Diwali Lakshmi Puja Vidhi & Katha

Diwali, the festival of lights, is the most widely celebrated festival across India and among Hindus worldwide. At its heart lies the worship of Maa Lakshmi, the goddess of wealth, prosperity and auspiciousness, along with Lord Ganesha, the remover of obstacles and giver of wisdom. On this night, devotees light rows of diyas, decorate their homes with rangoli, and perform Lakshmi Puja with deep devotion, inviting the goddess to reside in their homes for the coming year.

The word Diwali comes from "Deepavali," meaning a row of lights. It falls on Amavasya, the darkest night of the Kartik month, symbolizing the eternal truth that light always triumphs over darkness, and good over evil.

There are several sacred stories associated with Diwali, and all of them converge on this one night of light and abundance.

The most popular katha tells us that on this very day, Lord Rama returned to Ayodhya after fourteen years of exile, having defeated the demon king Ravana and rescued Mata Sita. The people of Ayodhya, overjoyed at the return of their beloved prince, lit rows of earthen lamps throughout the city to welcome him home. Since Lord Rama is considered an incarnation of Lord Vishnu, and Mata Sita is regarded as a form of Lakshmi herself, this homecoming is remembered as the return of dharma and prosperity to the land.

Another ancient katha connects Diwali to the great Samudra Manthan, the churning of the cosmic ocean by the Devas and Asuras. During this churning, many divine treasures emerged, and on the night of Kartik Amavasya, Goddess Lakshmi herself rose from the ocean, seated upon a lotus, radiant and glowing with divine light. It is believed that on this night every year, Lakshmi wanders the earth, visiting homes that are clean, well-lit, and filled with devotion, choosing to bless those households with her presence for the entire year.

A third story reminds us why Lord Ganesha is worshipped alongside Lakshmi. It is said that Mata Lakshmi once asked Lord Vishnu who among her devotees was the most sincere. Testing the world's households, she found that wherever people worshipped wealth without wisdom and righteousness, their prosperity did not last. She then decided that she would only enter homes where Lord Ganesha, the deity of wisdom and auspicious beginnings, was worshipped together with her. This is why, to this day, no Lakshmi Puja is considered complete without invoking Ganesha first.

It is also remembered that on this day, Lord Krishna defeated the demon Narakasura and freed sixteen thousand captive women, restoring their honour and dignity. The day before Diwali, known as Naraka Chaturdashi or Choti Diwali, commemorates this victory of righteousness over cruelty.

Preparation:

Begin by thoroughly cleaning the entire house, as Lakshmi is believed to avoid homes that are dirty or cluttered. Decorate the entrance with rangoli and mango leaf torans, and place diyas along windowsills, doorways and the puja area to welcome the goddess with light.

Samagri needed: an idol or picture of Lakshmi and Ganesha, a kalash filled with water, mango leaves, a coconut, roli, chawal (rice), sindoor, flowers, sweets (especially kheer or laddoo), betel leaves and nuts, cotton wicks, ghee or oil for diyas, incense sticks, a small amount of gold or silver coin or jewellery if available, and fresh fruits.

Muhurat: The auspicious Pradosh Kaal, shortly after sunset, is considered the most favourable time for Lakshmi Puja, particularly during the fixed Sthir Lagna period of that evening.

Step by step vidhi:

Begin by taking a sankalp, resolving in your heart and with folded hands your intention to worship Lakshmi-Ganesha for the wellbeing and prosperity of your family.

Place a red or yellow cloth on a raised platform and set the murtis of Ganesha and Lakshmi upon it, along with Kubera, the treasurer of the gods, if available.

Install the kalash near the idols, filled with water, topped with mango leaves and a coconut wrapped in a red cloth.

Invoke Lord Ganesha first with roli, chawal, flowers and a diya, offering him modak or laddoo, and chanting Om Gan Ganpataye Namah.

Then invoke Maa Lakshmi with the same offerings, applying tilak, offering flowers, chawal and sweets, and lighting a ghee diya before her, chanting Om Shreem Mahalakshmiyei Namah.

Diwali Lakshmi Puja is believed to bring financial stability, remove obstacles from business and career, strengthen family bonds, and invite positivity and auspiciousness into the home for the entire year ahead. It is also a time of reflection, gratitude, and renewal, as devotees begin new account books, new ventures, and new resolutions on this sacred night.

This is a matter of faith and tradition, meant to bring peace, devotion and positivity, and is not a substitute for sound financial planning or professional advice.