Lakshmi Puja

Lakshmi Puja is one of the most important features of Diwali celebrations.Offered on the third and the main day of Diwali, Lakshmi Puja is performed to please Goddess Lakshmi to bring wealth and prosperity to the household.

In northern and western India, this is performed along with lot of rituals and rites. She is also worshiped to achieve success and fortune.Lakshmi is said to be the daughter of the sage Bhrigu. Legends say that she took refuge in the ocean of milk when the gods were sent into exile. Lakshmi was reborn when Lord and Demon churned the ocean to get ‘Amrut’, the drink of immortality. Falling on the dark night of Amavasya, Lakshmi Puja is followed by offering of homemade sweets for goddess and exchanging of gifts and sweets among friends and family.

STEPS TO BE FOLLOWED FOR LAKSHMI PUJA :

First of all the entire place for the pooja is cleaned and a higher platform with a new cloth over at it is made realy for deity’s establishment.
A kalash (pitcher) made of gold, silver, copper, or terracotta is then placed over it with handful of grains at the base.
Fill the pitcher with water and putbetel nut, flower, coin and some rice grains in it. Place five kinds of leaves or five mango leaves in pitcher.
After keeping a small dish on pitcher, fill it using rice grains. Then,over the rice grains, draw a lotus in it using turmeric powder. Place an idol of Lakshmi on the lotus along with some coins.
On the front of pitcher, towards the south west, keep a Ganesha idol along with ink, books and everything related to your business.
Light the lamp and start the puja using kumkum, turmeric and flowers to the platform, after which you invoke the goddess to be part of the water.
Recite slokas or songs invoking goddesses and after taking some flowers in your hands, close your eyes and think of goddess Lakshmi and offer flowers to the idol.
Keep the idol of Lakshmi in a plate and bathe the idol with water and panchamrit (a mix of milk, ghee, curd, ghee, butter, honey and sugar). Following this, bathe the idol again with water which contains gold or pearl immersed in it. Then, wipe the idol and keep it on the pitcher.
Sprinkle some flowers and water on the idol.
Then, offer sandal paste, saffron paste, garland of cotton beads, flowers and beetle leaves, sweets, coconut, fruits etc. Pour puffed rice over the idol.
Perform Aarti to goddess Lakshmi along with a small bell. Make sure not to clap hands while you do the Aarti as it is the practice with other gods.