Lakshmi Puja is performed on Diwali Amavasya during Pradosh Kaal.
A day-long fast is observed before conducting the evening Puja.
Red and white cloths are used for installing Lakshmi-Ganesh and Navgraha respectively.
Vrishabha Lagna during Pradosh Kaal is the most auspicious Puja time.
Chopda Pujan marks the start of new business accounts in Gujarati tradition.
Details
Lakshmi Puja:
Lakshmi Puja, celebrated on Diwali Amavasya, is one of the most significant Hindu rituals dedicated to Goddess Lakshmi, the deity of wealth and prosperity. Devotees rise early, pay homage to their ancestors, and perform Shradh ceremonies. Observing a strict day-long fast is customary, culminating in a grand Puja ceremony post-sunset. This fast symbolizes dedication and spiritual discipline, aligning the mind and body for the sacred evening rituals. Worship begins after sunset during Pradosh Kaal, aligning with the Sthir Lagna, the most auspicious planetary position where Goddess Lakshmi is believed to reside permanently when invoked.
Homes and workspaces are decorated with traditional marigold garlands, Ashoka leaves, and mango or banana leaves. A Mangalik Kalash with an unpeeled coconut is placed at both ends of the entrance to invite prosperity. On a raised red cloth platform, adorned idols of Goddess Lakshmi and Lord Ganesha are placed for worship, while a white cloth platform is used to install Navgraha representations using nine Akshata mounds. Sixteen mounds of wheat are also created symbolizing completeness in the ritual. The Puja includes lighting oil lamps, offering sweets, chanting mantras, and invoking the divine presence for wealth, health, and well-being.
Lakshmi Puja should strictly be performed during Pradosh Kaal with Vrishabha (Sthir) Lagna for maximum benefits. Avoid Choghadiya Muhurat as it is meant for travel, not rituals. In cities like Mumbai, Delhi, and Ahmedabad, the Muhurat is calculated locally for accuracy. Gujarati communities also perform Chopda Pujan—worship of new accounting books—to seek divine blessings for the financial year. This ritual marks a spiritual beginning in business affairs. Also known as Deepavali Puja or Lakshmi Ganesh Pujan, it is a unifying cultural celebration of hope, wealth, and renewal across Indian homes.
