Diwali 2024: Know Laxmi Pujan Rituals, and Shubh Muhurat
Today, homes across India glow with flickering lamps and dazzling lights, as people welcome the most beloved festival of the year, Deepawali! This Festival unites everyone: the excitement of honouring Goddess Lakshmi, who brings wealth, prosperity, and joy into our lives. As the evening sky darkens on this auspicious Amavasya, let’s delve into the heart of Diwali traditions, rituals, and the magical shubh muhurat for Lakshmi Puja.
Shubh Mahurat
Each year, Deepawali arrives on the Amavasya Tithi (new moon) of Kartik month. This time, the Kartik Amavasya Tithi stretches over two days, beginning on October 31 at 3:52 p.m. and ending on November 1 at 6:16 p.m. Given this overlap, many wonder when to perform the sacred Laxmi Puja! According to Hindu beliefs, the best time for worship is during Pradosh Kaal (evening twilight), which this year will be between 5:36 p.m. and 8:11 p.m. on October 31, with an especially auspicious window from 6:25 p.m. to 8:20 p.m. during Taurus Lagna. So if you’re seeking divine blessings, light those diyas during these precious hours!
Laxmi Pujan: The Heart of Diwali Festivities
On Diwali night, every home transforms into a temple of light and colour, adorned with rangolis, vibrant flowers, and the soft glow of lamps. But the true essence of Diwali lies in the Laxmi Puja. This ceremony honours Goddess Lakshmi alongside Lord Ganesha and Kuber, the deity of wealth, to invite abundance and remove obstacles in the coming year.
Start by carefully preparing the puja area: clean the northeast or north corner of your home, set up a special platform, or chowki, and lay down a fresh red cloth. Decorate the space with a swastika, and symbols of prosperity, and place bowls of rice and offerings for the gods. Then arrange idols of Goddess Lakshmi and Lord Ganesha on the platform. Invoke the presence of all gods and goddesses with Gangajal (holy water), and begin the puja by offering flowers, incense, lamps, and other items sacred to Diwali.
A Night of Light, Blessings, and Joy
As the ritual concludes, Aarti fills the air with prayers and reverence, calling blessings upon every household. With diyas set alight in each corner of the home, Diwali becomes more than a festival; it celebrates togetherness, prosperity, and triumph over darkness. So light up your home, share sweets with loved ones, and rejoice in the blessings of the festival of lights. May, Goddess Lakshmi bestows happiness, success, and wealth on every doorstep, this Diwali.
