One of the main rituals performed during Diwali is the Lakshmi Pooja. It is believed that this ritual has the power to to attract Goddess Lakshmi into one’s home. This is a special time to pray to the Goddess. This will ensure that the coming year will be filled with peace, wealth and prosperity.
Below are step by step instructions on how to perform Diwali pooja at home. It is seen that many people perform Lakshmi Pooja only during Diwali. But making it a daily ritual brings immense blessings for the family. A simple ritual is to light an oil lamp in front of Goddess Lakshmi and pray to her. This is sufficient to invoke the grace of the goddess.
Purify the house and surroundings. The house should be cleaned properly. Gangajal or water from the Ganga river can be sprinkled on the surroundings to purify it.
Erect the platform. On a raised platform, spread a red cloth and place a handful of grains in the middle.
Place the kalash (pot). Keep the pot or kalash in the middle. It should be filled with 75% water. Then put one marigold flower, one supari, a coin and some rice grains in it. Also, put mango leaves (5) in the pot and arrange them in a circular manner around the neck of the pot.
Place the idol of Goddess Lakshmi. On the kalash, keep a small pooja plate or thali. Next, make a small mound of rice grains. Draw a lotus, put haldi over it and keep the Lakshmi idol in the center. Keep some coins in front of it.
Place the idol of Lord Ganesha. In every pooja, Lord Ganesha is given the most importance. His idol should be placed on the right side (south-west direction) of the pot or kalash. Apply a tilak of kumkum and haldi and sprinkle some rice grains on the idol. Light a lamp or diya and invoke Ganesha’s blessings.
Place wealth related objects/books. Keep books or other objects related to your business.
Light the lamp/diya. Light an oil lamp with 5 wicks and keep it on a plate or thali along with some kumkum, haldi and rice grains. (You can add some saffron paste, sandalwood paste, gulal and abeer, if needed).
Begin the pooja/aarti. Begin the pooja by applying tilak to the kalash. Tilak may be applied to the vessel or lota which should be filled with water. Offer flowers to the kalash and the lota.
Chant the Diwali Pooja mantra. Take flowers and rice, clasp your hands together and close your eyes. Chant the Diwali pooja mantra related to goddess Lakshmi. Or you can chant her name and meditate for a while to invoke her blessings.
Offer flowers. Offer flowers and rice grains to Goddess Lakshmi after saying the prayer.
Bathe the Lakshmi idol. Take the idol of Lakshmi and place it on a plate or thali. Bathe it with water. Follow this with a panchamrita bath. Wash it with water again. Dry the Lakshmi idol with a clean cloth and put it back on the kalash.
Place the garland. Apply kumkum and haldi (saffron paste, sandal paste, gulal or abeer) as well as rice to the idol. Adorn the idol’s neck with a garland of cotton beads. Place marigold flowers and a few Bel leaves. Light some agarbattis and dhoop.
Offer coconut and sweets. Offer coconut and keep supari on a betel leaf. Put some kumkum, haldi and rice over it. Sprinkle puffed rice, cumin and coriander seeds over the idol. Keep some fruits, Diwali sweets and money or gold ornaments in front of it.
Perform aarti. Perform the Lakshmi pooja aarti and worship the idol.
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