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{{More citations needed|date=November 2023}}{{Short description|Deepavali occasion dedicated to the goddess Lakshmi}}{{Infobox holiday
[[Image:Ravi Varma-Lakshmi.jpg| thumb|Goddess [[Lakshmi]]]]
| holiday_name = Lakshmi Puja
'''Lakshmi puja''' is performed during [[Diwali]], the festival of lights. According to tradition people would put small oil lamps outside their homes on Diwali and hope Lakshmi will come to bless them.
| type = Hindu
| official_name =
| nickname =
| image = Laxmi Pooja.jpg
| caption = Idol of the goddess during Lakshmi Puja
| observedby = [[Hindu]]s
| date = Ashwayuja 30 ([[Hindu calendar#amanta|amanta]] tradition) <br> Karthika 15 ([[Hindu calendar#purnimanta|purnimanta]] tradition)
| ends =
| date2023 = 12 November
| date2024 = 1 November
| celebrations =
| observances =
| relatedto = [[Deepavali]] and [[Tihar (festival)|Tihar]]
| frequency = Annual
| image_size = 200
}}
{{Hindu festival date info}}
{{Hinduism}}


Goddess [[Lakshmi]] is worshipped by those who wish to acquire or to preserve wealth. It is believed that Lakshmi (wealth) goes only to those houses which are clean and where the people are hardworking. She does not visit the places which are unclean/dirty or where the people are lazy.


'''Lakshmi Puja''' ({{Lang-sa|लक्ष्मी पूजा|translit=Lakṣmī Pūjā}}) is a [[Hindu]] occasion for the veneration of [[Lakshmi]], the goddess of prosperity and the supreme goddess of [[Vaishnavism]].<ref name=":0" /> The occasion is celebrated on the [[amavasya]] (new moon day) in the [[Bikram Sambat|Vikram Samvat Hindu calendar]] month of [[Ashwayuja]] (according to the [[Hindu calendar#amanta|amanta]] tradition) or [[Kartik (month)|Kartika]] (according to the [[Hindu calendar#purnimanta|purnimanta]] tradition), on the third day of [[Diwali|Deepavali]] ([[Tihar (festival)|Tihar]]) in most part of India and [[Nepal]].<ref name=":0" /> In Assam, Bengal, and Odisha, this puja is celebrated five days after [[Vijaya Dashami]].
In the Sri Vaishnava philosophy however, Sri (Lakshmi) is honoured as the "Iswarigm sarva bhootanam" i.e. the Supreme goddess and not just the goddess of wealth. This is an important distinction between Sri Vaishnavism and other materialistic philosophies.


[[Lakshmi]], the goddess of wealth and prosperity, and [[Vishnu]]'s wife, visits her devotees, and bestows good fortune and her blessings upon them. To welcome the goddess, devotees clean their houses, decorate them with finery and lights, and prepare sweet treats and delicacies as offerings.<ref name=":0" /> Devotees believe that the happier Lakshmi is during her visit, the more she blesses the family with health and wealth.<ref>{{Cite book |last=selvam |first=Kayalvizhi saravana |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=utUvEAAAQBAJ&dq=lakshmi+puja&pg=PA81 |title=Arts Of Hindustan |publisher=Kayalvizhi saravana selvam |isbn=979-8-5088-2055-8 |pages=80 |language=en}}</ref>
==The auspicious moment==


In [[Assam]], [[Odisha]], and [[Bengal]], ''Lokkhi Puja'' or ''Lakshmi Puja'' (লক্ষ্মী পূজা) is performed on [[Sharad Purnima|Ashvin Purnima]] day on the month of Ashvin, the full moon day following Vijaya Dashami and [[Durga Puja]]. This puja is also known as Kojagori Lokkhi Pujo. Women worship the goddess Lakshmi in the evening, after cleaning their house and decorating the floor of their houses with alpona, or [[rangoli]]. It is celebrated in the evening with all family members participating in decorating and cleaning home as part of the puja.
The third day of the festival of Diwali is the most important day of Lakshmi-puja and is entirely devoted to the propitiation of Goddess Lakshmi. On this very day [[sun]] enters his second course and passes [[Libra]] which is represented by the balance or scale. Hence, this design of Libra is believed to have suggested the balancing of account books and their closing. Despite the fact that this day falls on an amavasya day it is regarded as the most auspicious.


