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A full Festival of Lights schedule from morning decoration and rangoli through Lakshmi Puja, dinner feast, fireworks, and traditional card games.
Full Diwali day schedule — 50 guests, home celebration
Final cleaning, hanging torans, and arranging flower garlands
Create colorful rangoli designs at the home entrance
Family dresses in new traditional outfits and jewelry
Traditional puja with prayers to Goddess Lakshmi and Lord Ganesha
Light diyas and candles throughout the home and entrance
Exchange mithai boxes with neighbors and arriving guests
Lakshmi Puja must happen during the auspicious muhurat window. A timeline ensures everything is prepared and guests are gathered before it begins.
Diyas, candles, and fireworks all need to happen in sequence. A schedule keeps the lighting ceremony beautiful and the fireworks safe.
With guests arriving at different times and multiple food moments throughout the day, a timeline keeps the kitchen and serving on track.
Traditional Home Celebrations
Family-hosted Diwali with puja, dinner, and fireworks at home
Community Diwali Gatherings
Larger community events at temples or community centers
Corporate Diwali Parties
Workplace celebrations with cultural activities and festive food
Multi-Day Diwali Celebrations
Extended five-day celebrations from Dhanteras through Bhai Dooj
Start with this template or let our AI create a custom Diwali schedule tailored to your puja timing and guest list.
AI GeneratorLakshmi Puja should happen during the auspicious muhurat window, which changes each year. Check a Diwali panchang for your time zone and plan all other activities around this anchor moment.
Rangoli at the entrance is the first thing guests see. Finish it by early afternoon so it is intact and vibrant when people start arriving for puja.
Set up a specific area for fireworks and sparklers away from the rangoli, diyas, and any flammable decorations. Have water nearby and supervise children at all times.
Assembling mithai boxes for neighbors and guests takes longer than expected. Prepare them 2-3 days before Diwali so you can focus on cooking and decorating on the day itself.
Diwali involves snacks during decoration, sweets during visits, a full dinner, and late-night desserts. Plan each food moment separately so the kitchen is not overwhelmed.
Lakshmi Puja is traditionally performed during the auspicious muhurat time, typically between 5-8 PM. The exact timing changes each year based on the Hindu calendar. Check a Diwali panchang for your specific year and time zone.
The main day runs from morning preparation through late evening festivities — a full day event. The broader festival spans five days from Dhanteras through Bhai Dooj. Most family gatherings on the main day run 6-8 hours from puja through dinner and fireworks.
Diwali meals are typically vegetarian and festive. Popular dishes include paneer, chole, dal makhani, and puris. Sweets are central — gulab jamun, jalebi, kaju katli, and ladoo. Savory snacks like samosas and chakli are served to visiting guests throughout the day.
Welcome everyone warmly and explain the significance of each tradition as it happens. Give guests a small diya or sparkler to participate in the lighting ceremony. Most guests appreciate learning about the traditions and are happy to join in.