Diwali 2025: tradition and muhurat — learn how many diyas to light on Choti Diwali and Badi Diwali, timings for Lakshmi Puja and simple rituals for prosperity.

Diwali 2025 falls on October 20, and many families are asking a timeless question: how many diyas should you light for Choti Diwali and Badi Diwali? Traditional guidance for Choti Diwali (Naraka Chaturdashi) recommends placing 14 diyas — one four-faced diya in the centre with 11 surrounding lamps — lighting the central lamp first and then the rest to symbolise victory over darkness. For the main Diwali night (Badi Diwali), there is no fixed number of diyas; the emphasis is on lighting multiple earthen lamps across the home and courtyard to welcome prosperity and positive energy. Local customs vary, and some households follow family-specific counts or regional practices rather than a uniform rule.
Practical tips include using traditional clay diyas for Lakshmi Puja, arranging lamps near the puja altar and doorways, and observing muhurat timings: Pradosh Kaal for Lakshmi Puja in the evening and Nishita Kaal later at night (check local panchang for exact hours). Simple additions like placing a little sugar or sweets near the diya or using a central multi-faced lamp on Choti Diwali are common symbolic gestures for sweetness and prosperity.
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