==Celebrations==
The day of Lakshmi-Puja falls on the dark night of [[Amavasya]]. The strains of joyous sounds of bells and drums float from the temples as man is invoking Goddess Laxmi in a wondrous holy "pouring-in" of his heart. All of a sudden that impenetrable darkness is pierced by innumerable rays of light for just a moment and the next moment a blaze of light descends down to earth from heaven as golden-footed Deep-Lakshmi alights on earth in all her celestial glory amidst chantings of [[Vedic]] [[hymns]].


[[File:The Rangoli of Lights.jpg|thumb|250px|[[Rangoli]] of Lights]]
A sublime light of knowledge dawns upon humanity and this self enlightenment is expressed through the twinkling lamps that illuminate the palaces of thewealthy as well as the lowly abodes of the poor. It is believed that on this day Lakshmi walks through the green fields and loiters through the bye-lanes and showers her blessings on man for plenty and prosperity.


===India===
[[File:Floating candles on Diwali day.jpg|right|200px|thumb|After Lakshmi Puja, lamps are lit all over the house]]
Lakshmi Pooja, or the worship of the goddess of wealth, is the main event on Diwali in North and West [[India]]. It is extremely important to keep the house spotlessly clean and pure on Diwali. Goddess Lakshmi likes cleanliness, and she will visit the cleanest house first. This is also the reason why the broom is worshiped on this day with offerings of haldi and kumkum (turmeric and vermilion). Lamps are lit in the evening to welcome the goddess. They are believed to light up Her path.


Lakshmi is believed to roam the earth on the night of the Lakshmi Puja. She searches for households where she will be welcomed, in which she will enter and spread prosperity and good fortune.<ref name=":0">{{Cite book |last=Lochtefeld |first=James |title=The Illustrated Encyclopaedia of Hinduism |publisher=The Rosen Publishing Group Inc, New York |year=2002 |isbn=0-8239-3180-3 |location=New York, USA |pages=200 |language=English}}</ref> On the evening of Lakshmi Puja, people open their doors and windows to welcome Lakshmi, and place ''diya'' lights on their windowsills and balcony ledges to invite her in. During the days leading up to Diwali, people will clean, repair and decorate their homes to make them suitable for welcoming the goddess.<ref name=":0" />
Lakshmi Puja consists of a combined puja of five deities: [[Ganesha]] is worshiped at the beginning of every auspicious act as [[Vighneshvara]]; Goddess Lakshmi is worshiped 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 worshiped.


People wear new clothes or their best outfits as the evening approaches. Then, ''[[Diya (lamp)|diyas]]'' are lit, pujas are offered to [[Lakshmi]], and to one or more additional deities depending on the region of India; typically [[Ganesha]], [[Saraswati]], or [[Kubera]].<ref name=tp>Pintchman, Tracy. ''Guests at God's Wedding: Celebrating Kartik among the Women of Benares'', pp.&nbsp;59–65. State University of New York Press, 2005. {{ISBN|0-7914-6596-9}}.</ref> Lakshmi symbolises wealth and prosperity, and her blessings are invoked for a good year ahead.
==Rite of a Diwali Puja==
Initially the house must be cleaned, and a [[Rangoli]] is drawn at the doorstep in order to welcome Goddess Lakshmi.


On this day, the mothers, who work hard all year, are praised by the family. Mothers are seen to embody a part of Lakshmi, the good fortune and prosperity of the household.<ref name=jgl>Lochtefeld, James G. "Diwali" in ''The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Hinduism'', Vol.&nbsp;1:&nbsp;A–M, pp.&nbsp;200–201. Rosen Publishing. {{ISBN|9780823931798}}.</ref> Small earthenware lamps filled with oil are lighted and placed in rows by some Hindus along the parapets of temples and houses. Some set ''diyas'' adrift on rivers and streams. Important relationships and friendships are also recognised during the day, by visiting relatives and friends, exchanging gifts and [[South Asian sweets|sweets]].<ref name="ReferenceA">Jean Mead, How and Why Do Hindus Celebrate Divali?, {{ISBN|978-0-237-534-127}}</ref><ref>John Bowker, ed., Oxford Concise Dictionary of World Religions (Oxford UP, 2000), See Festivals</ref>
The [[puja (Hinduism)|Puja]] requires the following elements:


