How to perform Ma Lakshmi Puja On Diwali?

Lakshmi Puja is one of the most important rituals performed during the Diwali festival. The puja is dedicated to Goddess Lakshmi, the goddess of wealth, prosperity, and abundance. Devotees believe that worshiping her on this auspicious day brings good fortune, financial growth, and peace to the household. Lakshmi Puja is typically performed on the third day of Diwali, also known as Diwali Amavasya or Lakshmi Pujan. Here is a detailed, step-by-step guide to performing Lakshmi Puja on Diwali.

Preparations for Lakshmi Puja

Before starting the actual puja, several preparations need to be made to ensure that the ceremony is conducted properly and with devotion.

1. Clean and Purify the Home

The first step in preparing for Lakshmi Puja is cleaning and purifying your home. Goddess Lakshmi is believed to visit homes that are clean and pure, symbolizing that cleanliness attracts prosperity. Here’s how you can prepare:

• Clean the entire house, including corners and hard-to-reach areas.
• Decorate the entrance of your home with traditional rangoli designs made from colored powders, flowers, or rice flour. Rangoli is considered auspicious and helps welcome Goddess Lakshmi.
• Place torans (door hangings) made of mango leaves and marigold flowers at the entrance.
• Sprinkle some Ganga Jal (holy water from the Ganges) or regular water mixed with a few drops of Gangajal to purify the space.

2. Set up the Puja Area (Puja Sthaan)

The next step is setting up a clean and sacred space for the puja, ideally in the prayer room or a central area of the house.

• Place a chowki (a small platform) or a clean cloth on the floor.
• Spread some rice on the chowki as a base for the idols.
• Place idols or pictures of Goddess Lakshmi and Lord Ganesha on the platform. Lord Ganesha is worshiped first as the remover of obstacles, ensuring a smooth and successful puja.
• Along with the idols, place other items such as:
• Kalash (a small pot filled with water and topped with mango leaves and a coconut).
• Gold or silver coins, as these are symbolic of wealth.
• A plate containing kumkum, haldi, chandan (sandalwood paste), and flowers for offering.

3. Get the Puja Items Ready

Here is a list of essential items needed for Lakshmi Puja:

• Diyas (oil lamps) – typically made of clay.
• Flowers – marigold, lotus, or any other fresh flowers.
• Incense sticks and dhoop.
• Camphor for the aarti.
• Puffed rice, batasha (sugar candy), and sweets like laddoos or modaks.
• Coconut, betel leaves, and betel nuts.
• Fruits, especially bananas, pomegranates, and apples.
• New currency notes or other valuable items like jewelry for offering.

4. Dress Up for the Occasion

It is customary to dress in new or clean clothes for the puja. Traditional attire such as sarees for women and dhotis or kurtas for men are preferred. Wearing auspicious colors like red, yellow, or green is believed to bring good luck.

Performing Lakshmi Puja

Once the preparations are complete, you can proceed with the actual puja. Here’s a detailed step-by-step guide:

1. Invoke Lord Ganesha

Start by worshiping Lord Ganesha. Light a diya and place it in front of the deity.

• Apply kumkum and haldi to Lord Ganesha’s idol.
• Offer fresh flowers, garlands, and sweets (modaks or laddoos).
• Chant the Ganesh mantra:
  “Om Gan Ganapataye Namah.”
  This is done to seek his blessings for removing any obstacles that may hinder the puja.

2. Invoke Goddess Lakshmi

Now, focus on worshiping Goddess Lakshmi. Light incense sticks, dhoop, and the remaining diyas.

• Apply tilak (kumkum and haldi) to the idol or picture of Goddess Lakshmi.
• Offer fresh flowers, especially lotuses, as they are her favorite.
• Sprinkle rice grains around her idol as a mark of respect.
• Place gold/silver coins in front of her idol and apply a small tilak on them, symbolizing wealth.
• Offer sweets like laddoos, batasha, and puffed rice to the Goddess.
• Chant the Lakshmi mantra:
  “Om Shreem Maha Lakshmiyei Namah.”
  This mantra is recited to invite the goddess to bless the home with prosperity and abundance.

3. Lakshmi Puja Katha

It is customary to recite the story (katha) of Goddess Lakshmi, which narrates how she blesses her devotees with prosperity when they worship her with a pure heart. You can read the Lakshmi Katha from a book or listen to it as a recording. This part of the puja helps everyone reflect on the significance of wealth and abundance in a spiritual context.

4. Offerings (Naivedya)

Offer the prasad (food offering) to the deities. Place fruits, sweets, and food items like puffed rice and batasha before the idols.

• Offer panchamrit, a sacred mixture of milk, curd, honey, sugar, and ghee.
• Distribute the prasad to everyone present after the puja as a sign of the goddess’s blessings.

5. Perform the Aarti

The aarti is the concluding part of the puja, performed with devotion and reverence.

• Light camphor and move it in circular motions in front of the idols while singing the Lakshmi Aarti.
• Some common aartis include “Om Jai Lakshmi Mata” and “Jai Ganesh Deva”.
• While performing the aarti, ring bells and clap your hands to create a spiritually charged atmosphere.
• Once the aarti is complete, sprinkle some holy water (Gangajal) around the house, symbolically purifying the space.

Post-Puja Rituals

After the Lakshmi Puja, there are several post-puja customs that are followed:

• Place Diyas Around the House: It is a tradition to place small diyas around the house, especially in windows, doorways, and near the entrance. The diyas are believed to welcome Goddess Lakshmi into the home.
• Share Sweets and Gifts: Diwali is a time of joy and celebration, and it is customary to distribute sweets and gifts among family, friends, and neighbors. This act of sharing symbolizes goodwill and the spreading of happiness.
• Business Rituals: In many households and businesses, it is also a tradition to worship new account books and tools, symbolizing a fresh start to the financial year.

Conclusion

Lakshmi Puja on Diwali is not just a ritual but a deeply spiritual practice that embodies the celebration of prosperity, gratitude, and renewal. By worshiping Goddess Lakshmi, devotees seek blessings for financial stability, peace, and happiness in their lives. Through meticulous preparation, heartfelt offerings, and the chanting of mantras, families come together to connect with divine energies and start the new year on a positive, prosperous note.

As you perform Lakshmi Puja, remember that the true essence of this festival lies in recognizing and honoring the blessings we already have while opening our hearts to receive more abundance in the future.