district administration had given permission to these shopkeepers to set up firecracker shops temporarily.

Ranjan said that the fire has been doused and investigation is underway to ascertain the reason behind it.
The shopkeepers claimed that they faced a huge loss due to the incident. They demanded compensation from the administration against their losses.

Bokaro's BJP MLA Biranchi Narayan reached the spot after the incident and said that had the district administration and fire brigade been active, such an incident would not have happened.

Fire broke out in a DTC bus in Dwarka district. Prima facie it seems that fire broke out in firecrackers that were being carried onboard. Details awaited: Delhi Police

The spiritual essence of Diwali is evident as people engage in poojas at home and in temples, seeking blessings for health, prosperity, and happiness. The air is filled with the sound of bells and the fragrance of incense, creating an atmosphere of peace and reverence.

Diwali was celebrated with great enthusiasm across Rajasthan on Thursday. Markets were vibrant and bustling until late Wednesday night with people flocking to buy new clothes, sweets, firecrackers and other festive items.

Heavy traffic congestion was also witnessed last night, particularly in the walled city where market associations have made special decoration and lightings like every year.

The walled city's markets, including Kishanpole Bazaar, Chaura Rasta, Johri Bazar, and Tripolia Bazar were adorned with lights, attracting large crowds at night. MI Road and other markets outside the walled city were also decorated. At the same time, fireworks lit up the sky.

Simultaneously, tight security measures were placed throughout Jaipur with a significant number of police officers deployed to maintain order during the festive season. DGP UR Sahoo said that additional policemen were deployed at crowded locations such as the walled city, markets, railway stations and bus stands.

CM Bhajanlal Sharma and other leaders extended Diwali greetings on X.

Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Mohan Yadav, State BJP chief VD Sharma, and other leaders performed Lakshmi-Ganesh puja at the party office in the state capital, Bhopal, on the occasion of Diwali on Thursday, praying for happiness, peace, and prosperity in the state.

"Today, we performed Lakshmi-Ganesh puja on the occasion of Diwali at the party office in Bhopal. This puja was held to seek strength for the party to work towards public welfare. I extend my greetings to everyone on this Diwali," CM Yadav told reporters.

State BJP chief VD Sharma also remarked on the occasion, stating that they performed the puja and prayed to Goddess Lakshmi to bless Madhya Pradesh and its people.

"Today, the Bharatiya Janata Party family, under the leadership of CM Mohan Yadav, conducted Lakshmi puja at the party office. We prayed to Goddess Lakshmi for blessings upon Madhya Pradesh, so that everyone may lead a happy and prosperous life," Sharma told reporters.

On Friday evening, on the occasion of Diwali Laxmi Puja, stock exchanges in India will be open for a special one-hour trade, in what is called Muhurat trading.

The exchange platforms -- Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE) and National Stock Exchange (NSE) -- will be open for trading on Friday -- from 6.0 pm to 7.0 pm The pre-market will open at 5:45 pm.

This is when the Samvat 2081, a Hindu calendar year, will start.

The Muhurat trading session typically consists of all the market segments, including equity, commodity derivatives, currency derivatives, equity futures and options (F&O), securities lending and borrowing (SLB), and so on, all within that one special hour.

Delhi's air quality continued to decline on Diwali, remaining in the "very poor" category, with expectations of worsening conditions due to the bursting of firecrackers at night. Residents awoke on Thursday to a sky covered in a thick layer of smog, particularly in areas like Anand Vihar, where air pollution reached "severe" levels.

By 4 PM, the city's 24-hour average Air Quality Index (AQI) was recorded at 328, up from 307 on Wednesday, when Delhi celebrated Chhoti Diwali.

In contrast, Delhi residents experienced clearer skies and abundant sunshine during Diwali in 2023, with an AQI of 218. Historical data from the Central Pollution Control Board shows that the AQI figures have been significantly higher in previous years: 312 in 2022, 382 in 2021, 414 in 2020, 337 in 2019, 281 in 2018, 319 in 2017, and 431 in 2016.

Position a beautiful idol or image of Goddess Lakshmi at the center of the platform, as she is the focal point of the puja. To the right of her, in the South-West direction, place an idol of Lord Ganesha, the remover of obstacles, who is also honored during Diwali. In front of Lakshmi’s idol, create a small mound of rice grains on a plate, and use haldi (turmeric) to draw a lotus shape. On this lotus, place a few coins to symbolize abundance and devotion.