It is popularly believed that Lakshmi likes cleanliness and will visit the cleanest house first. Hence, offerings of ''haldi'' (turmeric) and ''sindoor'' (vermilion) are made on this day. In certain regions, Lakshmi Puja consists of a combined puja of five deities: [[Ganesha]] is worshipped at the beginning of every auspicious act as Vighneshvara; the goddess Lakshmi is worshipped in her three forms: [[Mahalakshmi]], the goddess of wealth and money, [[Mahasaraswati]], the goddess of books and learning, and [[Mahakali]]. [[Kubera]] the treasurer of the gods is also worshipped.[[File:Laxmi puja.jpg|thumb|Lakshmi Puja in home]]
====The Ritual Elements====
{{col-begin}}
{{Col-2}}
*Silver and Gold coins
*Ten [[Betel]] Nuts ([[Supari]])
*Uncooked Rice
*Five [[Paan]] or [[Mango]] leaves
*A [[Coconut]]
*Water in a small pot (a "Lota")
*Red vermillon ("[[Kumkum]]") for applying the [[tilak]]
*Oil Lamps ("[[Diyas]]")
*[[Holi]]-type colored powders
*Indian sweets ([[Mithai]])
*[[Camphor]]
*Incense sticks ([[Agarbatti]])
*Dry fruits ([[almonds]], [[cashews]])
{{col-2}}
*A [[Thali]]
*[[Rose]] or other flower petals
*Some red string
*A new notebook
*[[Panchamrita]]
*A piece of red cloth for putting the puja items
*[[Ghee]] to light the lamps
*[[Rose water]]
*[[Water]]
*[[Icons]] of:
**[[Ganesha]]
**[[Saraswati]]
**[[Lakshmi]]
**[[Narayana]]
{{col-end}}
====The Rite====
{{Cleanup|date=May 2009}}


[[File:Kojagori Lokkhi Pujo.jpg|thumb|The clay model of goddess Lakshmi accompanied by her consort Vishnu and a boat (on the left side of the image) consisting five drums having grains, gold, silver, cotton and cowrie shells in Bengal]]
Steps of Lakshmi Pooja
Spread a new cloth on a raised platform: Place a handful of grains in the center and, on this, place a kalash (pitcher) made of gold, silver, copper, or terracotta. Fill three-fourth of the kalash with water 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. Place a small dish on the kalash and fill it with rice grains. Draw a lotus with turmeric powder ( haldi ) over the rice grains and place the idol of goddess Lakshmi over it, along with coins.


In Bengal, the goddess Lakshmi is worshipped five days after Vijaya Dashami on the full moon day of Sharada. This is known as Kojagori Lokkhi Pujo (কোজাগরী লক্ষ্মী পুজো) in Bengali. On this day generally, the goddess is worshipped at night. She is also worshipped in the form of banana trees (কলা বউ), designed clay cover of utensils (সরা), accompanied by a small boat containing five drums. She is also worshipped on the eve of [[Diwali|Deepavali]] which is commonly known as Dipanwita Lokkhi puja (দীপান্বিতা লক্ষ্মী পুজো) or Alakshmi Viday (Leaving of Alakshmi). The goddess is also worshipped in the month of Bhadra (August–September) on Thursdays. She is worshipped as rice put into a utensil (হাঁড়ি) which is changed annually. This worship is also practiced in the month of Poush (December–January).
Place the idol of Ganesha: In front of the kalash, on the right (South-West direction), place the idol of Ganesha. Also place ink and books related to your business or occupation on the platform. Light a lamp and begin the puja by offering haldi, kumkum, and flowers to the platform on which the kalash is placed. Then offer haldi, kumkum, and flowers to the water that is to be used for the puja. Invoke the river goddesses to be part of this water.


In [[Assam]], Lakshmi/Lakkhi puja (লক্ষ্মী পূজা) is celebrated five days after Vijoya Doshomi. Family members participates in decorating home entrances to welcome goddess Lakshmi. Prasad usually includes sweets, moong/gram, fruits etc.
Invoke goddess: Lakshmi by reciting the Vedic mantras addressed to her. One can also recite the mantras mentioned in the Puranas or simply take some flowers in your hands, close your eyes, and think of goddess Lakshmi being showered with gold coins by two elephants standing on either side of Her and chant Her name. Then offer the flowers to the idol.


===Nepal===
Place the idol of Lakshmi: Place the idol of Lakshmi in a plate and bathe it with water, panchamrit (a mixture of milk, curd, ghee or clarified butter, honey, and sugar) 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 water and panchamrit on the idol with a flower.


