There are many festivals celebrated all over the world. But our country, India has a lot of variety of festivals which is not present anywhere else.
The variety in festivals shows the existence of different religions, cultures and traditions. There is diversity in the country.
The diversity teaches us about the various cultures other than only our particular culture. During festivals people worship their own Gods and Goddesses, pray to them and take their blessings.
One festival for which people wait eagerly is the festival of Diwali. Diwali is called the festival of lights as every place is decorated with colourful lights and lamps.
Diwali is celebrated for five days. It is around the month of October or November as per the Hindu calendar.
The five days of celebration starts with Dhanteras, then Choti Diwali, Diwali, Goverdhan Puja and Bhai Dooj. Some people follow their own traditions and celebrate Diwali for four days.
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What is Lakshmi Puja?
Lakshmi Puja is celebrated on the third day of Diwali. It is the actual day of celebration during the festival of Diwali.
It falls on the dark night, that is, Amavasya. On this day people worship Goddess Lakshmi and do things which will please her and they can get blessings from her.
The festival of Lakshmi Puja is a combination of performing puja of five Gods and Goddesses together.
They worship Lord Ganesha, Goddess Lakshmi’s three forms which are – Mahalakshmi, Mahasaraswati, Mahakali and the treasurer of Gods, Kuber.
History of Lakshmi Puja
Goddess Lakshmi was sage’s Bhrigu’s daughter. When the gods were in exile, she took shelter in the ocean of milk.
This ocean was tossed by the devas and asuras and Goddess Lakshmi came out from it. Everyone was astonished with her beauty. She was extremely beautiful.
Lord Shiva called her as his wife but he gave her to Lord Vishnu because he had the moon. Moreover, Goddess Lakshmi’s choice was Lord Vishnu.
People worship Goddess Lakshmi as she is called the goddess of fortune, prosperity and health. If they worship and pray to her they will receive her blessings.
Celebration of Lakshmi Puja
The first thing that people do in preparation of Lakshmi Puja is cleaning the entire house, repairing the necessary things and beautifully decorating the house.
A rangoli is made in the entrance for the welcome of Goddess Lakshmi. They worship and pray to Goddess Lakshmi for her blessings. It is believed that if she is happier, people will receive more blessings from her.
Goddess Lakshmi prefers cleanliness that is the reason why people clean their house so that she visits them. People celebrate Lakshmi Puja with a lot of devotion and excitement.
On the day of Lakshmi Puja people take bath early in the morning and worship Lord Vishnu. In the afternoon they pray for the people have died and then they give fresh and vegetarian food to the Brahmans.
The devotees worship Lord Vishnu, Goddess Lakshmi and Lord Kuber in the evening.
The idol of Lakshmi is kept on a lotus and beside her Lord Kuber’s idol is kept. Goddess Lakshmi has lotus in both of her hands and is decorated with golden jewellery.
After this they perform the puja. There are a few necessary items which must be kept during puja.
These include : supari, coconut, earthen pot, oil lamps, silver and gold coins, uncooked rice, five leaves and red vermillion. They also offer Naivedya to the idols. Naivedya is made of sugar, cloves, milk from cow and cardamom.
Significance of Lakshmi Puja
Lakshmi is called the goddess of prosperity, wealth and fortune. This is the reason why people worship her during Diwali as it is a very auspicious time.
The devotees get her blessing in the form of success, wealth, good well being, knowledge and happiness.
This is signified through her idol in which the coins are falling from the hands. The people do not benefit just in the monetary way.
It is more than that. Goddess Lakshmi gifts us for the overall development so that we progress in the life from all ways.
She helps us to move forward and makes us nearer to our goal. Extreme dedication to Goddess Lakshmi will help us in achieving our goals.
There are eight ways through she blesses us. They are- Adi Lakshmi, Dhana Lakshmi, Vidya Lakshmi, Dhanya Lakshmi, Santana Lakshmi, Dhairya Lakshmi, Vijaya Lakshmi and Bhagya Lakshmi.
Adi Lakshmi helps us in our memory. She gives us strength and relaxes our mind. Dhana Lakshmi helps us through wealth.
Vidya Lakshmi gives us skills, new talents and the knowledge to learn. Dhanya Lakshmi blesses us through food. It is believed the type of food greatly impacts our body and mind as our stomach is directly connected to our mind.
Santana Lakshmi’s wealth is through creativity and skill in the field of arts. Dhairya Lakshmi makes us bold and courageous.
Vijaya Lakshmi blesses us through the power to gain victory. Bhagya Lakshmi gifts us prosperity and the best of luck in our life.
We do not get all the eight blessings at the same time. We receive them from Goddess Lakshmi at various stages of our life and when it is needed.
We also see two the statue of two elephants beside her. They spray water from their trunk always.
This teaches us about wisdom and purity which finally gives happiness internally to us. During Lakshmi Puja we find the idol of Goddess Lakshmi seating on a lotus that floats on water.
Water signifies love while lotus dispassion. The lotus still moves on the surface of the water even if water falls on it.
This teaches us that if we are not selfish and too much connected with our available wealth, our life will shine like the light and will be filled with happiness.
We should not be jealous of our wealth rather support and help others prosper through it.
If we do not share it will become like the stagnant water on which the lotus floats. The stagnant will not be useful to the lotus anymore.
Similarly, being selfish about our wealth will not help us from any way. It is believed that if she is happier, people will receive more blessings from her.
So, the people worship her with extreme devotion and offer whatever is necessary for the puja.
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