Diwali Date Confusion Resolved: Diwali and Payashraddha to Be Observed on October 20

Bhubaneswar,  17th Oct 2025:  Diwali Date Confusion Resolved: Diwali and Payashraddha to Be Observed on October 20

Amavasya and Payashraddha to Coincide on the 20th

Diwali will be celebrated on October 20, not on the 21st

Payashraddha will also be performed on October 20, the same day as Kali Puja and Diwali

This clarification came during a press conference held by the Mukti Mandap Pandit Sabha, the traditional priest council of Puri.

Details of the Announcement:

There had been confusion regarding the correct date of Diwali and Payashraddha—whether it should fall on October 20 or 21

The Pandit Sabha confirmed that Amavasya begins at 3:23 PM on October 20, which is the appropriate time to begin Payashraddha rituals

Although Amavasya continues into October 21, it lasts for only 14 minutes on the 21st, making October 20 the valid day for performing both Diwali rituals and Payashraddha

Hence, Kali Puja and Diwali will be celebrated on the evening of October 20

Request to Government:

The Mukti Mandap Pandit Sabha has requested the government to declare a holiday on October 20 to allow proper observance of Diwali and Payashraddha.

This decision resolves the ongoing uncertainty around the dates, aligning religious observances with traditional astrological calculations.