If you are new to performing Diwali Puja or don’t have elders around to guide you, this article will help you carry out the Lakshmi and Ganesh Puja with ease, ensuring you follow each step with clarity. Based on insights from traditional rituals, this guide will help you make the most of your Diwali celebrations.
Table of Contents
Preparing the Puja Area
- Clean the Puja Space: Begin by sweeping and wiping down your puja area where you plan to conduct the puja.
- Set Up the Platform: Place a wooden platform and cover it with a clean red cloth. This is where you will set up your idols.
- Placing the Idols: Place the idols of Goddess Lakshmi and Lord Ganesh on the platform, with Ganesh on Lakshmi’s left side. The idols should face either east or west. Additionally, place footprints of Lakshmi ji on the cloth.
- Setting Sacred Items: Arrange and place some rupees in coins or paper form, jewelry (if desired), and five silver coins near the idols. (These five silver coins represents Lord Kubera, the god of wealth).
Establishing the Kalash
- Draw the Ashtadal (Eight Petals): To the right of Lakshmi’s idol, use rice grains to draw an eight-petal design representing eight directions.
- Setting the Kalash: Place a water-filled Kalash (small pot) in the center of the design. Add sandalwood paste, grass, a betel nut, five different gemstones, and mango leaves into the Kalash. Finally, wrap a coconut with a red thread (mouli) and place it on top of the Kalash.
- Preparing the Water Vessel: In a small copper pot, wrap red thread around it, fill it with water, and mix a little Ganga water in it.
Preparing the Lamps
- Prepare two large ghee lamps and eleven small mustard oil lamps.
- Set up seats for all family members participating in the puja.
Starting the Puja
- Getting Ready: Family members should bathe and wear fresh clothes before taking their seats for the puja.
- Purifying the Puja Items: Dip a marigold flower in the water pot prepared earlier and sprinkle water on all puja items and family members to purify them.
Achaman (Water Purification Ritual)
- Take water in your right hand using a spoon in your left hand from the water pot prepared above and wash your hands for Achaman.
- Take water in your right hand using a spoon and sip water three times while chanting “Om Keshavaya Namah,” “Om Narayanaya Namah,” and “Om Madhavaya Namah.”
- Wash your hands at the end, ensuring each family member performs this ritual.
Bathing the Idols
- Lighting the Lamps: Light the large ghee lamps in front of Lakshmi and Ganesh, as well as one small oil lamp near the Kalash.
- Offering Incense and Water: Light incense and show it to the idols, followed by sprinkling water mixed with honey on the idols and coins using a marigold flower.
Main Puja Rituals
- Placing Flowers: Offer flowers to the idols and place additional flowers near the Kalash, coins, and other items.
- Dressing the Idols: Place a small red thread (mauli) around Lakshmi’s idol and a sacred thread (Janeu) on Ganesh’s idol.
- Applying Kumkum: Apply Kumkum to the idols, silver coins, jewelry, and money as symbols of prosperity.
- Offering Ingredients: Present rice, a lotus seed, a clove, cardamom, and a betel leaf with betel nut to the deities.
- Special Offerings to Lord Kubera: Offer sacred items like coriander seeds and small shells to Lord Kubera, signifying the invitation of wealth.
- Offering Sweets: Conclude by offering sweets and other treats, and sprinkle water around the idols.
Reciting Prayers
Hold flowers in your hand and chant “Om Gan Ganapataye Namah” and “Om Mahalaxmiye Namah” while praying for the prosperity and happiness of your family.
Concluding the Puja with Aarti
- Aarti: Light incense and sing the Aarti of Lord Ganesh and Goddess Lakshmi and burn a camphor cup for additional purification.
- Offering Prasad: Once Aarti is complete, offer sweets to each family member as Prasad.
Post-Puja Practices
- Placing Lamps Around the House: Place the oil lamps in various corners of your home, ensuring the lamp’s opening faces away from the center of the room.
- Distributing Offerings: The following day, distribute sweets and monetary offerings to a local temple or to helpers in gratitude for prosperity and well-being.
You can watch this popular video to follow the steps that have been mentioned in this article.
To know about the traditions and importance of Diwali festival, give this article a read.