Lakshmi Puja is celebrated as a part of [[Tihar (festival)|Tihar]], a second national festival of Nepal after [[Dashain]]. In Nepal, it is celebrated for five days, which include Kag (crow) Tihar; Kukur (dog) Tihar; Gai (cow) Tihar in the morning and Lakshmi Puja at night; Maha puja (self puja); Goru (Ox and Bull) Tihar and Gobardhan puja; and finally, Bhai Tika (Bhai dhooj)—respectively the first, second, third, fourth and fifth days.
Offerings: Offer sandal paste, saffron paste, perfume ( itr ), haldi, kumkum, abeer, and gulal to the goddess. Offer a garland of cotton beads to the goddess. Offer flowers, especially the marigold flowers and leaves of Bel (wood apple tree). Light an incense stick and dhoop. Make an offering of sweets, coconut, fruits, and tambul. Make an offering of puffed rice and batasha. Pour some puffed rice, batasha, coriander seeds, and cumin seeds over the idol. Safe where you keep money and jewelry; Worship this safe as a symbol of Lord Kuber.


On Lakshmi Puja in Nepal, people buy gold and silver, precious gemstones, new utensils of copper, brass and bronze as a sign of good luck, prosperity, money and wealth. These are then used to worship Lakshmi at night. Nepalese people perform this worship at a place cleansed with holy water, cow dung and red mud; they light the whole house with candles and lamps. From Lakshmi Puja, [[Deusi/Bhailo]] is performed by gathering with friends.
Aarti: Finally, perform the aarti for goddess Lakshmi. Always remember that She abhors loud noise. So the aarti should be accompanied only by a small bell. Do not clap hands, as is the practice when performing aarti for other gods. A peaceful and sublime atmosphere should prevail during the diwali day pujan. Do not light crackers while the puja is on or immediately after it.


==Puja==
[[File:Lakshmi Puja, Bhubaneswar - Oct 2010.jpg|thumb|Lakshmi Puja, Bhubaneshwar]]
In the beginning of the [[Puja (Hinduism)|puja]], the houses of devotees are cleaned, and [[rangoli]] is drawn at the doorstep to welcome the goddess Lakshmi.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Rosen |first=Steven |title=Essential Hinduism |publisher=Praeger Publishers, 88 Post Road West, Westport, CT 06881 An imprint of Greenwood Publishing Group, Inc. |year=2006 |isbn=0-275-99006-0 |edition=1st |location=United States of America |pages=209 |language=English}}</ref> While there is no consensus of the standardised ritual to pray to the goddess, variations of the puja exist across the regions of the Indian subcontinent as well as Southeast Asia. However a central component in almost all forms of puja is the process of ''darshan'', a form of devotion via the exchange of affectionate glances between an image of the deity and a devotee, initiating a relationship between the two. Other integral parts of puja come in the form of offerings given to the deity by the devotee, sanctifying the food (''prasad'') by divine contact, for the devotee to then distribute and consume.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Lochtefeld |first=James |title=The Illustrated Encyclopaedia of Hinduism |publisher=The Rosen Publishing Group Inc |year=2002 |isbn=0-8239-3180-3 |edition=2 |location=New York, USA |pages=529 |language=English}}</ref>


===Procedure===
===Offering Prayers to Goddess Laxmi:- ===
Before beginning the puja, Hindus consider it important to cleanse and purify the space where the puja is being carried out. For this, benzoin is lighted using either coal, or dried pancakes made of cow-dung. Its fumes of incense are considered to purify the atmosphere.
[[May need English translation]]


Once the place is cleansed, the puja begins by laying down a piece of new cloth on a raised platform. Handfuls of grains are sprayed in the centre of the cloth and a [[kalasha]] made of gold, silver, or copper is placed on top. Three-quarters of the kalasha is filled with water and betel nut, a flower, a coin, and a few rice grains are added to it. Five kinds of leaves are arranged (if a specified species is not available, leaves from a mango tree are used) and a small dish filled with rice grains is placed on the kalasha. A lotus is drawn over the rice grains with turmeric powder and the idol of goddess Lakshmi is placed over the top of the kalasha, and coins are placed around it.
Om Jai Laxmi Mata, Maiya Jai Laxmi Mata,
Tumko nis din sevat, Maiya ji ko nis din sevat
Hari Vishnu Data
Om Jai Laxmi Mata (Repeat above verse)


An idol of [[Ganesha]] is placed in front of the kalasha, on the right-hand side pointing towards the south-west. Ink and business account books of the worshippers are kept on the platform. Specially blended oils made for puja are used with its ingredients varying, depending on the deity it's being offered to. A "Panchmukhi Diya" (Five faced lamp) accommodating five wicks are lit for this purpose. A special lamp is then lit in front of Lord Ganesha.
Uma Ramaa Brahmaani, Tum hi Jag Mata,Maiya Tum hi Jag Mata,
Surya Chandra Ma dhyaavat, Surya Chandra Ma dhyaavat
Naarad Rishi gaata.
Om Jai Laxmi Mata.


