🪔 Diwali Puja – Festival of Lights & Lakshmi Worship

Diwali (Deepavali) is the grand festival of lights, prosperity, and spiritual victory, celebrated across India and the world. The most important ritual of Diwali is the Lakshmi Puja, performed on Amavasya (new moon day) of the Kartik month (October–November). It is dedicated to Goddess Lakshmi, the bestower of wealth, fortune, and abundance, and also honors Lord Ganesha, the remover of obstacles.

🌟 Significance of Diwali

  • Marks the return of Lord Rama to Ayodhya after defeating Ravana.
  • Celebrates the victory of light over darkness, good over evil.
  • Welcomes Goddess Lakshmi into homes for wealth and prosperity.
  • Time for cleansing, renewal, and family bonding.

🛕 Diwali Puja Vidhi (Step-by-Step Rituals)

🧼 1. Preparations Before Puja

  • Clean the house thoroughly; decorate with rangoli, lights, and flowers.
  • Place earthen lamps (diyas) at doors, windows, balconies.
  • Prepare the puja altar with:
    • Images/idols of Lakshmi, Ganesha, and Kubera
    • Kalash with water, mango leaves, and coconut
    • Puja thali with all items arranged neatly

🪔 2. Puja Samagri (Items Needed)

  • Idols or photos of Lakshmi and Ganesha
  • Red/yellow cloth for altar
  • Kumkum, haldi, rice, flowers, betel leaves, betel nuts
  • Incense sticks, camphor, diya with oil or ghee
  • Coins, currency notes, jewelry (symbolizing wealth)
  • Fruits, sweets (especially laddus and kheel-batashe)
  • Panchamrit (milk, curd, ghee, honey, sugar)

🕉️ 3. Puja Procedure

🪔 Sankalpa (Vow)

  • Take a vow to perform the Diwali Puja with full devotion and purity.

🙏 Invocation (Avahana)

  • Invite Goddess Lakshmi and Lord Ganesha into your home with mantra chanting.

💧 Abhishekam (Optional)

  • Clean the idols with water or panchamrit and gently dry them.

🎀 Alankara (Decoration)

  • Apply kumkum, haldi, sandalwood paste.
  • Offer flowers, garlands, and ornaments.

🌺 Offerings (Naivedya and Archana)

  • Offer sweets, fruits, dry fruits, sugarcane pieces, and coins.
  • Light lamps and incense.
  • Chant Lakshmi Ashtottara Shatanamavali (108 names) and Ganesha Stotra.

🔥 Aarti

  • Perform Aarti with a diya and bell, while singing:
    • “Jai Lakshmi Mata”
    • “Om Jai Jagdish Hare”

🏮 4. Lighting Diyas

  • After the puja, light diyas throughout the house to invite Lakshmi.
  • Place lamps in the puja room, entrances, windows, and balconies.
  • Perform Lakshmi Aarti again in the evening and distribute prasad.

📿 Mantras to Chant

  • Lakshmi Gayatri Mantra:

Om Mahalakshmyai Cha Vidmahe Vishnu Patnyai Cha Dhimahi
Tanno Lakshmihi Prachodayat

  • Ganesha Mantra:

Om Gam Ganapataye Namah

🌙 Optional Additional Puja

  • Kubera Puja – Lord of wealth and treasurer of the Gods.
  • Chopda Pujan (in Gujarat/Maharashtra) – Worship of account books by businesspeople.
  • Gomata Puja – Worship of the cow as sacred.

📜 Benefits of Diwali Lakshmi Puja

  • Invokes wealth, success, and prosperity in home and business.
  • Removes financial obstacles and ensures smooth career growth.
  • Brings joy, peace, harmony, and divine energy into the household.

🌟 Bonus Tips

  • Keep the house lit all night to ensure Lakshmi’s blessings.
  • Avoid arguments or negativity during Diwali night.
  • Chant Lakshmi Stotra, Kanakadhara Stotra, or Vishnu Sahasranama for added merit.