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Devotees worship Lord Ganesh and Goddess Lakshmi on Diwali to seek blessings for wealth and prosperity.
Diwali will be celebrated on October 31. (Image: Shutterstock)
The festival of Diwali is celebrated cross country. The regional traditions across states make Diwali celebrations special. The festival of lights is celebrated for five days in many states starting with Dhanteras. Diwali, or Deepawali, is celebrated on the Amavasya Tithi of Krishna Paksha in the month of Kartik as per Hindu calendar. This year Diwali will be celebrated on October 31.
Diwali Correct Date and Shubh Muhurat
The Amavasya Tithi starts at 6:22 am on October 31 and ends at 8:46 am on November 1, as per Drik Panchang.
Astrologer Vinod Soni Pauddar from Bhopal emphasises the significance of performing Diwali Puja on October 31, stating that celebrations on November 1 are considered inauspicious according to Shastra Samvat.
Lakshmi Puja is performed in the evening on Diwali as per the shubh muhurat or auspicious timings.
City-Wise Lakshmi Puja Muhurat (October 31)
- Delhi: 05:36 PM to 06:16 PM
- Kolkata: 05:45 PM to 06:16 PM
- Chennai: 05:42 PM to 06:16 PM
- Mumbai: 06:57 PM to 08:36 PM
- Bengaluru: 06:47 PM to 08:21 PM
- Jaipur: 05:44 PM to 06:16 PM
- Hyderabad: 05:45 PM to 06:16 PM
- Gurgaon: 05:37 PM to 06:16 PM
- Chandigarh: 05:35 PM to 06:16 PM
- Noida: 05:35 PM to 06:16 PM
- Ahmedabad: 06:52 PM to 08:35 PM
- Patna: 05:08 PM to 06:16 PM
- Lucknow: 05:23 PM to 06:16 PM
- Pune: 6:54 PM to 8:33 PM
How To Correctly Perform Lakshmi Puja At Home?
Devotees perform many rituals on Diwali and Lakshmi Puja which have become an integral part of the traditions in many states, especially in north and western parts of India. It’s believed that worshipping Lord Ganesh and Goddess Lakshmi on Diwali brings good luck, wealth and prosperity.
Goddess Lakshmi is known as the goddess of wealth, prosperity and affluence. Lakshmi Puja is performed by devotees as it’s believed that the goddess visits the homes of devotees on Diwali.
Preparations Before Puja
- Clean Your Home: Ensure that the house is clean to accommodate Goddess Lakshmi, who is believed to reside in clean places.
- Purification Ritual: Purify all the corners of the house using Ganga Jal.
- Preparing Puja Area: You can perform Lakshmi Puja at the northeast corner of the house as it is considered highly auspicious. Place a red cloth on a table or any raised platform. Put a handful of white rice at the centre, draw the lotus diagram and sprinkle turmeric powder.
Setting Up the Puja Altar
- Install a Kalash: Take a silver or copper pot and add water up to three-fourths of the pot’s capacity. It is considered auspicious to put in things such as coins, betel nuts, raisins, and cardamom into the pot. Cover the pot with mango leaves and put a coconut on top.
- Place Idols: Place Goddess Lakshmi idol at the centre and Lord Ganesha idol on her right side.
- Make sure the idols are clean. Wash with Gangajal and sprinkle panchamrit (mixture of milk, curd, honey and sugar) on the idols.
- Performing the Puja: Light diyas and incense sticks before starting the puja. The puja rituals should start with invocation of Lord Ganesha to ward off any kind of evil. Then Goddess Lakshmi should be worshipped.
Offerings
Make kheer, sweets like laddoos, fruits, dry fruits and coins. Put flowers before the idols while chanting shlokas.
Read the Story of Lakshmi
An essential aspect of the puja is hearing, reading, or both, about the importance of Goddess Lakshmi. This can be done preferably by an elder member of the family.
Conclude with Aarti
Perform the aarti (devotional song) of Goddess Lakshmi and Lord Ganesh by lighting camphor. This is succeeded by bowing in front of her and offering the prasadam to the family members.
