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Diwali 2024: Lakshmi Puja, which is an integral part of Diwali celebrations, symbolises growth and prosperity in life.
Lakshmi Puja is performed in the evening on Diwali. (Image: Shutterstock)
Diwali is a major celebration for Hindus living in India and abroad. Among the many rituals performed during this auspicious day, Lakshmi Puja is perhaps the most important tradition for households. It’s believed that Goddess Lakshmi bestows her devotees with wealth, prosperity and affluence on Diwali.
This year, Lakshmi Puja can be performed in the evening on both days of October 31 and November 1, as per Drik Panchang. However, the auspicious timings may differ from state to state depending on the regional calendar.
The festival of Diwali is observed on the Amavasya Tithi in Krishna Paksha of Kartik month, as per Hindu calendar. The Amavasya Tithi will start at 3:52 PM on October 31 and end at 6:16 PM on November 1, as per Drik Panchang.
LIVE: Diwali 2024 Celebrations Across India
It’s a traditional practice in many states, especially in northern and western parts of India, to worship Lord Ganesh and Goddess Lakshmi in the evening on Diwali. Many people also launch new ventures and open business accounts on Diwali. On the other hand, in many states people offer Shradh to ancestors. In West Bengal Kali Puja is also performed on Diwali.
What Is Lakshmi Puja?
The purpose of Lakshmi Puja is to appease Goddess Lakshmi, who is known as the Hindu goddess of wealth and prosperity. It’s believed that worshipping Lord Ganesh and Goddess Lakshmi together on Diwali weeds out all obstacles in life and brings good luck and wealth. It’s believed that on Diwali Goddess Lakshmi visits the homes of her devotees and bestows them with wealth and affluence those who worship her.
Lakshmi Puja: Quotes To Share
- “May the light of Goddess Lakshmi shine brightly in your life, guiding you towards success and prosperity.”
- “Take this day as an opportunity to start afresh and make new beginnings. Invest yourself in a better and brighter future with Maa Lakshmi’s blessings.”
- “May you find success in all your endeavours and joy in your heart on this day of Lakshmi Puja.”
- “May Goddess Lakshmi’s grace bring abundance, happiness and prosperity to your life.”
- “Seek the divine through prayer and worship, and all will be well in your life.”
The Significance of Lakshmi Puja 2024
Lakshmi Puja, which is an integral part of Diwali celebrations, symbolises growth and prosperity in life. As it’s believed that Goddess Lakshmi loves purity and cleanliness, people clean their homes and buy new clothes and household items to celebrate Diwali.
When homes are lit with colourful decorations and diyas, the worship of Goddess Lakshmi gives everyone hope for growth and prosperity.
Lord Ganesh is known as Vighnaharta, or the one who removes all obstacles. So, worshipping Lord Ganesh and Goddess Lakshmi symbolises growth and well-being without any obstacles in life.
Auspicious Muhurat for Lakshmi Puja 2024
The Shubh Muhurat, or the auspicious timing, for performing Lakshmi Puja on October 31 is from 6:57 PM to 8:36 PM.
On the other hand, Lakshmi Puja can be performed between 5:35 PM and 8:36 PM on November 1, depending on the city, as per Drik Panchang.
Lakshmi Puja Rituals: Step-by-Step Guide
- Wake up early and take a holy bath.
- Clean the house, especially the puja room.
- Decorate your home with rangoli, flowers and lights.
- Wear new, clean clothes and gather all of the samagri for Lakshmi Puja.
- Many devotees also keep fast on this auspicious day.
- In the evening, place an elevated wooden platform at the puja corner or the temple at home and cover it with a new red cloth. Place the idols of Lord Ganesh and Goddess Lakshmi on it. Many people also place a Shree Yantra with the idols.
- Light 21 earthen lamps and worship Goddess Lakshmi with 11 lotus flowers, paan, supari, elaichi, laung, several varieties of sweets, kheer, patasha, and kheel (puffed rice).
- First, apply tilak on Lord Ganesh and Goddess Lakshmi, and then chant the Lakshmi Mantra 108 times.
- Place currency notes, gold jewellery, and silver coins in front of the Goddess, and pray to her to continue bestowing blessings for wealth and affluence.
- Chant Lord Ganesh Mantra and Goddess Lakshmi Mantra to complete the puja rituals.
