So it is almost Diwali, and you are sitting in your apartment in Austin or Toronto or somewhere in between, wondering how to make it feel real. The Indian grocery store is 45 minutes away. Your roommates think Diwali is “the Indian Halloween.” Your office Slack already has a “Happy Diwali!” GIF from someone who means well but spelled it Dewali.
You have been here before. Here is everything you need to make Diwali feel like home, wherever home is now.
When Is Diwali 2026?
Diwali falls on Friday, October 30, 2026 — the new moon (Amavasya) of the Hindu month of Kartik. The main day of Lakshmi Puja is that evening at dusk. The festival officially runs five days, from Dhanteras (October 28) through Bhai Dooj (November 1).
Mark the calendar now. Diwali always moves — it is a lunar date — so do not assume it is the same week every year.
What to Buy in the USA
You do not need to fly to India. Here is what you need and where to find it.
At the Indian grocery store (Patel Brothers, Apna Bazar, Desi Basket online):
- Diyas (clay oil lamps) — buy 20 or more, they are inexpensive
- Mustard oil or ghee for the diyas
- Agarbatti (incense) — Cycle brand or Satya Nag Champa
- Kumkum (red vermilion powder), haldi (turmeric), and chawal (uncooked rice) for the puja thali
- A small Lakshmi-Ganesha murti if you do not already have one
- Mithai (sweets) — or buy the ingredients to make kheer or barfi at home
On Amazon:
- Diya sets, rangoli stencils, and electric string lights (look for warm yellow “fairy lights,” not the cold blue ones)
- If you want to understand the deeper meaning of the festival, the Eknath Easwaran translation of the Bhagavad Gita — the same philosophy that underlies Diwali — is a wonderful companion text
Performing Lakshmi Puja at Home
The heart of Diwali is the Lakshmi Puja performed at dusk on the main day. You do not need a pandit for a simple home puja.
What you need: A clean altar space, a Lakshmi-Ganesha murti or image, a puja thali with diya, incense, kumkum, rice, flowers, and a few sweets (naivedyam) to offer.
Basic steps:
- Clean your home thoroughly beforehand — Lakshmi does not enter dirty or unwelcoming spaces.
- Light the diya and incense at dusk.
- Invoke Ganesha first (a simple “Om Ganeshaya Namah” three times).
- Invite Lakshmi with “Om Shreem Mahalakshmiyei Namah” — chant 108 times or as many as feels right.
- Offer flowers, sweets, and rice. Wave the lit diya in a circular motion (aarti) before the murti.
- Sit quietly for a few minutes. That is the whole puja.
The Lakshmi Puja vidhi (full procedure) is available in our philosophy section for those who want the complete ritual.
Rangoli in an Apartment
No courtyard? No problem. Rangoli in an apartment works beautifully:
- Use the space just inside your front door, on a flat mat or directly on tile.
- Colored rangoli powder is available at Indian stores — or use colored rice flour, flower petals, or even chalk on the doorstep outside.
- Rangoli stencils make it easy if you are not artistically confident. Search “rangoli stencil kit” on Amazon.
- Classic patterns for Diwali: a lotus flower, a diya, or a Swastika (the ancient Hindu symbol of auspiciousness — quite different from its 20th-century misappropriation, and perfectly appropriate to draw on your doorstep for Diwali).
- Keep it simple. A circle of flower petals around a diya is Diwali rangoli. It does not have to be Instagram-worthy.
Diwali Gifts for Non-Hindu Colleagues
If you want to share the festival with coworkers or neighbors, these make thoughtful, non-assuming gifts:
- A small box of Indian mithai from the local Indian bakery (label the ingredients for allergies)
- A decorative diya or small brass Ganesha figurine
- A jar of good ghee — universally useful, and a traditional Diwali gift
- Nothing obligatory is required — sharing the food and the warmth is enough
Avoid giving gifts that are purely religious unless you know the recipient would appreciate them.
Explaining Diwali to American Friends in One Paragraph
Here is language that works:
“Diwali is the Hindu festival of lights — think of it as our New Year and Christmas rolled into one. It celebrates the return of the god Rama to his kingdom after defeating the demon Ravana, and the victory of light over darkness. We light lamps and fireworks, perform a prayer to Lakshmi (the goddess of wealth and prosperity), eat a lot of sweets, and give gifts to family. It runs for five days in late October or November depending on the lunar calendar. It is one of the most celebrated festivals in the world.”
That covers it. Most Americans will nod and say “oh, that sounds beautiful,” because it is.
Diwali Events in Major US Cities
Every major American city with a South Asian community hosts Diwali events in late October. Search “Diwali events near me” on Eventbrite or Google — you will find community celebrations, garba nights, cultural festivals, and temple programs.
Cities with particularly large celebrations: Houston, New Jersey (Edison), New York, Chicago, the Bay Area (Fremont, Sunnyvale), Los Angeles, Dallas, and Atlanta. Temple communities (ISKCON, Swaminarayan, local mandir societies) often hold the most authentic and accessible events.
Diwali Sweets You Can Make at Home
If you want to make something yourself:
Kheer (rice pudding) is the easiest — simmer full-fat milk for 30 minutes, add washed basmati rice, sugar, cardamom, and saffron. Stir until thick. Done. It keeps well and serves 6-8 people.
Sooji halwa (semolina sweet) takes 20 minutes: toast semolina in ghee until golden, add water and sugar, stir until it comes together. Add cardamom and cashews. Offer some to Lakshmi first, then eat the rest.
These are not Instagram recipes. They are grandmother recipes. They taste like home.
Diwali in the diaspora will never be exactly what it was. The air is different. The sounds are different. There is no neighborhood of diyas stretching down the street as far as you can see. But the light is the same light. The puja is the same puja. And Lakshmi finds her way to every clean and welcoming home, wherever in the world it happens to be.
Shubh Diwali.