Diwali Puja Samagri List: Complete Checklist for Lakshmi Ganesh Pujan
Diwali puja is the one most families do themselves, without a pandit. That makes the samagri list matter more, because there is nobody arriving with a spare packet of roli if something was missed.
This is the complete Diwali puja samagri list for Lakshmi Ganesh pujan, grouped by how you use it on the night, along with the fresh items no kit can include and the things households most often forget.
Customs vary by region and family. Treat this as a working checklist and follow your own tradition where it differs.
Diwali 2026 dates
Diwali falls on Sunday, 8 November 2026. The five days run as follows:
| Day | Date |
|---|---|
| Dhanteras | Friday, 6 November 2026 |
| Choti Diwali (Naraka Chaturdashi) | Saturday, 7 November 2026 |
| Diwali, Lakshmi Ganesh Pujan | Sunday, 8 November 2026 |
| Govardhan Puja | Monday, 9 November 2026 |
| Bhai Dooj | Tuesday, 10 November 2026 |
Lakshmi puja is performed on Diwali evening, traditionally during Pradosh Kaal after sunset. The exact muhurat shifts by city and the published timings differ between panchangs, so check a panchang for your own location rather than relying on a single figure.
Complete Diwali puja samagri list
Grouped by what each item is for, in roughly the order the puja moves.
The deities and the altar
| Item | Used for |
|---|---|
| Lakshmi Ganesh photo | The focus of the puja, placed on the chowki |
| Lal kapda (लाल कपड़ा) | Red cloth spread on the chowki beneath the photo |
| Shubh Labh stickers | Fixed on either side of the main door and the safe or almirah |
| Kalawa (कलावा) | Tied on the wrist and around the kalash |
| Kaccha soot (कच्चा सूत) | Raw cotton thread wound around the kalash and offerings |
Tilak and marking items
| Item | Used for |
|---|---|
| Roli and kumkum (रोली, कुमकुम) | Tilak for the deities, the account books and everyone present |
| Haldi (हल्दी) | Auspicious marking and swastik on the threshold |
| Chandan powder (चंदन) | Sandalwood paste applied to the photo |
| Akshat (अक्षत) | Unbroken rice, offered and used to form the base for the kalash |
The Lakshmi prosperity items
These four are specific to Lakshmi pujan and are the ones most often left out of a generic puja list.
| Item | Used for |
|---|---|
| Kamalgatta (कमलगट्टा) | Lotus seeds, offered to Lakshmi, who is seated on the lotus |
| Kaudi (कौड़ी) | Cowrie shells, kept in the safe or cash box after the puja |
| Gomti chakra (गोमती चक्र) | Offered during the puja and commonly kept with savings afterwards |
| Satavar (सतावर) | Offered with the other prosperity items |
Lamp, fragrance and fire
| Item | Used for |
|---|---|
| Ghee (घी) | Fuel for the puja diya and for the havan |
| Rui batti (रुई बत्ती) | Cotton wicks |
| Kapoor (कपूर) | Camphor for the aarti |
| Agarbatti (अगरबत्ती) | Incense offered during the puja |
| Hawan samagri (हवन सामग्री) | Offered into the fire, where your family performs a havan |
| Ittar (इत्र) | Perfume offered to the deities |
| Matchbox | For the diyas and the aarti |
Offerings
| Item | Used for |
|---|---|
| Puja supari (सुपारी) | Betel nut, offered and placed on the kalash |
| Khadi dhaniya (खड़ी धनिया) | Whole coriander seed, offered to Lakshmi and kept afterwards |
| Gangajal (गंगाजल) | Purifying the altar, the space and the participants |
| Janeu (जनेऊ) | Sacred thread offered to Ganesh |
What you still need to arrange yourself
Fresh and perishable items cannot be packed in advance, and most homes already have the vessels. Arrange these separately:
- Diyas. Clay or metal, and far more than you think. Count the doorways, windows, balcony and tulsi plant before buying.
- Kheel and batasha. Puffed rice and sugar drops, specific to Diwali Lakshmi puja and the item most commonly forgotten.
- Marigold flowers (genda) and mango leaves for the door toran
- A lotus flower for Lakshmi, where you can get one
- Fruits, with pomegranate, banana and sitaphal being the usual choices
- Mithai for the naivedya and for guests
- A silver coin or new currency notes placed on the puja thali
- Bahi khata or account books, if your family does Chopda Pujan
- Milk, curd, honey and sugar for the panchamrit, along with the ghee from the kit
- A kalash or lota, and a thali for the aarti
- A chowki and a clean cloth for it
- Rangoli colours for the entrance
- Water for the kalash
Things people most often forget
- Kheel and batasha. Worth repeating. Shops sell out of these on Diwali afternoon.
- Enough diyas and enough oil or ghee to keep them burning through the night.
- The mango leaf toran for the main door, which is usually put up before the puja begins.
- A new broom, which many families buy on Dhanteras and keep aside.
- Cleaning and rangoli finished before the muhurat, since the puja traditionally follows a cleaned house.
- The account books, if anyone in the family runs a business.
Frequently asked questions
When is Diwali in 2026?
Diwali falls on Sunday, 8 November 2026, with Dhanteras on 6 November, Choti Diwali on 7 November, Govardhan Puja on 9 November and Bhai Dooj on 10 November.
What time should Lakshmi puja be performed?
Lakshmi puja is performed on Diwali evening after sunset, traditionally during Pradosh Kaal. The exact muhurat depends on your city and published timings vary between panchangs, so check one for your own location.
Why are Lakshmi and Ganesh worshipped together?
Lakshmi is invoked for wealth and prosperity, and Ganesh as the remover of obstacles. By convention Ganesh is honoured first in any puja, so the two are worshipped side by side on Diwali night.
What are kheel and batasha?
Kheel is puffed rice and batasha are light sugar drops. Both are offered to Lakshmi on Diwali and then shared as prasad. They are specific to this festival and are not part of a general puja samagri list.
Can Diwali puja be done without a pandit?
Yes, and most households do. The puja is performed by the family together, usually after the house has been cleaned and the diyas lit.
Getting the samagri together
Diwali week is the hardest time of year to collect puja samagri, because the shops are crowded and the small items run out first. Our Diwali Lakshmi-Ganesh Puja Kit contains all the items listed above, including the kamalgatta, kaudi, gomti chakra and Shubh Labh stickers, assembled and checked by hand before dispatch.
You will still want the diyas, kheel, batasha, flowers and fruit fresh from the market.
If you are also planning a Satyanarayan puja, our Satyanarayan puja samagri list covers that one in the same detail. You can browse the rest of our festival puja kits too.