Diwali 2012: Ganesh-Laxmi Puja for Prosperity

Ganesh and Laxmi are regarded as the main deities of Diwali puja. Traditionally on Diwali night, Ganesh shares the altar with Lakshmi. Ganesh is the god of good beginnings and the fabled remover of obstacles whereas Lakshmi is the goddess of prosperity, light, beauty, good fortune and wealth and is generally worshiped to achieve success. As per the Hindu mythology, ganesh and laxmi are unrelated. However, they are placed together for the diwali poja to please them simultaneously, Lakshmi and Ganesh hold out promise of a year of fulfilment, free from wants.

Diwali is the festival celebrated with great fervour and enthusiasm amongst Hindus. It is believed that Goddess Laxmi visits everyone during Diwali and brings peace and prosperity to all. On the night of Diwali ganesh laxmi poja is performed by the entire family in the evenings to attract prosperity. After when the poja is done then family members wishes each other and lit the traditional diyas and lamps all over the house. Five pieces of ghee diyas (lamps) are lit in front of the deities, naivedya of traditional sweets is offered to the Goddess and devotional songs are sung in praise of Goddess Laxmi. After Deepawali Puja people light diyas (lamps) in their homes to usher in light and clear the darkness from the world.

Diwali puja is performed by the eldest member of the family in the presence of the all family members. In villages cattle are worshipped along with the deities by farmers as they form the main source of their income. In some parts of south India, cows are offered special worship as they are supposed to be the incarnation of Goddess Lakshmi and therefore they are adorned and worshipped on this day.

Diwali 2012: Step By Step Diwali Puja

First clean the Puja room and the Deities (Lakshmi & Ganesh) with Ganga water or plane water, then sprinkle each with panchamitra/or rose water, followed by water once more. Spread a green or red cloth over the altar and place the deities together on the altar. Now lit five diyas filled with desi ghee before the deities, it is said that the smoke of diyas of clay drive away the shadows of evil spirits.

Place a paan (betel leaves), some cloves. Make Panchamitra as Prasad by using five ingredients of milk, curd, ghee (clarified butter), sugar & Honey. Offer sweets, fruits and flowers to the deities. Along with these make offerings of Abir (red colour), Sindoor (vermillion) Haldi (turmeric) and few grains of rice. Light the Agarbatti (incense sticks) and place it along with the lamps filled with Ghee.

Now make offerings of Fruit, Sweets (mithai), Salty snacks (Mathis, Ghathia, Namakpare) and offer Dakshina (token money), which could be offered to the poor after the poja. Now pray to the deities to seek their blessings.

Place a Lotus and other flowers at Laxmi’s feet as an offering. Also offer a silver coin in front of the Goddess during the puja. Now perform Aarti with the camphor litted in a plate and flowers in hand. Both ganesh and laxmi arti should be done one after another by each member of family.