[[File:Tiler Naru - Kojagari Lakshmi Puja Offering - Bengali Brahman Family - Howrah 20171005173335.jpg|thumb|Tiler naru offered to goddess Lakshmi during the puja at a household in [[West Bengal]], India]]
Durga Roop Niranjani, Sukh Sampati Data, Maiya Sukh Sampati Data
The puja begins by offering turmeric, [[kumkuma]] and flowers to the goddess Lakshmi. Turmeric, kumkuma, and flowers are offered to the water, later used for the puja. The river goddess [[Saraswati]] is invoked to become part of that water. Lakshmi is worshipped and invoked by reciting Vedic mantras, hymns and prayers addressed to her. Her idol is placed in a plate and is bathed with [[panchamrita]] (a mixture of milk, curd, [[ghee]] or clarified butter, honey, and sugar) and then with water containing a gold ornament or a pearl. Her idol is cleaned and placed back on the kalasha. A special lamp is then lit in front of goddess Lakshmi.
Jo koyee tumko dhyaavat, Jo koyee tumko dhyaavat
Ridhi Sidhi dhan paataa
Om Jai Laxmi Mata.


Offerings of sandal paste, saffron paste, garland of cotton beads or flowers, [[ittar]] (perfume), turmeric, kumkuma, [[abir]], and gulal are then made to the goddess Lakshmi. Flowers and garlands, such as lotus, marigold, rose, chrysanthemums and leaves of [[Aegle marmelos|bael]] (wood apple tree) are also offered. An incense stick is lit for her. An offering of sweets, coconut, fruits, and tambulam, is made later. Puffed rice and batasha (varieties of Indian sweets) are placed near the idol. Puffed rice, batasha, coriander seeds, and cumin seeds are poured or offered to her idol.
Tum Pataalani Nivasini, Tum hi Shubh Data, Maiya tum hi Shubh Data
Karma Prabhaav Prakaashini, Karma Prabhaav Prakaashini
Bhuv Niddhi ke praata
Om Jai Laxmi Mata


In the villages, a pot made of bamboo-canes measuring the paddy known as Nana' is filled up to the brink with freshly harvest paddy. Rice and lentils are also kept with the paddy. The `Mana' is the symbol of Mahalakshmi. Adoration of the goddess is done by offering fruits, coconut, banana, doob-grass, amla, curd, turmeric, flowers, incense etc. It is customary to read out the Odia text [[Lakshmi Purana]] while performing the puja.<ref name= JM>{{cite book |last= Mohapatra |first= J |date= 2013 |title= Wellness In Indian Festivals & Rituals |url= https://books.google.com/books?id=UdpzAgAAQBAJ&q=lakshmi+pooja&pg=PA173 |publisher= Partridge Publishing |page= 173 |isbn= 9781482816907 }}</ref>
Jis ghar tum rehti teh, sab sath goon aataa, Maiya sab sath goon aataa,
Saab sambhav hojata jataa, Saab sambhav hojata jataa
Man naheen ghabraataa.
Om Jai Laxmi Mata


A [[swastika]] symbol is also then drawn on the safe or vault in which the devotee keeps their valuables and it is worshipped as a symbol of [[Kubera]].
Tum Bin Yaghya na hote, vaastra na ho paata, Maiya vaastra na ho paata,
Khana paan ka vaibhav, Khana paan ka vaibhav
Sab tumse aata
Om Jai Laxmi Mata


Towards the end of the ritual, the [[aarti]] is performed which is dedicated to goddess Lakshmi. The aarti is accompanied by a small bell and is performed in a silent and sublime atmosphere.<ref name=JM/>
Shubh Goon Mandir sunder, shero da di jaata, Maiya shero da di jaata
Ratna chaturdashi tum bin, Ratna chaturdashi tum bin
Koi nahi paata
Om Jai Laxmi Mata.


==References==
Maha Laxmiji ki Aarti, jo koi nar gaata, Maiya jo koi nar gaata,
{{reflist}}
Pur aananda samata, Pur aananda samata,
Paap utar jaata
Om Jai Laxmi Mata.


