Lakshmi Puja 2024: Lakshmi Puja, also known as Diwali Puja, is one of the most auspicious days in the Hindu calendar. It is celebrated on the third day of Diwali, which typically falls in October or November. Lakshmi Puja is dedicated to Goddess Lakshmi, the Hindu goddess of wealth, fortune, and prosperity.
On this day, devotees perform puja to welcome Goddess Lakshmi into their homes and seek her blessings for a prosperous year ahead. The arrangements for Lakshmi Puja commence several days beforehand. Homes are cleaned and decorated with rangolis, lights, and flowers to welcome the Goddess. This year, Lakshmi Puja will be celebrated on Friday, November 01st, 2024.
In this blog, we will discuss everything you need to know about Lakshmi Puja 2024 - the Puja Date, Shubh Muhurat, Puja Vidhi, Lakshmi Aarti lyrics, and more. Read on to learn how to perform Lakshmi puja at home and invite prosperity into your life.
When is Lakshmi Puja in 2024?
Lakshmi Puja 2024 will be celebrated on the third day of Diwali in November. It is one of the most important days of the festival of lights, marking the beginning of the Hindu New Year. Here are the details for Lakshmi Puja Muhurat in 2024.
Lakshmi Puja 2024 Date and Time
As per the Hindu calendar, Lakshmi Puja is celebrated on Amavasya Tithi (new moon day) of Krishna Paksha (waning phase of the moon) in Kartik month.
Lakshmi Puja 2024 Date: 01 November 2024 (Friday)
Lakshmi Puja 2024 Time: 05:36 PM to 06:16 PM (1st November 2024)
The History and Significance of Lakshmi Puja
According to Hindu mythology, Goddess Lakshmi emerged from the ocean during the Samudra Manthan - the churning of the cosmic ocean by the gods and demons. Lord Vishnu accepted Lakshmi as his consort, bringing her powers to the side of the gods which helped them defeat the demons.
It is believed that on Diwali if Goddess Lakshmi is pleased, she visits the homes of her devotees and blesses them with prosperity, health, and happiness. The festival of lights signifies her divine presence and the victory of good over evil.
Also Read: Know The Shubh Muhurat, Auspicious Days & Time To Buy Gold in 2023
The Significance of Lakshmi Puja
Lakshmi puja marks the beginning of the Hindu New Year. During the puja, the front door is kept open as a symbol of welcoming Goddess Lakshmi into homes. Houses are decorated with rangolis of flowers and colors. Many businesses also initiate new ventures and accounting years on this auspicious day.
Lakshmi Puja Preparations
Here are some tips to prepare your home for Lakshmi puja:
- Clean the house thoroughly and decorate it with fresh flowers and rangolis at the entrance.
- Place a beautiful Lakshmi idol or image on a wooden chowki and decorate it with flowers, jewelry, haldi, and kumkum.
- Keep new and untouched coins, Jewellery, Sweets, Fruits, and Nuts as offerings for Goddess Lakshmi.
- Prepare sweets and dishes that are traditionally made for Diwali like kheer, puri, and halwa, and distribute them as prasad after puja.
- Light diyas or candles throughout the house to illuminate it for the arrival of Lakshmi Maa.
- Spruce up your prayer room and keep idols of other Gods and Goddesses around the main Lakshmi idol.
- Clean all corners thoroughly as Goddess Lakshmi is believed to reside where cleanliness prevails.
- On Lakshmi puja day, wake up early and take a bath before beginning the rituals. Wear new or festive traditional clothes.
2024 Lakshmi Puja Vidhi at Home
Here is the step-by-step method to perform Lakshmi puja at home on Diwali:
- Install the idol or photo of Goddess Lakshmi in a clean place and decorate it with flowers. Light diyas or candles around it.
- Take a bath and wear clean clothes before starting the puja.
- Prepare a thali for the puja with roli, kumkum, rice grains, diya, flowers, paan leaves, supari, fruits, betel nuts, coins, etc.
- Place a kalash (pot) filled with water and topped with unpeeled coconut and mango leaves. Draw auspicious Swastik symbols on the Kalash.
- Sprinkle water around the puja area and idol to purify. Light the diya and dhoop.
- Invoke Lord Ganesha and seek his blessings before beginning the main Lakshmi puja rituals.
- Invoke Goddess Lakshmi with the Lakshmi mantra: “Om Mahalakshmi Namah”
- Perform the panchopchar puja by offering gandham, pushpam, dhoopam, deepam, and naivaidyam (bhog) to Goddess Lakshmi.
