Diwali 2020 Festival dates:

We are receiving mails about so called confusion whether Diwali in New Zealand, Fiji, Australia and surrounding islands is on 14th or 15th. Here is our opinion:

Diwali tithi in New Zealand is starting from 14th evening (9.48pm to be precise) and will be till 15th evening. Thus 14th night Diwali Puja can be performed any time after this time on 14th. Thus few priests are advising Diwali puja to be performed on 14th. We have noticed some communities following tithi as per Indian longitude & latitude. Since Diwali in India is on 14th, they are celebrating on 14th. See muhurat below.

It is not practically possible to follow the exact time of tithi on each day or on each festival. Hindu scriptures very much acknowledge this and it is advised to follow the tithi as of sunrise time for the day till next day sunrise. This is known as Lunar day of approximately 24 hours from sun rise to next day sunrise. Thus you will find few priests advising Diwali on 15th. See muhurat below.

This is rare situation, and it is fine for community / temple to celebrate Diwali on either 14th or 15th. Happy Diwali!

As per New Zealand (Auckland) Tithi (Lunar day) coordinates

• Thu 12th Nov: Govatsa Dwadashi, Vasu Baras
• Fri 13th Nov: Dhan Teras, Yama Deepam (Trayodashi / Teras / 13th Lunar day: 13th Nov 5am to 14th Nov 1.29am)
• Sat 14th Nov: Tamil Deepavli, Bandi Chhod diwas, Kali Chaudas, Kali Puja, Narak Chaturdashi (Chaturdashi / Chaudas / 14th Lunar day: 14th Nov 1.29am to 14th Nov 9.48pm)
• Sun 15th Nov: Lakshmi Puja, Diwali, Deepavli, Annkut, Bali Pratipada, Goverdhan Puja (Amavasya / Amavas / No moon day: 14th Nov 9.48pm to 15th Nov 6.07pm)
• Mon 16th Nov: Bhai Dooj, Gujarati New Year

As per India (Ujjain) Tithi (Lunar day) coordinates

• Thu 12th Nov: Govatsa Dwadashi, Vasu Baras
• Fri 13th Nov: Dhan Teras, Yama Deepam, Kali Chaudas
• Sat 14th Nov: Tamil Deepavli, Narak Chaturdashi, Lakshmi Puja, Diwali, Deepavli
• Sun 15th Nov: Annkut, Bali Pratipada, Goverdhan Puja
• Mon 16th Nov: Bhai Dooj, Gujarati New Year

DIWALI LAKSHMI PUJA MUHURAT

Auspicious Time for Family Prayers दिवाली लक्ष्मी पूजा मुहुर्त

14TH NOV 2020

• Diwali Puja Choghadiya muhurt for New Zealand: Sat 14th Nov, 9.50pm to 10.30pm Shubh, 10.30pm to 12 mid night: Amrut
• Puja Muhurat: 5.45pm to 8.15pm (based on Indian longitude/latitude tithi / Ujjain time Sunset: 5.43pm, Pradosh Kaal: 5.43pm to 8.18pm, Vrishabh Kaal: 5.43pm to 7.42pm)

15TH NOV 2020

Puja Muhurat: 8.07pm to 10.30pm or during suitable choghadiya: 9am to 12 noon and 1.30pm to 3pm.

Auckland: 8.07pm to 10.29pm

Sunset: 8.07pm, Pradosh Kaal: 8.07pm to 10.07pm, Vrishabh Kaal: 8.07pm to 10.29pm

Wellington: 8.18pm to 10.40pm

Sunset: 8.07pm, Pradosh Kaal: 8.07pm to 10.18pm, Vrishabh Kaal: 8.07pm to 10.40pm

Christchurch: 8.32pm to 10.54pm

Sunset: 8.32pm, Pradosh Kaal: 8.32pm to 10.32pm, Vrishabh Kaal: 8.32pm to 10.54pm

click here for पूजा विधी Puja Vidhi

click here for लक्ष्मी जी की आरती Lakshmi ji ki Aarti

click here for list of पूजा सामग्री Puja samagri / items needed for Diwali prayers

click here for list of temples in New Zealand

Diwali 2021 New Zealand

On Diwali we offer our main prayers to Goddess Laxmi or Maha Lakshmi (लक्ष्मी / महालक्ष्मी). All the members of the family get together in the evening to perform the Puja as per the auspiscous timings. The home is cleaned and decorated with lights (diyas दिया / दिपक),  flowers, traditional lanterns and rangoli (रंगोली). The prayer session starts with praising and thanking the God/ Goddess (लक्ष्मी वंदना), followed by prayers for well being and prosperity (प्रार्थना / आरती); then request to God to bless all and forgive our mistakes (क्षमा प्रार्थना). Flowers and Food (Naivedyam प्रसाद) are offered to Goddess Laxmi, followed by feasting with family and guests. Traders and business community also offers prayers for better business and include their main account books (Chopda / बहीखाता / चोपडा) on the prayer table / mandap.

Prayers are mainly of two types:

(a) Formless, invisible or Nirakar (निराकार स्वरूप): AUM / OM / ॐ  or no form represent God. Meditation is main method of prayers. Usually these are silent and Om recital prayers, performed for betterment of society and self.

(b) Since it was difficult for common people to follow meditational prayers, mainly because of less or no education in early years; it was allowed to imagine God in any form and pray. This is known as Saakar (साकार स्वरूप) and deities across temples are imagination of God.

ABOUT DIWALI

Diwali, also known as Deepavali or Deepawali, is celebrated on Kartik Amavasya (कार्तिक अमावस्या). Kartik is name of Hindu month and Amavasya means no-moon day. The celebrations usually start two days prior to Diwali and goes for two days after Diwali day. The festival is of significant importance for all communities and religions in Indian subcontinent; specially Hindu, Sikh, Jainism, Buddhism

The occasion two days before is Dhan Teras (धन तेरस) or Dhanvantari Trayodashi which is considered auspicious to buy precious metal like Gold or Silver. This is a practice followed by  Indian community introduced by the ancestors which was a way of saving for the future.

On Diwali, people meet and greet their extended family, neighbors and friends. They clean and  decorate their house with Rangoli (रंगोली) colorful Diyas (दिया / दिपक), lanterns and lights, to Welcome Mahalaxmi, the Goddess of Wealth and offer prayers. Main prayer is held in the evening and known as Laxmi Puja (लक्ष्मी पूजा) offering prayers to the Goddess of Wealth. Another is Chopda Puja (चोपडा पूजा) where business community pray for better Business for the coming year and worship the Account Books. ‘ Chopda’ means books of accounts. Bandi Chhor Divas (ਬੰਦੀ ਛੋੜ ਦਿਵਸ / बंदी छोड दिवस / Day of liberation) is celebrated with Diwali. It is day to mark return of Guru Hargobind Ji (श्री गुरू हरगोबिन्द जी)

Next day of Diwali is celebrated as Goverdhan Puja (गोवर्धन पूजा) and Annakut (अन्नकूट) and also as the new year in Gujarat. This day community prays to Lord Krishna and prepare variety of feast at home.

Third day of Diwali is celebrated as Bhai Dooj (भाई दूज) which is celebrated by brothers and sisters. The sisters pray for long life and happiness of their brothers and in return brothers gift their sisters. The Marathi language translation of this festival is Bhau Beej (भाऊ बीज).

Diwali in Indian subcontinent is also time when activities related to sowing of new crop starts.

Have a blessed and prosperous Diwali and new year. शुभ दिपावली