==External links==
Om Jai Laxmi Mata, Maiya Jai Laxmi Mata,
{{Commons category|Lakshmi Puja}}
Tumko nis din sevat, maiya ji ko nis din sevat
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20131013213551/http://www.lokakshemayagna.org/activitiestrust/157-raja-mathangi-sahita-ashta-lakshmi-deepa-puja Ashta Lakshmi Deepa puja]
Hari Vishnu Data
Om Jai Laxmi Mata (Repeat above verse)


{{Culture of West Bengal}}
==References==
{{Hindu festivals}}

{{HinduFestivals}}


[[Category:Diwali]]
[[Category:Diwali]]
[[Category:Hindu holy days]]
[[Category:Hindu holy days]]
[[Category:Hindu festivals]]
[[Category:Hindu festivals]]
[[Category:Hindu traditions]]
[[Category:Religious festivals in India]]
[[Category:Festivals in India]]
[[Category:Hindu festivals in Nepal]]
[[Category:October observances]]
[[Category:October observances]]
[[Category:November observances]]
[[Category:November observances]]
[[Category:Sanskrit words and phrases]]

==External links==
{{Commons category|Dipavali}}
* [http://www.mypanchang.com Diwali and Dhanteras Lakshmi Puja Muhurtha for anycity in the world]
* [http://www.mypanchang.com/simplelakshmipuja.pdf Simple Lakshmi Puja vidhi book in PDF in Sanskrit and English by mypanchang.com]

Latest revision as of 04:17, 21 November 2023

Lakshmi Puja
Idol of the goddess during Lakshmi Puja
Observed byHindus
TypeHindu
DateAshwayuja 30 (amanta tradition)
Karthika 15 (purnimanta tradition)
2023 date12 November
2024 date1 November
FrequencyAnnual
Related toDeepavali and Tihar
Explanatory note
Hindu festival dates

The Hindu calendar is lunisolar but most festival dates are specified using the lunar portion of the calendar. A lunar day is uniquely identified by three calendar elements: māsa (lunar month), pakṣa (lunar fortnight) and tithi (lunar day).

Furthermore, when specifying the masa, one of two traditions are applicable, viz. amānta / pūrṇimānta. If a festival falls in the waning phase of the moon, these two traditions identify the same lunar day as falling in two different (but successive) masa.

A lunar year is shorter than a solar year by about eleven days. As a result, most Hindu festivals occur on different days in successive years on the Gregorian calendar.
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Lakshmi Puja (Sanskrit: लक्ष्मी पूजा, romanized: Lakṣmī Pūjā) is a Hindu occasion for the veneration of Lakshmi, the goddess of prosperity and the supreme goddess of Vaishnavism.[1] The occasion is celebrated on the amavasya (new moon day) in the Vikram Samvat Hindu calendar month of Ashwayuja (according to the amanta tradition) or Kartika (according to the purnimanta tradition), on the third day of Deepavali (Tihar) in most part of India and Nepal.[1] In Assam, Bengal, and Odisha, this puja is celebrated five days after Vijaya Dashami.

Lakshmi, the goddess of wealth and prosperity, and Vishnu's wife, visits her devotees, and bestows good fortune and her blessings upon them. To welcome the goddess, devotees clean their houses, decorate them with finery and lights, and prepare sweet treats and delicacies as offerings.[1] Devotees believe that the happier Lakshmi is during her visit, the more she blesses the family with health and wealth.[2]

In Assam, Odisha, and Bengal, Lokkhi Puja or Lakshmi Puja (লক্ষ্মী পূজা) is performed on Ashvin Purnima day on the month of Ashvin, the full moon day following Vijaya Dashami and Durga Puja. This puja is also known as Kojagori Lokkhi Pujo. Women worship the goddess Lakshmi in the evening, after cleaning their house and decorating the floor of their houses with alpona, or rangoli. It is celebrated in the evening with all family members participating in decorating and cleaning home as part of the puja.

Celebrations[edit]

Rangoli of Lights

India[edit]

Lakshmi is believed to roam the earth on the night of the Lakshmi Puja. She searches for households where she will be welcomed, in which she will enter and spread prosperity and good fortune.[1] On the evening of Lakshmi Puja, people open their doors and windows to welcome Lakshmi, and place diya lights on their windowsills and balcony ledges to invite her in. During the days leading up to Diwali, people will clean, repair and decorate their homes to make them suitable for welcoming the goddess.[1]

People wear new clothes or their best outfits as the evening approaches. Then, diyas are lit, pujas are offered to Lakshmi, and to one or more additional deities depending on the region of India; typically Ganesha, Saraswati, or Kubera.[3] Lakshmi symbolises wealth and prosperity, and her blessings are invoked for a good year ahead.