- Once the puja rituals are performed, take all 21 earthen lamps, five of which must be lit with desi ghee and kept in the kitchen, room, and at the entrance door. The rest can be placed on the balcony.
Puja Samagri: What You Need for the Puja
Idols: Idols of Lord Ganesh and Goddess Lakshmi are worshipped together on Diwali.
Account books: New account books are offered to begin the new fiscal year.
Silk cloth: For Lakshmi Puja, a red silk cloth is necessary.
Red cloth: A clean or new red cloth is needed for placing the idols.
Puja Asana/Chowki: The idols are put on a wooden stool or any other elevated platform known as chowki. It can be of wood, brass metal or marble stone.
Lamp: Five large earthen lamps and twenty-five tiny earthen lamps are compulsory.
Kalash: To store water, a fresh earthen pitcher is necessary.
Flowers: Flowers and flower garlands are also needed for the puja rituals.
Sweets, paan: Sweets, fruits, sugarcane, and paan are essential ingredients for the puja.
Pancha pallav, duba: The pancha pallav refers to the leaves of mango, palash, bakul, banyan, and peepal trees. Additionally, durba or grass is also used in the Diwali puja.
Akshata: Akshata can be used to replace any missing item from the samagri list.
Panchamrit: It is a sacred mix of five ingredients comprising milk, curd, honey, ghee and sugar/jiggery.
Here’s How To Prepare Your Home for Lakshmi Puja
Remove unwanted or old objects from each room and donate or discard anything you don’t need.
Wipe down furniture, shelves, and other visible surfaces, particularly corners and high areas.
Scrub the stove, refrigerator, counters, cabinets and appliances. Clean the kitchenware you don’t use frequently.
Clean the curtains, bedsheets, cushion covers and carpets.
Wipe the windows and mirrors to make them shine.
Sweep and remove any unneeded stuff from the entrance, as Goddess Lakshmi is supposed to enter through the main door.
Place diyas and oil lamps around the front door, windows, and the balcony area.
Prayers and Mantras to Invoke Goddess Lakshmi:
Mantras
Om Hreem Shreem Lakshmibhayo Namah॥
Om Shreem Hreem Shreem Kamale Kamalalaye Praseed Praseed
Om Shreem Hreem Shreem Mahalakshmaye Namah॥
Om Shree Mahalakshmyai Cha Vidmahe Vishnu Patnyai Cha Dheemahi,
Tanno Lakshmi Prachodayat Om॥
Prayers
1. “O goddess, freedom from bodily ailments, riches, destruction of enemies, and happiness are not difficult to attain for persons who view your glances.”
tvam mata sarva-bhutanam deva-devo harih pita
tvayaitad vishnuma chadya jagad vyaptam-characharam
2. “You are the mother of all creatures, as that God of gods, Hari, is their father. And this universe, consisting of moving and nonmoving entities, is presently permeated by you, as well as Vishnu.”
ma nah kosham tatha goshtham ma griham ma paricchadam
ma sariram kalatram cha tyajethaha sarva-pavani
3. “I offer my obeisances unto the Goddess who is the abode of lotuses, who holds the lotus, whose eyes resemble the petals of a lotus, whose face is a lotus, and who is dear to the Lord who has a lotus navel.”
tvam siddhis tvam svadha svaha sudha tvam loka-pavani
sandhya ratrihi prabha bhutir medha sraddha sarasvati
Dos and Don’ts for Lakshmi Puja
Dos
Clean your home and office. After that, decorate it with lamps, diyas, lights, flowers, rangoli and candles.
Keeping a Manglik Kalash on both sides of the main gate, coated in unpeeled coconut, is considered auspicious.
Then, thoroughly clean the place of worship. Spread a crimson red cloth where you intend to do the puja. After that, place the Goddess Lakshmi, Goddess Saraswati, and Lord Ganesh statues on the cloth.
During Pradosh Kaal, perform Diwali Puja.
During the Diwali Puja, use turmeric, coriander and lotus seeds.
Don’ts
Perform Diwali Puja using idols made of clay, brass metal or silver. Avoid buying glass idols.
As it’s believed that Goddess Lakshmi visits homes on Diwali, you should avoid leaving footwear at the door.
Avoid using iron utensils.
Avoid leaving waste items at your door or on your patio/terrace.
On Diwali, avoid eating non-vegetarian foods and drinking alcohol.
