Diwali Dates 2025 USA: October 20 Festival Schedule & Timing. See Dhanteras–Bhai Dooj dates, city puja windows, and tips. Plan your week now. Free checklist.

Diwali Dates 2025 USA: October 20 Festival Schedule & Timing

Diwali is set for Monday, October 20, 2025 in the United States, and millions will light up homes, temples, and community halls from New York to San Diego. If you need a clear, reliable guide to Diwali Dates 2025 USA: October 20 Festival Schedule & Timing, you’re in the right place. This definitive planner covers festival week dates (Dhanteras to Bhai Dooj), how to pick the right Lakshmi Puja time in your city, what to expect across U.S. time zones, and practical tips for families. You’ll also get city-by-city examples, checklists, and expert resources to confirm your local sunset and tithi alignment.

Bottom line: Diwali 2025 in the USA falls on Monday, October 20. Lakshmi Puja is observed after sunset during Pradosh Kaal while the Amavasya tithi is in effect. The exact local window varies by city.

Quick answer: Festival week at a glance
U.S. schedule: Dhanteras to Bhai Dooj (with dates)
How to pick your Lakshmi Puja time (3-step method)
City examples by time zone (EST, CST, MST, PST)
Understanding tithi, new moon, and Pradosh Kaal
Planning your week: Work, school, and travel
Temple and community events across the USA
Family guide: Puja setup, decor, and safety
Food, sweets, and shopping list
Sustainability: Greener ways to celebrate
Photography and social sharing
Budget and booking checklist
Common mistakes to avoid
Surprising facts and myth-busting
Key statistics (with sources)
Internal links to explore
External resources

Quick answer: Festival week at a glance

Use this featured-snippet-ready summary to plan Diwali Dates 2025 USA: October 20 Festival Schedule & Timing in seconds.

Main Diwali (Lakshmi Puja): Monday, October 20, 2025 (USA).
Dhanteras: Saturday, October 18, 2025.
Naraka Chaturdashi (Choti Diwali): Sunday, October 19, 2025.
Lakshmi Puja/Deepavali Night: Monday, October 20, 2025 (after local sunset during Amavasya).
Govardhan Puja/Annakut: Tuesday, October 21, 2025.
Bhai Dooj/Bhaiya Dooj: Wednesday, October 22, 2025.
Typical Lakshmi Puja window in U.S. cities: Roughly 6:00–8:30 pm local, adjusted by your sunset and the Amavasya tithi.

Always confirm your final puja window with a local temple, a trusted panchang, and your city’s sunset time.

U.S. schedule: Dhanteras to Bhai Dooj (with dates)

These are the festival week dates most Indian-American families in the U.S. will follow in 2025.

Dhanteras — Saturday, October 18, 2025

Clean and decorate the home.
Purchase diyas, utensils, gold/silver, or household items as per tradition.
Many do Lakshmi and Dhanvantari puja for health and prosperity.

Naraka Chaturdashi (Choti Diwali) — Sunday, October 19, 2025

Early morning rituals and light displays begin.
Families prepare rangoli, sweets, and gift hampers.
It’s a quieter evening ahead of the main day.

Lakshmi Puja (Main Diwali) — Monday, October 20, 2025

The core rituals happen after sunset during Pradosh Kaal while Amavasya is prevailing.
Light diyas, perform Lakshmi-Ganesh puja, and share sweets with neighbors.

Govardhan Puja/Annakut — Tuesday, October 21, 2025

Vaishnav traditions mark Govardhan Puja; temples create “Annakut” food offerings.
Many families visit temples and community halls for darshan.

Bhai Dooj — Wednesday, October 22, 2025

Siblings celebrate their bond with tilak, blessings, and shared meals.
It’s a relaxed finale to the festive stretch.

Note: As with any lunar festival, a minority of cities or traditions may shift specific observances by a day based on local tithi calculations. When in doubt, follow your temple’s notice.

How to pick your Lakshmi Puja time (3-step method)

The exact Lakshmi Puja window depends on two things: your city’s sunset and whether Amavasya tithi is active in the early evening. Here’s a practical, no-stress method.

Check your local sunset for October 20, 2025

Use a reliable source to find sunset in your city.
Tip: Search “Sunset October 20 2025 [Your City]” on a reputable site.

