The ProperPandit blog · Category
How vrat and festival days are determined from the lunar calendar, what is traditionally observed, and what varies by region and family.
8 articles
NewestVrat & festivals
Deepotsav is the Uttar Pradesh government's yearly lamp festival on the Saryu ghats in Ayodhya, held just before Diwali since 2017. Here is what happens, what the records actually say, and how to plan a visit.
Vrat & festivals
Dev Deepawali, the 'Diwali of the gods', lights Varanasi's ghats on the full moon of Kartik, about fifteen days after Diwali. The beliefs behind it, how the day is fixed, and what to know before you go.
Vrat & festivals
Diwali Lakshmi Puja is on Sunday 8 November 2026 in every overseas city we checked. Here are the local muhurat and Pradosh Kaal windows for New York, New Jersey, Chicago, Houston, the Bay Area, Toronto, London, Leicester and Dubai.
Vrat & festivals
Choghadiya for Friday 6 November 2026, Dhanteras, for New Delhi, Mumbai, Toronto, New York and London, plus the evening puja muhurat for Toronto, Brampton, Mississauga, New Jersey, Chicago, Houston and San Francisco, all from Drik Panchang and checked against our own sunrise and sunset maths.
Vrat & festivals
Dhanteras, Naraka Chaturdashi, Lakshmi Puja, Govardhan Puja and Bhai Dooj: what each day of Diwali is for, how its date is fixed, and why Tamil Nadu and Karnataka keep their main Deepavali before sunrise on Chaturdashi.
Vrat & festivals
In 2026 Drik Panchang lists Govardhan Puja on Tuesday 10 November and Bhai Dooj on Wednesday 11 November for New Delhi, but London and New York keep both a day earlier. Here is why, with the local timings and what each day involves.
Vrat & festivals
Dhanteras falls on Friday 6 November 2026, opening the five days of Diwali. Here are the evening puja windows for New Delhi, London, New York, Toronto and Dubai, plus Dhanvantari, the Yama Deepam lamp and the custom of buying metal.
Vrat & festivals
Diwali Lakshmi Puja falls on Sunday 8 November 2026 in all seven cities we checked across India, the USA, the UK, Canada and the UAE. The evening window differs by city, and Govardhan Puja and Bhai Dooj land a day earlier in London and New York than in New Delhi.
Articles are for general information, researched from public sources, and may contain errors. Please follow your family pandit's guidance.