Diwali Lakshmi Puja

Lakshmi Puja performed on the third day of Diwali. According to the Hindu's traditions goddess Lakshmi is the goddess of wealth and prosperity and Lakshmi Puja on diwali is the best way of pleasing her. The occasion of Lakshmi Puja falls on the dark night of amavasya and is devoted entirely to the propitiation of goddess Lakshmi.

Lakshmi Puja is also known by the name of "CHOPADA-PUJA" as on this day sun enters his second course and passes by Libra, which is represented by the sign of balance. An important tradition associated with Lakshmi Puja is that of gambling, particularly in North India.

According to a common belief goddess Parvati while playing dice with her husband, Lord Shiva said that whoever would play dice on the eve of Lakshmi Puja would be granted with prosperity for the entire year.

Procedure of Laxmi Puja :

• Take a new cloth (sanctified cloth) and spread on a plain platform
• Place some rice or other grains in the centre and on this place a bronze or other metal’s pot (Kalash). The Kalash should be filled till its neck with water. Keep a betel nut, flowers, coins, and some grains in it.
• Place five types of leaves or mango leaves in the pot or Kalash
  Keep a small plate on the Kalash and fill it with rice and draw a lotus or Swastik with turmeric powder (haridrika choornam or Haldi) over the rice grains along with coins the idol of Goddess Laxmi is installed
• Just near Kalash, on the right (South-West direction), install the idol of Lord Ganesha. Make sure to place pens and books and the other stuff related to your business or profession on the base
• Light a diya (deepak / deepam / lamp) and incense sticks and begin the puja by offering haldi, kumkum and flowers and consecrated rice (Akshita) to the base on which the pot or Kalash is installed
• Sprinkle the water on all ‘Puja Dravyas’ (Utensils and substances used in the puja) that are in Kalash in order to sanctify them
• Prepare ‘Panchamrith’ with five basic ingredients – milk, ghee, curd, sugar and honey
  Begin the puja procedure with Ganesha puja. Perfrom Ganesh puja because he is the Lord to remove obstacles. Recite Ganesh mantras and Ganesh Aarti.
• Then invoke Goddess Lakshmi by chanting the Laxmi Stotras. Offer flowers and consecrated rice to the Goddess
• Offer ‘Abhishek’ (bath) to the idol with water and panchamrit and after that repeat the Abhishek with water containing gold ornament or a pearl
• Then offer sandal paste, haldi and kumkum to the Goddess. Offer Naivedya (food offerings) to the Goddess such as cocnut, banana, other fruits and sweets
• As a final step, perform the Aarti for Goddess Lakshmi
• Take prasada and distribute the prasad to all the devotees
• Light the diyas / deepaks / lamps / candles all over the house. Don’t leave a single corner in darkness