As the nation celebrates Diwali today, B-town celebs are joining in the festive spirit with great enthusiasm.

Parineeti Chopra, too, joined the festive cheer.

The 'Chamkila' actress shared a series of beautiful pictures from her Diwali celebration on her Instagram account, giving her fans a glimpse of her special day.

In the pictures, Parineeti is seen wearing a dark green traditional suit, holding a thali filled with rose petals and two lit diyas.

She also added a special caption to her post, that read, "Wish you all a CHAMKILA Diwali!"

A key aspect of Diwali celebrations is the worship of Goddess Lakshmi. Many devotees observe a fast throughout the day, concluding it with the Lakshmi Puja, which is performed in homes and offices. On this special day, homes are beautifully adorned with marigold flowers, mango and banana leaves, and other decorative items.

According to drikpanchang, it is auspicious to place a Mangalik Kalash covered with unpeeled coconut on either side of the main entrance. For the Lakshmi Puja, idols of Goddess Lakshmi and Lord Ganesha are set on a red cloth, cleaned, and draped in silk garments and jewelry. A white cloth is then laid to the left on a raised platform for the installation of Navgraha gods.

The puja samagri typically includes items such as akshat (rice), a silver coin, kalash, mango leaves, sweets, fruits, kumkum, incense sticks, diyas, and supari. It is essential to perform Lakshmi Puja according to the timings recommended by the panchang for it to be considered most auspicious.

Adorned with dazzling and vibrant lights across the city, Kolkata has geared up for Diwali and Kali Puja celebrations with bustling markets filled with shoppers buying sweets, diyas, decorations, and festive clothing.

On the occasion of Kali Puja, Kolkata's Park Street has been decorated with LED lights.

Kali Puja is a very significant festival for Hindus, especially in the state of West Bengal.

Preparations are in full swing in Bengal, and it's truly a pleasure to witness Kolkata celebrating the Festival of Lights in a vibrant manner.

This celebration centers around the worship of Shakti, or Goddess Kali, symbolizing the triumph of Good over Evil. Also referred to as Shyama Puja, as Goddess Kali is often known as Shyama, signifying black or dark, the festival is also observed in Bihar, Odisha, Assam, Tripura, and certain regions of Maharashtra. The festival signifies the spiritual "victory of light over darkness, good over evil, and knowledge over ignorance."

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Wednesday said the transformation of Ayodhya is proof of "double-engine government delivering on its promise" and asserted that a similar transformation must also happen in Kashi and Mathura. Participating in the eighth edition of Deepotsav here - the first since the consecration of Ram temple on January 22, Adityanath said, "This is a historic first as after 500 years, Lord Ram is now in his abode in Ayodhya for Diwali."

"This is just the beginning and this beginning has to reach its logical conclusion. So by 2047, when the country celebrates 100 years of its independence, Kashi and Mathura must also shine like Ayodhya," he said.

The Guinness World Records team has wrapped up a memorable visit to Ayodhya, where they recognized the city for achieving two exceptional world records.

As they departed, chants of "Jai Jai Shri Ram" echoed, capturing the local community's pride and unity.

The highlight of this year's visit was the astonishing feat of lighting 2.5 million lamps in a mere 20 to 25 minutes.

This extraordinary achievement not only set a new record but also broke the Guinness World Records team's own previous milestone.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi stated on Thursday that India is equipping its military and security forces with modern resources, addressing the demands of the twenty-first century.

Speaking to troops after celebrating Diwali with them, PM Modi asserted that the country is placing its military among the world's most advanced armed forces.

"Keeping in mind the needs of the twenty-first century, we are equipping our armed forces with modern resources. We are positioning our military among the world's most modern forces, with self-reliance in the defence sector as the foundation of these efforts," the Prime Minister remarked.

PM Modi also highlighted another aspect of national security that often goes undiscussed: border tourism.

"Our Kachchh region has tremendous potential. Our remarkable centres of attraction and sites of faith, rich in heritage, are nature's gifts. The mangrove forests of Kachchh and the Gulf of Khambhat in Gujarat are crucial. The Gujarat coastline supports a vibrant ecosystem of marine life and flora. The government has taken steps to expand these mangrove forests," he noted.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi continued his tradition of celebrating Diwali with India’s armed forces on Thursday, spending the festival with soldiers stationed at Lakki Nala in Gujarat's Sir Creek. During his visit, PM Modi praised the soldiers for their unwavering dedication to the nation, particularly in this challenging and inhospitable border area.

