Diwali Puja Time: Diwali 2024 Puja Guide: Puja Vidhi, Laxmi Pooja Shubh Muhurat, Mantras and Everything You Need to Know |

Diwali, the festival of lights, is one of the most famous Hindu festivals worldwide and symbolizes the triumph of light over darkness and good over evil. On this auspicious day, families gather in honor Goddess Lakshmithe deity of wealth, prosperity and happiness, by performing Lakshmi Puja. This puja is believed to invite peace, wealth and prosperity into one's home and fill the coming year with blessings.
Here is a detailed step-by-step guide on how to perform Lakshmi Puja at home to ensure that the ritual is performed with respect and devotion.

1. Cleanse and detoxify your home

Lakshmi, the goddess of wealth and purity, is said to only stay in clean and well-kept rooms. Start by thoroughly cleaning your home, especially the area where you want to perform the puja. Clear clutter and organize your space as a sign of respect and to invite positive energy. Once you've cleaned, sprinkle it on top Gangajal (holy water from the Ganges) in every room that purifies the environment. Many people also use incense sticks or dhoop to purify the air, which is believed to ward off negative energies.

2. Set up the Puja platform

Next, choose a quiet and clean place to set up your puja platform. Spread a red cotton cloth over a raised table or on the floor in your designated puja area. Red is considered auspicious and is often used in ceremonies to attract positive vibrations. In the center of this cloth place a small handful of grains, which symbolize abundance, fertility and stability and provide a sacred basis for the ritual.

3. Place and prepare the kalash

The Kalash or sacred pot is a central part of Hindu rituals and symbolizes life and the universe. Place the kalash on the grains in the center of the puja platform. Fill the pot three-quarters full with fresh water and add a supari (betel nut), a marigold flower, a coin and a few grains of rice. Then arrange five mango leaves in a circle around the mouth of the kalash. This arrangement is believed to represent creation and prosperity and attract divine energy into your home.

4. Position the idols of Goddess Lakshmi and Lord Ganesha

Place a beautiful idol or image of Goddess Lakshmi in the center of the platform as she is the focus of the puja. To the right of it (southwest direction) place an idol of Lord Ganesha, the remover of obstacles, who is also worshiped during Diwali. In front of Lakshmi's idol, make a small mound of rice grains on a plate and draw a lotus using haldi (turmeric). Place some coins on this lotus, symbolizing abundance and devotion.

5. Organize business and property related items

For business owners or professionals, Diwali is also an opportunity to seek blessings for prosperity and success. Place your business books, assets or other items related to your career in front of the idols. This symbolic gesture represents your desire for financial stability and progress and invokes the Goddess's blessings for continued success and happiness.

6. Apply tilak and light diyas

Applying tilak (a red patch of kumkum or sandalwood paste) on the idols, the kalash and one's forehead is a gesture of respect and reverence. It signifies purity and devotion and helps establish a connection with the divine. You will then light the diyas (oil lamps) around the puja area, symbolizing the triumph of light over darkness and inviting divine energy into the space. Many people use ghee or sesame oil lamps because they are said to attract blessings and drive away negativity.

7. Offer flowers

Flowers play an important role in Hindu rituals and symbolize beauty, purity and devotion. Offer fresh flowers such as marigolds to Goddess Lakshmi and Lord Ganesha, place some at the base of the idols and hold some in your hands for prayer. Fresh, bright flowers are believed to attract positive energy and divine blessings during the ritual.

8. Recite mantras

With flowers in your hands, join them in a namaskar, close your eyes and recite Diwali puja mantras dedicated to the deities. Common mantras include: Shree Lakshmi MantraOm Hreem Shreem Lakshmibhayo Namah and the Ganesh Mantra, Om Gan Ganapataye Namah. These mantras, chanted with concentration and devotion, are believed to invoke divine energy and invite peace, prosperity and protection into your home. After reciting the mantras, offer the flowers to the idols.

9. Offer water and Panchamrita to the Goddess

Offering water to the goddess is a gesture of purification and devotion. Bathe the Lakshmi idol with plain water followed by panchamrita (a mixture of milk, yogurt, ghee, honey and sugar), which represents nourishment, purity and sweetness. After this ritual cleaning, gently wipe the idol and place it back on the platform.

10. Offer garlands and burn incense

Decorate the idols with garlands, especially around the neck of Goddess Lakshmi. Garlands of marigolds or fresh flowers are traditional and represent beauty and devotion. Apply haldiKumkum and rice grains for the idol as a sign of respect. Then light incense sticks or dhoop so that the fragrant smoke fills the air. This not only cleanses the space but is also said to attract divine energies.

11. Display fruits, sweets and symbolic objects

Offer coconut, supari, betel leaves, fresh fruits and sweets like ladoos or modaks to the goddess. These offerings represent nourishment, purity and gratitude, inviting the blessings of the Goddess into your life. Place additional flowers and coins in front of the idol to symbolize abundance and your desire for prosperity.

12. Perform the aarti

The Aarti or final prayer is the most important part of Lakshmi Puja and expresses gratitude and devotion to the Goddess. Place a diya (oil lamp) on a plate called a thali and move it clockwise around the idol. Ring a puja bell to create a sacred sound that echoes through the room, purifying and uplifting the energy in the room. Chant or sing the Lakshmi aarti while performing this ritual and let its vibrations fill the surroundings with positivity.

Additional Tips for a Blissful Diwali Puja

Dress Traditionally: It is recommended to wear traditional attire in clean, fresh clothes that symbolize respect and readiness for the blessings of the Goddess. Maintain stillness and devotion: Make sure the environment is calm and serene so that you can connect with the spiritual aspects of the puja. Stay calm, be respectful: This ritual is about both inner peace and material blessings. Take each step carefully and respectfully. Performing Lakshmi Puja on Diwali is not only a way to honor the goddess of wealth but also an opportunity to cultivate gratitude, focus on family and bring harmony into the home. By following these steps, you will create a sacred, loving atmosphere to welcome the blessings of Goddess Lakshmi and brighten your life with prosperity and peace throughout the year.