- Chant Lakshmi slokas and stotrams. The popular Vishnu-Lakshmi stotram is recited on this day.
- Show arati to the Goddess and sing the Lakshmi aarti to praise her glory.
- Offer bhog prasad of traditional sweets and dishes to the deity.
- Distribute prasad and bhog among the family after the puja concludes. The prasad is also gifted to friends, relatives, and neighbors.
- At night, keep the Lakshmi puja ghat illuminated throughout the night as it is believed the Goddess visits the homes of her devotees at night.
- The next day, immerse the idol in a water body. Donate food, clothes, and money to the needy as Daan.
Importance of Performing Lakshmi Puja on Diwali
Lakshmi Puja is the most important day of Diwali celebrations in the Hindu culture. Here is why it holds such significance:
- It is believed Goddess Lakshmi was born during the churning of the cosmic ocean on Diwali. Performing her puja on this day is auspicious.
- Lakshmi puja invites prosperity and drives away poverty. It ushers in a new year of success and wealth.
- The divine blessings of Maa Lakshmi can remove any obstacles in personal, professional, and business life.
- Lighting diyas on Diwali welcomes Lakshmi into our homes which are cleaned and decorated to please her.
- Observing Lakshmi Vrat on Diwali blesses one with good health, wealth, and wisdom.
- Traditionally, businessmen close old accounts and open new account books on this day seeking Lakshmi Kripa.
Therefore, Lakshmi Puja is of paramount significance on Diwali. Devotees believe worshipping Goddess Lakshmi and observing her Vrat sincerely can greatly improve your finances and quality of life.
Popular Lakshmi Mantras and Hymns for Puja
On Lakshmi puja, devotees chant various mantras and storms to invoke the Goddess and seek her blessings. Here are some of the most popular Lakshmi mantras and prayers:
- Mahalakshmi Ashtakam - This octet contains 8 verses glorifying Maa Lakshmi’s divinity, virtues, and powers to grant boons to worshippers.
- Sri Suktam - These Vedic hymns dedicated to Sri or Lakshmi are recited for prosperity. It praises her as the storehouse of riches.
- Kanakadhara Stotram - This stotra by Sri Adi Shankaracharya describes the boundless compassion and mercy of Goddess Lakshmi when she showered golden rain on a devotee.
- Lakshmi Gayatri Mantra - The powerful Gayatri mantra of Goddess Lakshmi is chanted for wealth and wisdom.
ॐ महालक्ष्म्यै च विद्महे विष्णुपत्न्यै च धीमहि | तन्नो लक्ष्मी प्रचोदयात् ||
oṃ mahālakṣmyai ca vidmahe viṣṇupatnyai ca dhīmahi | tanno lakṣmī pracodayāt ||
- Lakshmi Beej Mantra - The Lakshmi bija (seed) mantra ‘Shreem’ is chanted for abundance and prosperity.
ॐ श्रीं ह्रीं श्रीं लक्ष्मीभ्यो नमः॥
oṃ śrīṃ hrīṃ śrīṃ lakṣmībhyo namaḥ॥
Lakshmi Aarti with Lyrics
The Lakshmi aarti is sung during the puja once the main rituals are finished. Singing the aarti hymn glorifies the divine presence of Maa Lakshmi. Below are the lyrics of the popular Hindi Lakshmi aarti:
Jai Lakshmi Mata, maiya jai lakshmi mata
Tera vairabhaya, loka mai phasayo
Survar utarke, aarti jo jayo
Jai Lakshmi mata
Om jai lakshmi mata, maiya jai lakshmi mata
Tumko nishi-din, dhyavat hridayo
Sukh sampati dayi, har shatri bhayo
Maiya tumbin kuch pavat na jayo
Jai Lakshmi mata
Om jai lakshmi mata
Tum sambhu sakhi, tum vipran rakshak
Tum rakshak sab mata
Jis ghar mein tum rahat hani na aaye
Seva karvat sakal sampati paye
Om jai lakshmi mata
Dhan dhanya aur ratan jab dayi tu de
Ghar ghar me paaya sab sukh aapni le
Jai lakshmi mata, maiya jai lakshmi mata
Om jai lakshmi mata
Lakshmi Puja Prasad Recipes
On Lakshmi puja, it is customary to prepare many delicious treats and sweets to offer as bhog to Maa Lakshmi. After the puja, the prasad is distributed as her blessings. Here are some popular prasad recipes:
- Sweets - Mysore pak, ladoo, kheer, rava ladoo, besan ladoo, gulab jamun, etc.
