Diwali 2017: Laxmi Pujan to Attract Wealth

Diwali is considered as one of the biggest festival of Hindus and celebrated with great fervour and enthusiasm. It is believed that worshipping goddess Laxmi on this auspicious occasion brings wealth, prosperity and peace to the devotee, as according to the Hindu religion Goddess Laxmi is regarded as the goddess of prosperity and wealth. The festival of Diwali culminates with the Laxmi Puja and considered as the main event on Diwali in North and West India as well. As per the belief of the devotees, it is said that Goddess Lakshmi herself visits everyone’s house on the evening of Diwali and brings peace and prosperity to all.
It is s extremely important to keep the house spotlessly clean and pure on Diwali. So, in order to welcome the Goddess, it is imperative to keep the house clean, as goddess Lakshmi likes cleanliness, and she prefers to visit the fresh and sparkling dwellings.

Entire house is sanitised and decorated with lamps; they are lit in the evening by the dwellers as a gesture to welcome the goddess.

Step by Step Diwali Pujan / Lakshmi Puja

Goddess Lakshmi - is worshipped in her three forms - Mahalakshmi (the goddess of wealth and money), Mahasaraswati (the goddess of books and learning), and Mahakali; Kuber (the treasurer of the gods) is also worshipped.

• Spread a red or green new cloth on the altar.
• Place a handful of grains in the centre and place a kalash, lota (pitcher) over it. Fill the kalash with three-fourth water (preferably Ganga Jal) and place a betel nut, a flower, a coin, and some rice grains in it. Arrange five kinds of leaves or mango leaves in the kalash.
• Cover the kalash with a small dish and pour some rice grains over. Draw a lotus with turmeric powder over the rice grains and place the idol of goddess Lakshmi over it, along with coins.
• Before the kalash towards South-West, place the idol of Ganesha. Also place ink and books related to your business or occupation on the platform.
• Light a diya (lamp) and incense sticks begin the puja by offering haldi, kumkum, and flowers to the platform on which the kalash is placed.
• Sprinkle some Ganga Jal on all puja utensils to purify them.
• Make Panchamitra with 5 ingredients of milk, curd, ghee(clarified butter), sugar & Honey.
• Start with Ganesh Puja (Ganeshji are a must for Diwali pujan, as Ganeshji should be worshipped in all pujas before any other god or goddess. He is considered as the Lord of Wisdom and the remover of obstacles. Offer a garland to the god. Offer flowers and make an offering of sweets, coconut and fruits.
• Now invoke goddess Lakshmi by reciting the Laxmi mantras. Then make the offerings of flowers and fruits to the Goddess.
• Place the idol of Lakshmi in a plate and cleanse it with water, panchamrit and then with water containing some gold ornament or a pearl. Wipe the idol clean and place it back on the kalash. Alternately, you can just sprinkle Ganga Jal and panchamrit on the idol with a flower.
• Offer sandal paste, haldi, kumkum and a garland to the goddess. Followed with the offerings of flowers and make an offering of sweets, coconut and fruits.
• Then worship the ink and business books. Open the first page of each book and write '' Shubha Labh '' on it and draw a Swastika in the clockwise direction.
• Wash all your gold and silver coins with water, panchamrit and then with water.
• Make an offering of puffed rice and batasha to the Gods.
• Finally, perform the aarti for goddess Laxmi and the universal aarti of "Om Jai Jagdish Hare.”.
• At the end distribute the prasad to all members present.
• Now light the lamps and candles all around the house. No corner of the house should be left in darkness.

It is important to remember that no lamp should be lighted before the puja, one can light the lamps only after when Laxmi puja is performed.