Greeting the soldiers with chants of "Bharat Mata Ki Jai," PM Modi began by sharing Diwali wishes, saying, "On this sacred land near Sir Creek, it is my privilege to celebrate Diwali with you. When I celebrate with you, the joy of Diwali multiplies." He highlighted the unique significance of this year's festival, with Lord Ram returning to his temple in Ayodhya.

PM Modi conveyed gratitude on behalf of India's 1.4 billion citizens, acknowledging the courage and commitment of soldiers safeguarding the nation in extreme conditions.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday said that today Bharat can't compromise on even an inch of its borders and said we trust the determination of our soliders.
"Today, Bharat cannot compromise on even an inch of its borders. That's why our policies are aligned with the resolve of our armed forces. We trust the determination of our soldiers, not the words of our enemies," PM Modi told soldiers on the occasion of Diwali in Gujarat's Kachchh..

PM Modi also hailed the unrelenting bravery of army jawans and said, "Serving our motherland is a privileged opportunity. When the nation sees your unwavering resolve, your unrelenting bravery, and unparalleled valor, it feels assured of safety and peace! When the world sees you, it sees India's strength, and when enemies see you, they see the end of their sinister plans! When you roar with enthusiasm, the masters of terror tremble with fear."

PM Modi stressed on the fact that the country had seen a lot of positive momentum on the Atmanirbhar front with production of indigenious weapon systemn

"Today India is building its own submarine. Today our Tejas fighter plane is becoming the strength of the Air Force. Earlier, India was known as a country that imported weapons. Today, India is exporting defence equipment to many countries of the world," he said"

On the occasion of Diwali, sweets were exchanged on Thursday between the troops of Border Security Force (BSF) and Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB), all along the border with Bangladesh, officials said.

A spokesman of the BSF's Mizoram and Cachar Frontier said that like in previous years, on the occasion of Diwali, sweets were exchanged between BSF and BGB, all along the border with Bangladesh.

Sweets were exchanged between the two border guarding forces in many bordering locations along Assam and Mizoram, he added.

A spokesman of the Tripura Frontier of BSF said that on the occasion of Diwali, sweets were exchanged between the two paramilitary forces in around 100 locations two days ago.

After the collapse of the Awami League government led by former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on August 5, this is the first time the BSF and the BGB exchanged sweets on the occasion of Diwali.

The border guarding forces of the two neighbouring countries on the occasions of all important festivities have been exchanging sweets for the past several decades.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday said India cannot compromise on even an inch of land on its borders, adding the people believe in the strength of its military for defending the country. Modi was addressing soldiers after celebrating Diwali with them in Kutch region of Gujarat. "Today, Bharat cannot compromise on even an inch of its borders. That's why our policies are aligned with the resolve of our armed forces," Modi said. "We trust the determination of our soldiers, not the words of our enemies," he said. People of India feel their country is safe because of you (soldiers), Modi said. "When the world sees you, it sees India's strength, but when the enemies see you, they see the end of their sinister plans," PM Modi told the soldiers.

"Sanatan Dharma and India are complementary to each other. If Sanatan Dharma is strong, then India will become strong, and if India is strong, then Sanatan Dharma will become strong. If any one of them becomes weak, then both will become weak..." said Uttar Pradesh CM Yogi Adityanath after inaugurating several development projects in Gorakhpur earlier today.

Border tourism is an aspect related to national security which is not discussed much; Kutch has immense potential in this: PM Modi

Uttarakhand chief minister Pushkar Singh Dhami celebrated Diwali with the soldiers of the Garhwal Rifles and their families in Lansdowne, Pauri. During the celebration, he expressed heartfelt gratitude for the soldiers’ dedication and honored their bravery and sacrifice.

The chief minister emphasized the invaluable role that soldiers and their families play in the nation's service, dedicating themselves day and night. As the son of a soldier, he described this opportunity to celebrate Diwali with them as an unforgettable moment.

He further acknowledged the unmatched courage and sacrifice shown by the soldiers in protecting the nation and reaffirmed his government’s commitment to the welfare of soldiers and their families.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi says, "Keeping in mind the needs of the twenty-first century, today we are equipping our armies, our security forces, with modern resources. We are putting our Army in the league of the world's most modern military forces. The basis of these efforts of ours is self-reliance in the defence sector."