On this day, the mothers, who work hard all year, are praised by the family. Mothers are seen to embody a part of Lakshmi, the good fortune and prosperity of the household.[4] Small earthenware lamps filled with oil are lighted and placed in rows by some Hindus along the parapets of temples and houses. Some set diyas adrift on rivers and streams. Important relationships and friendships are also recognised during the day, by visiting relatives and friends, exchanging gifts and sweets.[5][6]

It is popularly believed that Lakshmi likes cleanliness and will visit the cleanest house first. Hence, offerings of haldi (turmeric) and sindoor (vermilion) are made on this day. In certain regions, Lakshmi Puja consists of a combined puja of five deities: Ganesha is worshipped at the beginning of every auspicious act as Vighneshvara; the goddess Lakshmi is worshipped in her three forms: Mahalakshmi, the goddess of wealth and money, Mahasaraswati, the goddess of books and learning, and Mahakali. Kubera the treasurer of the gods is also worshipped.

Lakshmi Puja in home
The clay model of goddess Lakshmi accompanied by her consort Vishnu and a boat (on the left side of the image) consisting five drums having grains, gold, silver, cotton and cowrie shells in Bengal

In Bengal, the goddess Lakshmi is worshipped five days after Vijaya Dashami on the full moon day of Sharada. This is known as Kojagori Lokkhi Pujo (কোজাগরী লক্ষ্মী পুজো) in Bengali. On this day generally, the goddess is worshipped at night. She is also worshipped in the form of banana trees (কলা বউ), designed clay cover of utensils (সরা), accompanied by a small boat containing five drums. She is also worshipped on the eve of Deepavali which is commonly known as Dipanwita Lokkhi puja (দীপান্বিতা লক্ষ্মী পুজো) or Alakshmi Viday (Leaving of Alakshmi). The goddess is also worshipped in the month of Bhadra (August–September) on Thursdays. She is worshipped as rice put into a utensil (হাঁড়ি) which is changed annually. This worship is also practiced in the month of Poush (December–January).

In Assam, Lakshmi/Lakkhi puja (লক্ষ্মী পূজা) is celebrated five days after Vijoya Doshomi. Family members participates in decorating home entrances to welcome goddess Lakshmi. Prasad usually includes sweets, moong/gram, fruits etc.

Nepal[edit]

Lakshmi Puja is celebrated as a part of Tihar, a second national festival of Nepal after Dashain. In Nepal, it is celebrated for five days, which include Kag (crow) Tihar; Kukur (dog) Tihar; Gai (cow) Tihar in the morning and Lakshmi Puja at night; Maha puja (self puja); Goru (Ox and Bull) Tihar and Gobardhan puja; and finally, Bhai Tika (Bhai dhooj)—respectively the first, second, third, fourth and fifth days.

On Lakshmi Puja in Nepal, people buy gold and silver, precious gemstones, new utensils of copper, brass and bronze as a sign of good luck, prosperity, money and wealth. These are then used to worship Lakshmi at night. Nepalese people perform this worship at a place cleansed with holy water, cow dung and red mud; they light the whole house with candles and lamps. From Lakshmi Puja, Deusi/Bhailo is performed by gathering with friends.

Puja[edit]

Lakshmi Puja, Bhubaneshwar

In the beginning of the puja, the houses of devotees are cleaned, and rangoli is drawn at the doorstep to welcome the goddess Lakshmi.[7] While there is no consensus of the standardised ritual to pray to the goddess, variations of the puja exist across the regions of the Indian subcontinent as well as Southeast Asia. However a central component in almost all forms of puja is the process of darshan, a form of devotion via the exchange of affectionate glances between an image of the deity and a devotee, initiating a relationship between the two. Other integral parts of puja come in the form of offerings given to the deity by the devotee, sanctifying the food (prasad) by divine contact, for the devotee to then distribute and consume.[8]

Procedure[edit]

Before beginning the puja, Hindus consider it important to cleanse and purify the space where the puja is being carried out. For this, benzoin is lighted using either coal, or dried pancakes made of cow-dung. Its fumes of incense are considered to purify the atmosphere.