Confirm Amavasya is prevailing during early evening

Lakshmi Puja should be after sunset when Amavasya is in effect.
If Amavasya ends very early in the evening for your location, shift Puja earlier within Pradosh Kaal while it still prevails.

Choose a 60–90 minute window post-sunset

Most families pick a time within 30–120 minutes after sunset.
Agree on one window for the whole household so everyone can focus.

Quick rule of thumb: If sunset is around 6:00 pm, most families aim for roughly 6:15–8:00 pm, adjusted to ensure Amavasya is active. When in doubt, align with your temple’s published time.

City examples by time zone (EST, CST, MST, PST)

These examples help you visualize Lakshmi Puja windows across the U.S. on October 20, 2025. They are illustrative, not strict muhurats. Always verify with your local temple and city sunset.

Eastern Time (ET)

New York City, NY: Sunset is around early evening in late October.
Likely Puja window: Approximately 6:15–8:00 pm, ensuring Amavasya prevails.
Philadelphia, PA and Washington, DC: Similar timing with minor adjustments.

Central Time (CT)

Chicago, IL: Sunset occurs slightly earlier relative to the evening schedule.
Likely Puja window: Approximately 6:00–7:45 pm.
Houston, TX and Dallas, TX: Slightly later sunsets; 6:30–8:15 pm often works.

Mountain Time (MT)

Denver, CO: Cooler evenings; plan a snug indoor setup.
Likely Puja window: Approximately 6:00–7:45 pm.
Phoenix, AZ: Not on DST; confirm sunset carefully for accuracy.

Pacific Time (PT)

Los Angeles, CA: Sunset mid-evening in late October.
Likely Puja window: Approximately 6:15–8:15 pm.
San Francisco Bay Area: Fog and wind can be factors; similar window to LA.

Alaska and Hawaii: Check local sunset and Amavasya carefully. Your window may differ by an hour or more relative to the mainland.

Understanding tithi, new moon, and Pradosh Kaal

If you want to go a layer deeper, here’s a simple explanation of the terms behind Diwali Dates 2025 USA: October 20 Festival Schedule & Timing.

Tithi (lunar day)

Hindu dates follow lunar “tithis,” not the solar calendar.
Diwali aligns with the Amavasya (new moon) tithi of Kartika month for most communities.
This is why the festival date shifts across the solar calendar each year.

New moon vs. Amavasya

Astronomical new moon is a specific time when the Moon-Sun elongation is 0°.
Amavasya tithi spans a period that includes the new moon but may begin and end at different local times depending on longitude and time zone.
For ritual timing, the tithi is the key, with the preference to perform Lakshmi Puja during Pradosh Kaal while Amavasya prevails.

Pradosh Kaal (early evening)

Pradosh Kaal is the early evening period after sunset.
Many traditions recommend Lakshmi Puja during this window.
If Amavasya ends too early, some families adjust to the last part of Amavasya before sunset or follow their temple’s guidance.

Practical takeaway: Confirm sunset and tithi status for your city, then pick a manageable 60–90 minute Puja window for your household.

Planning your week: Work, school, and travel

You can celebrate fully without stress by planning your week around Diwali 2025.

Work and school planning

Request a few hours off on Monday evening, October 20.
If your employer allows, work earlier in the day to leave in time for family puja.
Tell teachers in advance if your children will participate in evening temple events.

Travel and timing

If visiting family, aim to arrive by Saturday (Dhanteras) to settle in.
Avoid booking flights on Monday evening; traffic and queues can spike.
Add buffer time if driving across city cores near popular temples.

Home prep timeline

One week out: Deep clean and gather decor.
Three days out: Prep sweets and snacks, finalize puja items.
Event day: Set up the altar by midday; only last-minute touches remain by evening.

Temple and community events across the USA

From ISKCON centers to local mandirs and gurdwaras, the community calendar is rich during Diwali week.

What to expect at temples

Special darshan hours, aarti schedules, and cultural performances.
Annakut displays on Tuesday, October 21 (Govardhan Puja) at many Vaishnav temples.
Family activities: rangoli stations, diya painting, and kids’ storytelling.

How to use temple schedules wisely

Subscribe to your temple’s newsletter in early October.
Arrive 20–30 minutes early for popular aartis; parking fills fast.
Consider carpooling or rideshare to skip parking stress.

