The complete guide · Updated Oct 2026
Diwali at Home: The Complete Guide
Everything you need to get your home ready for Diwali, in the order you will need it. Each stage links to a detailed guide, from decluttering and the deep clean to the puja corner and a budget that holds.
By Aishwarya
Jump to a stage
3 weeks before
Plan, declutter and start the deep clean
Clear out what you no longer need first, so there is less to clean. Then start with the jobs that take longest: fans, high places, curtains and wardrobes.
Things to Throw Away Before Diwali, and Where Each One Should Go
Diwali Cleaning Checklist: A Room-by-Room Safai Plan for Indian Homes
2 weeks before
Kitchen, bathrooms and shopping
The kitchen takes the most time, so give it two sessions. Shop for the things that are not perishable now, and set the budget before the festival rush.
Diwali on a Budget: How to Celebrate Without Overspending
1 week before
Puja corner, decoration and food
Polish the puja items, test the lights and plan the food, then finish the last of the cleaning.
How to Clean Brass and Silver Puja Items at Home Without Damaging Them
The five days
From Dhanteras to Bhai Dooj
A day-by-day checklist for the festival itself, with this year’s dates, and the full week-by-week plan in one place.
