Planning to perform Lakshmi Puja yourself this Diwali but unsure where to begin? Knowing the order of worship can help you prepare without feeling confused during the puja.
This guide explains how to do Lakshmi Puja at home on Diwali, with clear instructions for each stage so you can follow the procedure with understanding and devotion.
How to Perform Lakshmi Puja at Home on Diwali: Step-by-Step Vidhi
The following steps explain the Lakshmi Puja procedure at home, from preparing the worship space to completing the puja with aarti and prayers.
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Step 1: Prepare the Puja Space
Before beginning your Diwali Lakshmi Puja, clean the worship area, take a bath and wear clean clothes. Place a wooden chowki on a clean surface and cover it with a fresh cloth.
Arrange the idols or framed pictures of Goddess Lakshmi and Lord Ganesha on the chowki. Keep the required puja items nearby, including a water vessel, spoon and a bowl for receiving water offerings.
In Hindu worship, preparing a clean space is part of respectfully welcoming the deity. Complete the decorations beforehand so that you can sit peacefully during the puja.
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Step 2: Perform Achamana and Pray to Lord Ganesha
Sit on a clean asana and perform personal achamana according to your family’s practice. Take a quiet moment to bring your attention to the worship.
Traditionally, Lord Ganesha is remembered at the beginning of puja as the remover of obstacles. Offer prayers to him before proceeding with Lakshmi Puja, seeking his blessings for the worship to be completed smoothly.
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Step 3: Take Sankalp for Diwali Lakshmi Puja
Sankalp means expressing your intention to perform the puja. Remember Goddess Lakshmi and state that you are undertaking the worship with faith.
Follow the sankalp procedure used in your family. Keep your attention on the purpose of the worship rather than rushing through the words.
This marks the beginning of your commitment to perform the offerings sincerely and attentively.
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Step 4: Invoke Goddess Lakshmi and Offer a Seat
Meditate on Goddess Lakshmi and respectfully invite her to accept your worship. This invitation is called avahana.
Then offer asana, symbolically presenting a seat by placing a few grains of akshat before her.
Traditional puja treats the deity as an honoured guest. The invitation and seat express the devotee’s wish to welcome and serve the Goddess with respect.
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Step 5: Offer Padya, Arghya and Achamana
Next, make the water offerings separately. Padya is water offered for washing the deity’s feet, while arghya is a respectful welcome offering, described in some traditions as water for washing the hands. Achamana is water offered for sipping.
Use a small spoonful for each offering and collect it in the receiving bowl. If you are performing Lakshmi Puja with a framed picture or delicate idol, make these offerings symbolically without pouring water over it.
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Step 6: Offer Snana and Vastra
Offer snana, or bathing, followed by vastra, or clothing. These offerings continue the traditional practice of caring for the deity as a revered guest.
For a simple home puja, offer a symbolic bath. Perform abhishek only if your family follows that practice and the idol is suitable for bathing.
Do not pour water or Panchamrit over framed pictures or delicate painted idols. Afterwards, offer clean clothing or a symbolic cloth offering according to your tradition.
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Step 7: Offer Chandan, Akshat and Flowers
Offer sandalwood paste, akshat and flowers to Goddess Lakshmi. Place the offerings carefully, avoiding wet paste on photographs or surfaces that could be damaged.
Then perform archana, praising the Goddess through her names. Follow the recitation used in your family and read at a comfortable pace.
In devotional worship, these offerings are presented as acts of service. Keep your attention on the Goddess while making each one.
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Step 8: Offer Dhoop and Deep
Continue the Diwali puja vidhi by offering incense and showing the light of a diya before Goddess Lakshmi.
Place the incense and lamp in stable holders, away from cloth, paper and decorations. Keep enough space around the flame to make the remaining offerings comfortably.
This offering of light is part of the worship and comes before naivedya. The concluding aarti is performed later.
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Step 9: Offer Naivedya to Goddess Lakshmi
Place the prepared food offering before the Goddess on a clean plate. Pray that she accept it and allow a quiet moment for the offering.
According to devotional belief, food offered to the deity is received as prasadam, a sign of divine grace. Distribute it among your family members after completing the puja.
Follow your family’s custom for the food preparations and the manner of offering.
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Step 10: Complete Lakshmi Puja with Aarti and Pranam
Gather your family members and perform Lakshmi Aarti, offering the light clockwise before the Goddess. Hold the plate securely and keep the flame away from clothing.
After aarti, offer flowers as pushpanjali and bow respectfully. Express gratitude and ask forgiveness for any mistakes made during the worship.
Conclude your Lakshmi Puja at home with a few moments of prayer. Afterwards, distribute the prasadam and keep the worship area tidy. Never leave a burning diya unattended.
What to Do After Completing the Lakshmi Puja on Diwali
After completing the Diwali Lakshmi Puja, let the diya burn throughout the night, and distribute the prasad among all your family members. Wash the silver and gold coins and keep them in your safe locker. The next morning, respectfully gather all the puja samagri you offered and keep it under a tree or near a water body near your house.
Common Mistakes to Avoid During Lakshmi Puja
There are some things you should consider while performing Lakshmi pujan at home:
- Placing Idols on the Floor: Do not place the idols on the floor or directly on the ground.
- Using used and broken items: Avoid using old items, cracked diyas, and damaged puja samagri.
- Tamasic foods as bhog: Do not prepare or offer food with onion or garlic to the Lord.
- Drinking alcohol: Restrict yourself from drinking alcohol during Diwali and Lakshmi puja.
- Eating before puja: Do not eat before the puja; offer to the divine first.
- Wearing dark colors: Do not wear dark-colored clothes on Diwali or during Lakshmi puja.
- Financial transactions: Avoid lending, borrowing, or distributing money during the main puja hour.
- Gossiping and Negative arguments: Do not argue or gossip about anyone before the puja.
FAQs
Conclusion
As you complete the puja, offer your gratitude to Goddess Lakshmi for what you have received. Pray for the wisdom to earn honestly, use wealth responsibly and share with others. Let this spirit of gratitude and care remain part of your family’s life beyond Diwali.
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