Dipak Kurmi
(The writer can be reached at dipaknewslive@gmail.com.)
Lakshmi Puja, a significant Hindu occasion dedicated to the veneration of Lakshmi, the goddess of prosperity, holds a special place in the hearts of devotees across the Indian subcontinent and Southeast Asia. Celebrated on the amavasya (no moon day) in the Hindu calendar month of Ashwayuja or Kartika, Lakshmi Puja falls on the third day of Deepavali in most parts of India. However, in Assam, Bengal, and Odisha, this auspicious puja is observed five days after Vijaya Dashami, marking a unique regional variation.
Devotees eagerly anticipate the visit of Lakshmi, believing that her blessings bring good fortune and prosperity to their households. The preparations for this divine encounter are meticulous and filled with devotion. Homes are meticulously cleaned and adorned with finery and lights, and aromatic sweets and delicacies are prepared as offerings to welcome the goddess.
The eve of Lakshmi Puja sees a symbolic opening of doors and windows, inviting the goddess into homes. Diya lights flicker on windowsills and balcony ledges, creating a warm and inviting ambiance for the divine visitor. As the evening approaches, people don new or best outfits, symbolising the festive spirit. The air is filled with the glow of diyas, prayers are offered to Lakshmi and other deities such as Ganesha, Saraswati, or Kubera, and the atmosphere resonates with the anticipation of a prosperous year ahead.
The celebration is not just a materialistic quest for wealth; it is a holistic festival that honours the divine feminine and recognises the importance of familial relationships. Mothers, the embodiment of Lakshmi’s blessings, are praised on this day for their hard work throughout the year. Small earthen lamps line the parapets of temples and houses, while some are set adrift on rivers and streams, symbolising the flow of prosperity. Cleanliness is a key aspect of Lakshmi Puja, as devotees believe that the goddess prefers to visit the cleanest homes first. Offerings of haldi (turmeric) and sindoor (vermilion) are made to ensure a pure and welcoming atmosphere. In some regions, the puja involves the worship of five deities, including Ganesha, Mahalakshmi, Mahasaraswati, Mahakali, and Kubera, highlighting the multifaceted nature of prosperity.
Bengal adds its unique flavour to the celebration, with Kojagori Lokkhi Pujo taking place five days after Vijaya Dashami. The goddess is worshipped at night, accompanied by the symbolic representation of banana trees, clay utensil covers, and a small boat containing five drums. Deepavali eve, known as Dipanwita Lokkhi Puja or Alakshmi Viday, further enriches the festivities in Bengal.
Assam and Odisha celebrate Lakshmi Puja five days after Vijoya Doshomi, involving the active participation of family members in decorating entrances to welcome the goddess. The rituals include cleaning houses, drawing rangoli at doorsteps, and adorning homes to create an inviting atmosphere. The standardised rituals for Lakshmi Puja may vary, but common elements include the purification of the space using benzoin incense and the meticulous arrangement of offerings on a raised platform. The kalasha, a vessel filled with water, betel nuts, flowers, and coins, plays a central role in the puja. The presence of deities like Ganesha and the lighting of a Panchmukhi Diya add to the sacredness of the occasion.
The puja itself involves the recitation of Vedic mantras, hymns, and prayers dedicated to Lakshmi. The goddess is bathed in panchamrita and water containing gold or pearls, symbolising purity and auspiciousness. Offerings of sandal paste, saffron, garlands, and various sweets are made with deep reverence. In villages, the symbolism of prosperity extends to pots filled with freshly harvested paddy, representing the goddess Mahalakshmi. The rituals include the adoration of the goddess with fruits, coconut, banana, doobgrass, amla, curd, turmeric, and incense. The reading of the Odia text Lakshmi Purana adds a spiritual dimension to the puja.
As the ritual culminates, a swastika symbol is drawn on the safe or vault containing valuables, worshipped as a symbol of Kubera, the treasurer of the gods. The aarti, performed in a silent and sublime atmosphere, marks the conclusion of the puja, leaving devotees with a sense of spiritual fulfilment and the anticipation of a year filled with prosperity and well-being.
In essence, Lakshmi Puja is not just a celebration of wealth; it is a harmonious blend of devotion, tradition, and familial bonds, weaving a tapestry of prosperity that extends beyond material riches to encompass the holistic well-being of individuals and communities.