Lakshmi puja is one of the most important rituals performed during the Indian festival of Diwali. The function of this ceremony is to invite the goddess Lakshmi into one's home; prayers and offerings are addressed to the goddess so that the new year (Hindu) will be filled with peace, well-being and prosperity. This article will describe step by step the instructions to follow to perform a simple Diwali puja at home; go to step 1 to get started.
Steps
Step 1. Purify the house
Clean the house properly and spray some gomutra (sacred cow urine) to cleanse the surrounding areas.
Step 2. Build the altar
Spread the red fabric on an elevated deck and place a handful of beans in the center.
Step 3. Arrange the kalash
Place the kalash (metal jar) in the center. Fill it 75% with water, then add a betel nut (areca catechu), a marigold flower, a coin and a few grains of rice. Add 5 mango leaves to the kalash by arranging them in a circular shape around the neck of the jar.
Step 4. Arrange the goddess Lakshmi
Hold a small puja thali on the kalash and make a mound of rice grains. Draw a lotus with turmeric on it and place the statue of the goddess Lakshmi in the center. Add a few coins in front of it.
Step 5. Arrange the Ganesha statue
In every puja Ganesha is always given first-rate importance; place his statue on the right side (towards the southwest) of the kalash. Apply a tilaka (dot) of turmeric and kumkum (a powdered turmeric and calcium hydroxide preparation), and add a few grains of rice to the statue.
Step 6. Arrange books and objects related to wellness
At this point in the ceremony, put aside the set of books or anything related to work or wealth.
Step 7. Turn on the diya
Light the diya (clarified butter candle) and place it in a thali along with turmeric, kumkum and rice grains (sandalwood, saffron, abeer and gulal preparations are optional)
Step 8. Begin the puja
Begin the puja by applying a tilaka to the kalash. Do the same with the water-filled lotuses and then offer flowers to each of them.
Step 9. Recite the Diwali Puja mantra
Take some rice and flowers, put your hands together and close your eyes. Recites the mantra of Diwali puja to the goddess Lakshmi or simply recite her name while meditating for a few minutes to invoke her.
Step 10. Offer flowers
Offer flowers and rice grains to the goddess after prayer.
Step 11. Wash the Lakshmi statue
Take the goddess statue and place it inside a thali. Wash it with water and panchamrit (a special preparation for pujas, usually consisting of honey, sugar, milk, yoghurt and clarified butter). Rinse it, dry it and put it back on the kalash.
Step 12. Arrange the wreath
Apply turmeric or kumkum to the statue (sandalwood, saffron, abeer, or gulal if you wish) along with rice. Place the cotton bead garland around the goddess's neck, adding marigold flowers and Bel leaves. Light agarbatti and dhupa (incense).
Step 13. Offer sweets and coconut
Offer coconut and place a betel nut on top of a betel leaf, then add turmeric, kumkum, and rice on top of it. Pour puffed rice, coriander seeds, and cumin over the statue; mithai (typical Diwali sweets), fruit and money (or golden objects) in front of it.
Step 14. Perform the aarti
He worships the goddess statue by performing a lakshmi puja aarti (i.e. by burning camphor oil or ghee and offering the emitted light to the goddess).
