Your Guide To Lakshmi Puja This Diwali

The festival of lights is here and you can feel the excitement in the air. All around there are bright lanterns, diyas aglow, colourful rangolis and the aroma of tasty Diwali special food. It is usually celebrated for days with Dhanteras, Choti Diwali or Narak Chaturdashi, Laxmi Puja, Padwa and Bhai Dooj. And while each and every day of the festival holds its own special significance, Laxmi Puja stands out for its elaborate preparations and the peace it brings to your home.

This Diwali, TC46 brings you a detailed guide on celebrating Laxmi Puja with everything from muhurat timings to fun facts.

Why Do We Perform Laxmi Puja During Diwali?

It is believed that the goddess of wealth and wife of Lord Vishnu, Laxmi, visits the devotees and blesses them with wealth and prosperity on this day. This is the reason there is much emphasis placed on the cleanliness and decoration of houses. It is believed that goddess Laxmi will visit the cleanest house first and bless the family with health and wealth. To invite Her in, devotees place lamps or diyas on their windowsills and open up their doors and windows.

Read Here: 10 DIYs for quick & stunning diya decoration at home!

Laxmi Puja 2021: Auspicious Timing

Lakshmi Puja Muhurat for major cities of India, as per Drik Panchang:

• Mumbai: 06:42 PM to 08:35 PM
• Pune: 06:39 PM to 08:32 PM
• New Delhi: 06:09 PM to 08:04 PM
• Kolkata: 05:34 PM to 07:31 PM
• Chennai: 06:21 PM to 08:10 PM
• Bengaluru: 06:32 PM to 08:21 PM
• Jaipur: 06:17 PM to 08:14 PM
• Hyderabad: 06:22 PM to 08:14 PM
• Gurgaon: 06:10 PM to 08:05 PM
• Chandigarh: 06:07 PM to 08:01 PM
• Ahmedabad: 06:37 PM to 08:33 PM
• Noida: 06:08 PM to 08:04 PM
• Patna: 05:42 PM to 07:39 PM
• Bhubaneswar: 05:48 PM to 07:42 PM
• Bhopal: 06:17 PM to 08:14 PM
• Lucknow: 05:57 PM to 07:53 PM

Read Here: 11 Beautiful Aarti Thali Decoration Ideas For The Festive Season!

Laxmi Puja Preparation

As per tradition, the preparations for the Diwali puja should start pretty early. It begins with the cleaning and decoration of the house days before and not just on the actual day itself. Marigold flowers and mango leaves adorn the corners of the house. Several people fast on the day as well.

Though the rituals for the Laxmi puja vary across regions, here’s a list of the basic items you will require:

• Pot/Kalash
• Mango leaves
• Idol or picture of Goddess Lakshmi
• Milk and curd
• Honey
• Ghee
• Puffed rice
• Sweets/Mithaai
• Dhaniya seeds
• Jeera seeds

Keep the list ready for the puja before the muhurat, so that you can have them at the ready while performing the puja.

Read Here: Brighten up your home this festive season with these easy DIY Diwali décor ideas!

Laxmi & Ganesh Puja Vidhi For Diwali

The method of the Diwali puja again varies, depending largely on the region and rituals observed by individual households. You may choose to observe the following basic methodology for your puja.

1. The first step is to spread out a clean cloth where you wish to perform the puja, and create a bed of rice on it. Now, place the kalash on the bed of rice.
2. Pour water in the kalash. Place a betel nut, flowers, a coin, and some rice inside, and arrange the aam patta around the opening. Also, place a thaali (plate) on the kalash. This is where Goddess Lakshmi will sit.
3. You can decorate the thaali by painting a lotus with turmeric powder and placing coins on it.
4. Lord Ganesha usually sits on the right of the kalash. You can also place the idols of Saraswathi alongside as this completes the three forms of Shakti – Lakshmi, Saraswathi and Durga.
5. Sprinkle gangajal (or clean water) on all the items. It is important to keep the atmosphere clean and well-lit with lamps.
6. You can now recite the mantras of Goddess Lakshmi. These are available in puja books or online.
7. Make offerings of flowers, rice, garlands of marigolds, coconut, fruits, sweets, betel nuts, sandalwood paste, kumkum and incense sticks during the puja.
8. At the end of the puja, recite the Diwali puja aarti with the entire family and distribute the prasad.

Kuber Puja on Diwali

Apart from Laxmi and Ganesh, Lord Kubera, or the treasurer of Gods, is also worshipped on Diwali. For Kuber puja, worship the locker or safe in which you keep gold and cash at home.

Read Here: Learn 10 DIY Diwali lanterns to lighten up your home!

Bhog Recipe For Laxmi Puja

Khoya Coconut Ladoo

A delicacy made with fragrant ingredients, this bhog recipe is a delight!

Ingredients:

• 3/4 cup unsweetened khoya tightly packed
• 1/3 cup dessicated coconut or fresh coconut
• 2 tbsp dessicated coconut for rolling
• 3/4 cup jaggery
• 1/3 cup water
• A pinch cardamom powder (elaichi)

Method:

1. Soak jaggery in warm water and crush it well. 
2. Then heat it up until it is slightly thick. 
3. Let it cool down, then strain and keep aside.
4. Take the jaggery syrup in a pan and heat it up.
5. Cook till it bubbles up and is slightly thick like honey in consistency.
6. Then add khoya.
7. Keep mixing till it becomes a gooey mass and starts bubbling and gets thick.
8. When it starts to thicken, add dessicated coconut.
9. Keep mixing till all the moisture is absorbed, the mixture will become thick.
10. Next, add cardamom powder and switch off.
11. Let it cool down for a few minutes.
12. When it’s still warm,make small ladoos.
13. Roll the ladoos in dessicated coconut.
14. Place them in mini cupcake liners and let it set.

Read Here: 10 Diwali snack recipes you need to try this festive season!

Now that you know what you need for Laxmi puja, it is a good idea to start cleaning your home right away. Step it up with decorations and go shopping for new clothes and jewellery. And don’t forget the mithai!