Community tip: If your temple publishes a specific Lakshmi Puja time for your city, it’s fine to follow that exactly even if it differs slightly from generic city windows.

Family guide: Puja setup, decor, and safety

Make the evening calm and meaningful with a simple, intentional setup.

Puja essentials

Murti or photo of Lakshmi and Ganesh.
Silver or clean plate, diyas/LED candles, incense, flowers, and kumkum.
Sweets and fruit, panchamrit, rice, betel leaves/nut if used in your tradition.

Altar and seating

Use a low table covered with a clean cloth.
Keep matchboxes, incense, and open flames away from curtains.
Seat elders comfortably; place a small cushion for longer aarti.

Fire safety

Prefer LED candles where kids or pets roam.
Place diyas on a tray with sand or a metal plate.
Keep a small water spray or fire blanket nearby.

With young children, involve them in safe steps: arranging flowers, placing sweets, or switching on string lights.

Food, sweets, and shopping list

Diwali is as much about taste as it is about light.

Sweets to consider

Laddus (besan, motichur), kaju katli, barfi (coconut, pista), and jalebi.
For lighter options, try baked modak or date-and-nut rolls.
Label allergens if hosting guests (nuts, ghee, milk solids).

Savories and mains

Chaat platters, samosas, kachori, dhokla, and paneer tikka.
Festive mains like chole, puri, pulao, kadhi, or pav bhaji for a crowd.
South Indian favorites: medu vada, idli, masala dosa, and pongal.

Shopping checklist

Diyas/LED tea lights, rangoli colors, torans, and string lights.
Pooja thali, incense, camphor, and fresh flowers.
Gift boxes, mithai trays, and return gifts for kids.

Pro tip: If you’re short on time, pre-order mithai boxes from a trusted shop and refrigerate carefully. Most sweets stay fresh for 2–4 days.

Sustainability: Greener ways to celebrate

Small choices make a big impact.

Opt for clay diyas and refillable oil bottles.
Reuse decor; choose LED strings with timers to save energy.
Share rides to temples and events to cut traffic and emissions.
Compost flower garlands and use natural rangoli powders.
Consider attending central community displays instead of private fireworks.

Photography and social sharing

Capture memories without disrupting sacred moments.

Use natural light from diyas; keep flash off during aarti.
For phone shots, stabilize on a table or railing and use night mode sparingly.
Frame the altar with wide angles; then take a close-up of the diyas.
Share with context: add a short note about the meaning of Diwali for your family.
Include alt text on social posts for accessibility.

Contrarian view: The most meaningful photos aren’t always perfectly lit. Candid, low-light moments around the altar often become family favorites.

Budget and booking checklist

You can plan a memorable Diwali week without overspending.

Sample budget (family of four)

Home decor and diyas: 30–30–60 with reuse next year.
Sweets and snacks: 40–40–120 depending on variety.
Puja supplies: 15–15–40.
Temple donations and community events: 20–20–100.
Optional outfits: 0–0–200+ (reuse or swap for savings).

Booking timeline

Two weeks out: Deep clean; order decor and LEDs.
Ten days out: Pre-order mithai and snacks.
One week out: Confirm temple schedules and family plan.
72 hours out: Shop fresh flowers, fruits, and last-minute pooja items.
Event day: Set up by midday; keep evening free for puja.

Save more by sharing responsibilities: one family handles decor, another brings sweets, and a third hosts post-puja tea.

Common mistakes to avoid

Learn from what trips people up.

Chasing a single “magic minute” and stressing the family out.
Waiting until Monday afternoon to shop—popular sweets sell out.
Using tall candles near curtains or paper torans.
Skipping water and snacks, then getting hangry before aarti.
Forgetting a comfortable seat for elders during longer prayers.

Better approach: Pick a realistic 60–90 minute window that fits your family’s pace while Amavasya prevails, and enjoy the ritual without rush.

Surprising facts and myth-busting

A few truths to help you celebrate smarter.

It’s okay if your family’s exact Puja time differs from a friend’s in another city. The tithi and sunset vary by location.
Many communities prioritize safety and environment by favoring light shows over fireworks; the joy of Diwali remains.
Diwali isn’t just one story: Hindus focus on Lakshmi Puja, Jains recall Mahavira’s nirvana, and Sikhs mark Bandi Chhor Divas—each with unique customs.
You don’t need an elaborate altar. A clean cloth, a simple thali, and a focused heart are enough.

