Will Diwali 2024 be celebrated on two dates: October 31 or November 1? Read in Detail

Diwali 2024: The celebration date for Diwali this year remains undecided, with prominent astrologers across the country still divided on whether to observe the festival on October 31 or November 1. Despite three meetings between renowned astrologers, no consensus has been reached, resulting in the possibility of Diwali being celebrated on two different days across India.

Astrologers from Varanasi (Kashi) have declared that the auspicious time for Diwali and Lakshmi Puja falls on October 31. This view is also supported by the Indian Astronomical Centre in Kolkata, which is responsible for preparing the national calendar. They have set Diwali on October 31. Similarly, government calendars from states such as Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Chhattisgarh, Rajasthan, Gujarat, Delhi, and Himachal Pradesh have marked the festival on October 31.

However, certain significant religious sites have adopted different dates. While temples in Kashi, Ujjain, Mathura-Vrindavan, Nathdwara, Dwarka, and Tirupati will celebrate Diwali on October 31, places like Ayodhya, Rameshwaram, ISKCON temples, and those following the Nimbarka Sampradaya will observe Diwali on November 1.

Astrologers from Varanasi and Ujjain argue that Lakshmi Puja cannot be performed on the Pratipada (first day of the lunar month), hence Diwali should be celebrated on October 31. Their reasoning: The Amavasya (new moon) begins on the evening of October 31 at 4 pm and will continue until the evening of November 1 at 6 pm. Since Diwali is traditionally celebrated during the evening (Pradosh Kaal) and night, and both these times fall on October 31, the festival should be observed on this day.

Religious texts like Nirnaya Sindhu and Dharma Sindhu state that when Amavasya occurs during the Pradosh Kaal and night, the day is auspicious for Lakshmi Puja and Diwali celebrations. This is the case on October 31.

However, other astrologers, particularly those from Indore, hold a different view, suggesting that Diwali should be celebrated on November 1. Their arguments are: Amavasya will last until 6 pm on November 1, making it the full day of Amavasya, which is considered more appropriate for Lakshmi Puja.

According to them, when Amavasya spans two days, the festival should be celebrated on the second day. Since October  31 includes the Chaturdashi (14th lunar day), which is considered inauspicious for Lakshmi Puja, they believe that November 1, when the Pratipada is combined with Amavasya, is the better day for the celebration.

This debate among astrologers has led to confusion, with celebrations likely to take place on both dates across different parts of India.