Significance of Mata Lakshmi Puja – Deepawali
Lakshmi Puja is one of the most popular festivals in India, celebrated by Hindus all over the country. It’s celebrated to pray for prosperity and good fortune, so that people may have a prosperous life. But what exactly is Lakshmi Puja? How is it celebrated? Find all answers in this blog post!
What exactly is Goddess Lakshmi Puja?
Lakshmi Puja is a Hindu festival that is celebrated on the 15th day of Kartik. This year, it falls on October 24th. Lakshmi is the goddess of riches, auspiciousness, prosperity, and good fortune. During this puja, Hindus also honor Ganesha, Kubera, and Saraswati.
This festival marks a new beginning for Goddess followers. On Lakshmi Puja’s eve, the goddess roams the land. Devotees burn earthen lamps and leave doors and windows open for her. The next morning, they perform puja to welcome her into their homes. After the puja ceremony, people offer food to Lakshmi and then share it with others as prasadam.
This festival is a time of joy and giving thanks for all that we have been blessed with. It is also an opportunity to ask for Lakshmi’s blessings in our lives.
Bhog, which can also be translated as food, is what Goddess Lakshmi is usually given on this day. In addition to Khichuri, Bhaja, which is a bunch of different kinds of fried vegetables, is given to the Goddess as an offering. “Bhog” is also referred to as dishes made with peas and cauliflower. Laddoos made with til and laddoos made with coconut are essential. All of the food that the women make for the Lakshmi Pooja is served on banana leaves, clay pots, or metal plates and bowls.
The legend behind Shri Lakshmi Puja
The story of Lakshmi puja begins with the sage Durvasa and Lord Indra. Durvasa was a great sage who had the power to curse anyone who displeased him. One day, he decided to honor Indra, the king of the gods, with a garland. However, when Indra received the garland, he disrespectfully put it on Airavat, his elephant. Airavat got irritated and tossed the garland in anger. When Durvasa saw what happened, he cursed Indra for this deed. He said that as Indra had mistreated the garland, his entire empire would be destroyed.
Sure enough, evil demons soon invaded Amravati, the city of the gods. The deities’ qualities turned against them, and they were unable to fight back effectively. Finally, Lord Vishnu appeared and healed Indra. He told Indra that the only way to defeat the demons was to churn the ocean.
So, the gods and demons churned the ocean until finally, Goddess Lakshmi appeared seated on a lotus flower. She chose Lord Vishnu as her master and joined forces with the gods against their common enemies –the demons. With Goddess Lakshmi’s help, they were able to defeat them easily and restored Amravati to its former glory.
By making friends with the gods, goddess Lakshmi made it possible for them to do good things, act in a kind and helpful way, get their strength back, and made them feel calm. Because of this, the Goddess Lakshmi is in charge of both material and mental wealth.
Why do you need to celebrate Mata Lakshmi Puja?
Hindus around the world celebrate Lakshmi Puja during the five-day festival of Deepawali. It is one of the year’s most important Hindu events. On this day, worshippers pray to Goddess Lakshmi for the forgiveness of past misdeeds and for blessings in the future. Families gather together to chant to the goddess and to bless their new ledgers and accountancy books.
For Hindus, Deepawali and Lakshmi Puja reset them spiritually. It is a profound experience that pulls people onward toward righteousness. The puja renews Hindu hope and faith in the divine. As worshipers adore Goddess Lakshmi, they are filled with a sense of purpose and direction.
The five-day festival of Deepawali is celebrated with much pomp and ceremony across India. Long-distance relatives visit home for the occasion, and neighbors and communities share sweets/gifts with each other. For Hindus, Deepawali is an opportunity to come together as a community and to strengthen social bonds.
How to celebrate Lakshmi Puja?
1. Prepare sweets at home
To celebrate Lakshmi Puja, you can start by making some traditional Indian sweets. The Internet has several easy Indian sweets recipes that you can follow. For example, kheer is a traditional Indian dessert made with milk, rice, sugar, and almonds. You can also recreate a typical Indian kitchen for Shri Lakshmi Puja. This involves setting up an altar with a picture or statue of Goddess Lakshmi and lighting candles and incense.
2. Perform a deep cleaning of your home
One of the most important parts of Lakshmi Puja is the deep cleaning that is done beforehand. Every nook and cranny must be cleaned so that Lakshmi will be pleased and bestow her blessings upon the household. This means taking everything apart – removing carpets, taking down chandeliers, unplugging electronics, and even defrosting the fridge! – and giving it a good scrub. Make sure to use clean cloths or disposable wipes, and don’t forget to wear rubber gloves to protect your hands.
3. Light a diya
The lamp made of earth, called a “Diya,” is more than just a decoration. It shows that a place is good and clean and that evil has been removed from it. Since Lakshmi Puja takes place on the day of the new moon, which is also called “Amavasya,” the diya light is used to compensate for the absence of star light. By kindling a lamp with its flame, this Lakshmi Puja will dispel the gloom that has settled over your life.
Conclusion
In conclusion, Lakshmi Puja is an important festival that celebrates the goddess of wealth and prosperity. It has been celebrated for centuries, and will likely continue to be celebrated for many more.
This holiday gives us a chance to reflect on our values as well as our desires for the future. As you go through the day, take a moment to think about what you would like to see happen in your life over the next year, and set aside a time at night during which you can express those desires to Lakshmi with a candlelit puja ceremony.