- Savory snacks - Dal kachori, suji kachori, dahi wada, mini samosas etc.
- Fried foods - Poori, puri bhaji, masala vada, bhajiya etc.
- Fruits & dry fruits - Bananas, apples, grapes, almonds, pistachios, and dates.
- Beverages - Panchamrit, thandai, sherbet.
Make sure to use only fresh, high-quality ingredients to prepare bhog for Lakshmi puja. Distribute it respectfully among all family members, friends, and neighbors.
Lakshmi Puja Celebrations Across India
Lakshmi Puja is celebrated with great fervor and faith across the country. Here is how Diwali celebrations vary in different Indian states:
- In West Bengal, Kali puja coincides with Lakshmi puja on Diwali. Houses are decorated with diyas and lights to welcome the goddesses.
- In Maharashtra, Lakshmi puja begins by offering haldi and kumkum to the goddess. Women perform aarti and blow conch shells or shankha.
- In Tamil Nadu, elaborate Lakshmi puja is done at night. Grand displays of crackers and fireworks light up the skies.
- In Karnataka, the festival is called Deepavali. The traditional deepa darshana is done to view the Diyas at dawn after Lakshmi puja.
- In Punjab, Diwali is known as Bandi Chhor Divas. Huge community prayers are held at gurudwaras besides Lakshmi puja at home.
- In Gujarat, business communities start the new financial year after performing chopda puja on Diwali.
- In eastern states like Odisha and Bihar, Lakshmi puja, Kali puja, and Bhai Dooj coincide on the same day.
Thus, the common thread that binds the diverse country together is celebrating the victory of good over evil, and light over darkness with Lakshmi Puja on Diwali. It reinforces the values of wealth, prosperity, and knowledge.
Lakshmi Puja Timings for Different Indian Cities
Here are the Lakshmi puja muhurat timings in various Indian cities for Friday, November 01, 2024:
- New Delhi - 06:11 PM to 07:36 PM
- Mumbai - 06:18 PM to 07:46 PM
- Kolkata - 05:27 PM to 06:47 PM
- Chennai - 05:54 PM to 07:14 PM
- Bengaluru - 06:13 PM to 07:38 PM
- Hyderabad - 06:03 PM to 07:27 PM
- Ahmedabad - 06:28 PM to 07:55 PM
- Pune - 06:16 PM to 07:44 PM
- Jaipur - 05:58 PM to 07:24 PM
- Lucknow - 05:48 PM to 07:16 PM
The timings may vary by a few minutes in different cities. Consult your local panchang or priest to confirm the Shubh Muhurat in your city before beginning the Lakshmi puja rituals.
Lakshmi Puja Significance for Business & Home
For the business community, Lakshmi puja holds high significance. They perform puja seeking the blessings of Mahalakshmi - the goddess of wealth and prosperity.
Shopkeepers, traders, and businessmen close their old accounts and open new account books. The ritual is known as Chopda Pujan.
New ventures and deals are started on an auspicious note after Lakshmi puja.
Puja is done for account books, safes, equipment, machinery, and vehicles.
Business tycoons and company owners often organize a havan or large-scale community Lakshmi puja.
For home and personal life, Lakshmi puja done sincerely improves fortune and success. The divine grace of Maa Lakshmi can cure diseases, bless childless couples with progeny, and bring peace, happiness, and prosperity to the entire family.
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Lakshmi Puja 2024 Greetings and Wishes
Here are some popular Lakshmi Puja greetings and wishes:
May Goddess Lakshmi bring joy and prosperity to you and your loved ones. Wishing you divine blessings on this Lakshmi Puja.
May Maa Lakshmi's blessings preserve your wealth and open up new opportunities. Happy Lakshmi Puja 2024!
May Maa Lakshmi empower you with good health, fame, strength, kindness, wisdom, and abundance. Wishing you a prosperous Lakshmi Puja.
Wishing you a Happy Lakshmi Puja filled with health, wealth, peace, and prosperity. May Goddess Lakshmi's grace guide us towards abundance.
Conclusion
Lakshmi puja on Diwali is thus the most consequential day to receive the love, care, and blessings of Goddess Lakshmi. By worshipping the Mahalakshmi aspect sincerely, our lives are enriched with good health, wealth, peace, joy, and prosperity. The positive aura created in homes on this day drives away any negative energy. Starting the new year by seeking Maa Lakshmi's divine Shakti brings positivity, growth, and good luck.