Key statistics (with sources)

Diwali (Lakshmi Puja) falls on Monday, October 20, 2025 in the U.S. Source: timeanddate — Diwali in the United States 2025 (www.timeanddate.com/holidays/us/diwali)
Around 4.8 million Indian Americans lived in the U.S. as of 2019, reflecting steady growth of the community. Source: Pew Research Center — Key facts about Indian Americans (www.pewresearch.org)
Typical October 20 sunset times are around 6:00 pm in New York City and around 6:15 pm in Los Angeles; always verify your city. Source: timeanddate — Sun times for NYC and LA (www.timeanddate.com)
The continental U.S. spans four main time zones (ET, CT, MT, PT), plus Alaska and Hawaii-Aleutian. Source: NIST — U.S. Time Zone info (www.nist.gov/pml/time-and-frequency-division/time-distribution/time-zones)
Daylight Saving Time in the U.S. ends on Sunday, November 2, 2025, so Diwali on October 20 occurs while DST is still active. Source: timeanddate — DST in USA 2025 (www.timeanddate.com/time/dst/2025.html)

Figures are indicative; always check the linked resources for the latest city-specific sunset and event details.

Internal links to explore

External resources

timeanddate — Diwali in the United States 2025: www.timeanddate.com/holidays/us/diwali
timeanddate — Sunrise and Sunset calculator: www.timeanddate.com/sun/
NIST — U.S. Time Zone information: www.nist.gov/pml/time-and-frequency-division/time-distribution/time-zones
NASA SKYCAL — Lunar phases calendar: https://eclipse.gsfc.nasa.gov/SKYCAL/SKYCAL.html

FAQs: Diwali Dates 2025 USA — October 20 Festival Schedule & Timing

What is the exact date of Diwali 2025 in the USA?

Diwali falls on Monday, October 20, 2025. Most Indian-American families will perform Lakshmi Puja after local sunset during the Amavasya tithi.

How do I find the best Lakshmi Puja time for my city?

Use a two-part check: confirm your local sunset time for October 20 and ensure the Amavasya tithi is active during early evening. Then select a 60–90 minute window post-sunset. Many temples publish a local time you can follow exactly.

Will every U.S. city use the same timing?

No. Sunset and tithi boundaries vary by location. New York and Los Angeles, for example, have different sunsets on October 20. Follow your local temple or a trusted panchang for your city.

What if Amavasya ends before my ideal evening window?

Prioritize performing Puja while Amavasya is still active. If your city’s Amavasya ends very early, consult your temple’s guidance; some traditions adjust to the last part of Amavasya or use a locally published muhurat.

Which days are Dhanteras, Choti Diwali, Govardhan Puja, and Bhai Dooj in 2025?

Dhanteras is on Saturday, October 18; Choti Diwali on Sunday, October 19; Diwali Night on Monday, October 20; Govardhan Puja/Annakut on Tuesday, October 21; and Bhai Dooj on Wednesday, October 22, 2025.

Can I celebrate Diwali at home if I can’t visit a temple?

Absolutely. Create a simple altar with images or murtis of Lakshmi and Ganesh, light diyas or LEDs, and perform Puja with your family. You can also join temple livestreams if available.

Are fireworks necessary for the celebration?

No. Many families focus on diyas, prayers, sweets, and community meals. Some communities opt for light shows instead of fireworks to reduce noise and pollution.

Conclusion

You now have a complete, practical guide to Diwali Dates 2025 USA: October 20 Festival Schedule & Timing. With the festival week dates laid out, a simple method to choose your Lakshmi Puja window, and smart planning tips for families, you’re ready to celebrate with confidence and calm. Remember: the most meaningful Diwali is one you can fully experience—together, without rushing.

Take your next steps now:

Confirm your city’s sunset for October 20 and choose a family Puja window.
Subscribe to your temple’s updates and pre-order sweets.
Share this guide with friends and neighbors so everyone can plan smoothly.

Wishing you a safe, joyful, and light-filled Diwali 2025. Which city will you be lighting up from this year?