Once the place is cleansed, the puja begins by laying down a piece of new cloth on a raised platform. Handfuls of grains are sprayed in the centre of the cloth and a kalasha made of gold, silver, or copper is placed on top. Three-quarters of the kalasha is filled with water and betel nut, a flower, a coin, and a few rice grains are added to it. Five kinds of leaves are arranged (if a specified species is not available, leaves from a mango tree are used) and a small dish filled with rice grains is placed on the kalasha. A lotus is drawn over the rice grains with turmeric powder and the idol of goddess Lakshmi is placed over the top of the kalasha, and coins are placed around it.

An idol of Ganesha is placed in front of the kalasha, on the right-hand side pointing towards the south-west. Ink and business account books of the worshippers are kept on the platform. Specially blended oils made for puja are used with its ingredients varying, depending on the deity it's being offered to. A "Panchmukhi Diya" (Five faced lamp) accommodating five wicks are lit for this purpose. A special lamp is then lit in front of Lord Ganesha.

Tiler naru offered to goddess Lakshmi during the puja at a household in West Bengal, India

The puja begins by offering turmeric, kumkuma and flowers to the goddess Lakshmi. Turmeric, kumkuma, and flowers are offered to the water, later used for the puja. The river goddess Saraswati is invoked to become part of that water. Lakshmi is worshipped and invoked by reciting Vedic mantras, hymns and prayers addressed to her. Her idol is placed in a plate and is bathed with panchamrita (a mixture of milk, curd, ghee or clarified butter, honey, and sugar) and then with water containing a gold ornament or a pearl. Her idol is cleaned and placed back on the kalasha. A special lamp is then lit in front of goddess Lakshmi.

Offerings of sandal paste, saffron paste, garland of cotton beads or flowers, ittar (perfume), turmeric, kumkuma, abir, and gulal are then made to the goddess Lakshmi. Flowers and garlands, such as lotus, marigold, rose, chrysanthemums and leaves of bael (wood apple tree) are also offered. An incense stick is lit for her. An offering of sweets, coconut, fruits, and tambulam, is made later. Puffed rice and batasha (varieties of Indian sweets) are placed near the idol. Puffed rice, batasha, coriander seeds, and cumin seeds are poured or offered to her idol.

In the villages, a pot made of bamboo-canes measuring the paddy known as Nana' is filled up to the brink with freshly harvest paddy. Rice and lentils are also kept with the paddy. The `Mana' is the symbol of Mahalakshmi. Adoration of the goddess is done by offering fruits, coconut, banana, doob-grass, amla, curd, turmeric, flowers, incense etc. It is customary to read out the Odia text Lakshmi Purana while performing the puja.[9]

A swastika symbol is also then drawn on the safe or vault in which the devotee keeps their valuables and it is worshipped as a symbol of Kubera.

Towards the end of the ritual, the aarti is performed which is dedicated to goddess Lakshmi. The aarti is accompanied by a small bell and is performed in a silent and sublime atmosphere.[9]

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b c d e Lochtefeld, James (2002). The Illustrated Encyclopaedia of Hinduism. New York, USA: The Rosen Publishing Group Inc, New York. p. 200. ISBN 0-8239-3180-3.
  2. ^ selvam, Kayalvizhi saravana. Arts Of Hindustan. Kayalvizhi saravana selvam. p. 80. ISBN 979-8-5088-2055-8.
  3. ^ Pintchman, Tracy. Guests at God's Wedding: Celebrating Kartik among the Women of Benares, pp. 59–65. State University of New York Press, 2005. ISBN 0-7914-6596-9.
  4. ^ Lochtefeld, James G. "Diwali" in The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Hinduism, Vol. 1: A–M, pp. 200–201. Rosen Publishing. ISBN 9780823931798.
  5. ^ Jean Mead, How and Why Do Hindus Celebrate Divali?, ISBN 978-0-237-534-127
  6. ^ John Bowker, ed., Oxford Concise Dictionary of World Religions (Oxford UP, 2000), See Festivals
  7. ^ Rosen, Steven (2006). Essential Hinduism (1st ed.). United States of America: Praeger Publishers, 88 Post Road West, Westport, CT 06881 An imprint of Greenwood Publishing Group, Inc. p. 209. ISBN 0-275-99006-0.
  8. ^ Lochtefeld, James (2002). The Illustrated Encyclopaedia of Hinduism (2 ed.). New York, USA: The Rosen Publishing Group Inc. p. 529. ISBN 0-8239-3180-3.
  9. ^ a b Mohapatra, J (2013). Wellness In Indian Festivals & Rituals. Partridge Publishing. p. 173. ISBN 9781482816907.

External links[edit]

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