Cricket fraternity including Rishabh Pant, Mohammed Shami, KL Rahul, Virender Sehwag and Irfan Pathan on Thursday extended best wishes on the ocassion of Diwali.

Himachal Pradesh CM Sukvinder Singh Sukhu says, "I extend my wishes on the occasion of Diwali to everyone. It is celebrated with joy...Today is also the death anniversary of former PM Indira Gandhi..."

Rajasthan Deputy CM Prem Chand Bairwa says, "I extend best wishes to everyone on the occasion of Diwali. Today is the first Diwali being celebrated in Ayodhya after the consecration ceremony of Lord Ram. There is a wave of happiness and excitement among the devotees of Lord Ram"

Uttar Pradesh CM Yogi Adityanath conducted a visit to the newly constructed Ram temple in Ayodhya during Diwali celebrations on Thursday, as confirmed by officials. During his visit, he also paid respects at the Hanuman Garhi temple. The chief minister conveyed his festive wishes and blessings to the residents of the state on this significant festival.

"The chief minister said that this year's Diwali festival is historic and unprecedented. Ram Lalla has been seated in his abode after a long wait of 500 years. Innumerable lamps will also be lit in the new temple built in the birthplace of Ram Lalla in Ayodhyadham," the Chief Minister's Office said in a post on X in Hindi.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi continued the tradition he started in 2014 of celebrating Diwali with the troops. On Thursday, he joined the border security force (BSF), army, navy and air force personnel in Gujarat's Kachchh to mark Diwali 2024.

A Kali Puja and Diwali pandal themed after the Ram Mandir attracted many devotees in Assam's Karimganj district. The celebrations are lively, with a significant number of people visiting the beautifully decorated pandal to offer prayers to Goddess Kali.

Local MLA Kamalakhya Dey Purkayastha shared his thoughts with ANI, stating, "After pran pratishtha of Ram Lala in Ram temple, many people want to visit the Ram temple, but many don't visit due to financial problems." He added, "We have tried to create this pandal as a Ram Mandir, and every person who believes in Sanatan Dharma wants to visit the Ram Mandir. We want to expand the ideology of Lord Ram among all sections of people."

Meanwhile, adorned with dazzling and vibrant lights, Kolkata is gearing up for Diwali and Kali Puja celebrations, with bustling markets filled with shoppers buying sweets, diyas, decorations, and festive clothing.

Indian Army personnel joined local residents in Uri, Baramulla sector along the LOC to celebrate Diwali on Wednesday. The festivities included traditional diya lighting, gift exchanges, and distribution of sweets between military personnel and community members. Both groups shared warm wishes for each other and their respective families during the celebration.

A local resident described how their village, situated close to the Line of Control (LoC), participated in the Diwali celebrations alongside the Indian Army. He noted that the army consistently participates in all their cultural festivities, including Eid celebrations.

"Our village is near the LOC. Today we celebrated Diwali with the Indian Army. Whenever it is our festival, Eid or any other festival, the Indian army celebrates with us. We are border people and whenever we face any problem, the Indian Army stands with us," another villager told ANI.

Indian and Chinese military personnel shared sweets at various points along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) to mark Diwali on Thursday. This traditional exchange occurred just days after a significant patrolling pact was finalised, with both India and China expected to complete military disengagement in specific areas along the LAC.

The exchange was conducted at five designated Border Personnel Meeting (BPM) locations across the LAC, according to PTI.

An Army source confirmed to the news agency on Wednesday that forces from both countries had completed their withdrawal from the two disputed areas, with plans to resume patrolling activities soon.

Chief minister Yogi Adityanath on Thursday visited the new Ram temple in Ayodhya and offered prayers on Diwali, officials said. They said the chief minister visited the Hanuman Garhi temple as well.

"The chief minister said that this year's Diwali festival is historic and unprecedented. Ram Lalla has been seated in his abode after a long wait of 500 years. Innumerable lamps will also be lit in the new temple built in the birthplace of Ram Lalla in Ayodhyadham," the CM's Office said in a post on X.

"The state government is re-establishing the ancient and glorious tradition of celebrating Diwali in Ayodhya by organising 'Deepotsav' and is working to introduce the entire world community to the glory of Ayodhya," it added.