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Lakshmi Puja- Dhanteras

Lakshmi Puja- Dhanteras

Lakshmi Puja (Sanskrit: लक्ष्मी पूजा, romanized: Lakṣmī Pūjā) is a Hindu occasion for the veneration of Lakshmi, the goddess of prosperity and the supreme goddess of Vaishnavism. The occasion is celebrated on the amavasya (new moon day) in the Vikram Samvat Hindu calendar month of Ashwayuja (according to the amanta tradition) or Kartika (according to the purnimanta tradition), on the third day of Deepavali in most part of India. In Assam, Bengal, and Odisha, this puja is celebrated five days after Vijaya Dashami.

According to popular belief, Lakshmi, the goddess of wealth and prosperity, and Vishnu’s wife, visits her devotees, and bestows good fortune and her blessings upon them. To welcome the goddess, devotees clean their houses, decorate them with finery and lights, and prepare sweet treats and delicacies as offerings. Devotees believe that the happier Lakshmi is during her visit, the more she blesses the family with health and wealth.

In Assam, Odisha, and parts of Bengal, Lokkhi Puja or Lakshmi Puja (লক্ষ্মী পূজা) is performed on Ashvin Purnima day on the month of Ashvin, the full moon day following Vijaya Dashami and Durga Puja. This puja is also known as Kojagori Lokkhi Pujo. Women worship the goddess Lakshmi in the evening, after cleaning their house and decorating the floor of their houses with alpona, or rangoli. It is celebrated in the evening with all family members participating in decorating and cleaning home as part of the puja.

Celebrations

India

Lakshmi is believed to roam the earth on the night of the Lakshmi Puja.On the evening of Lakshmi Puja, people open their doors and windows to welcome Lakshmi, and place diya lights on their windowsills and balcony ledges to invite her in.

People wear new clothes or their best outfits as the evening approaches. Then, diyas are lit, pujas are offered to Lakshmi, and to one or more additional deities depending on the region of India; typically Ganesha, Saraswati, or Kubera. Lakshmi symbolises wealth and prosperity, and her blessings are invoked for a good year ahead.

On this day, the mothers, who work hard all year, are praised by the family. Mothers are seen to embody a part of Lakshmi, the good fortune and prosperity of the household. Small earthenware lamps filled with oil are lighted and placed in rows by some Hindus along the parapets of temples and houses. Some set diyas adrift on rivers and streams. Important relationships and friendships are also recognised during the day, by visiting relatives and friends, exchanging gifts and sweets.

It is popularly believed that Lakshmi likes cleanliness and will visit the cleanest house first. Hence, offerings of haldi (turmeric) and sindoor (vermilion) are made on this day. In certain regions, Lakshmi Puja consists of a combined puja of five deities: Ganesha is worshipped at the beginning of every auspicious act as Vighneshvara; the goddess Lakshmi is worshipped in her three forms: Mahalakshmi, the goddess of wealth and money, Mahasaraswati, the goddess of books and learning, and Mahakali. Kubera the treasurer of the gods is also worshipped.

Lakshmi Puja in home

The clay model of goddess Lakshmi accompanied by her consort Vishnu and a boat (on the left side of the image) consisting five drums having grains, gold, silver, cotton and cowrie shells in Bengal
In Bengal, the goddess Lakshmi is worshipped five days after Vijaya Dashami on the full moon day of Sharada. This is known as Kojagori Lokkhi Pujo (কোজাগরী লক্ষ্মী পুজো) in Bengali. On this day generally, the goddess is worshipped at night. She is also worshipped in the form of banana trees (কলা বউ), designed clay cover of utensils (সরা), accompanied by a small boat containing five drums. She is also worshipped on the eve of Deepavali which is commonly known as Dipanwita Lokkhi puja (দীপান্বিতা লক্ষ্মী পুজো) or Alakshmi Viday (Leaving of Alakshmi). The goddess is also worshipped in the month of Bhadra (August–September) on Thursdays. She is worshipped as rice put into a utensil (হাঁড়ি) which is changed annually. This worship is also practiced in the month of Poush (December–January).

In Assam, Lakshmi/Lakkhi puja (লক্ষ্মী পূজা) is celebrated five days after Vijoya Doshomi. Family members participates in decorating home entrances to welcome goddess Lakshmi. Prasad usually includes sweets, moong/gram, fruits etc.

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