Lakshmi Puja
| Laksmi Puja | |
|---|---|
Goddess Lakshmi
|
|
| Observed by | Hindus |
| Type | Hindu, Indian people, Indian Gorkhas and Nepalese (Nepali people) |
| Begins | Ashvin Purnima |
| 2017 date | 19 October (Thursday) |
| Frequency | annual |
| Related to | Diwali or Tihar |
Lakshmi Puja is a Hindu religious festival that falls on Purnima (full moon day) of Sukla Paksha (Light fortnight) in the Vikram Samvat Hindu calendar month of Ashwin, the third day of Tihar or Deepawali.
According to legend, Lakshmi, the goddess of wealth and Vishnu's wife, visits her devotees and bestows gifts and blessings upon each of them. To welcome the Goddess, devotees clean their houses, decorate them with finery and lights, and prepare sweet treats and delicacies as offerings. Devotees believe the happier Lakshmi is with the visit, the more she blesses the family with health and wealth.
Lakshmi Puja, or the worship of the goddess of wealth, is the main event of Diwali in North and West India. It is popularly believed that Lakshmi likes cleanliness and will visit the cleanest house first. Hence, the broom is worshiped with offerings of haldi (turmeric) and sindoor (vermilion) on this day. Lamps are lit in the evening to welcome the goddess as they are believed to light up her path. On this day, a supported light of knowledge is said to dawn upon humanity. This self-enlightenment is expressed through the twinkling lamps that illuminate the abode of the worshippers. It is believed that on this day, the goddess walks through the green fields and loiters through the by-lanes and showers her blessings on mankind for glory and prosperity.
The third day of Diwali is believed to be the most auspicious day; this is when Lakshmi Puja is performed. With pomp and ceremony, Lakshmi is invited into the homes of devotees to partake of the gifts that are a part of the puja. The most auspicious time for the puja is decided when amavasya tithi prevails during pradosh kaal or the evening time. On this day, the sun enters its second course and passes the constellation Libra, which is represented by the balance or scale. Hence, the sign of Libra is believed to suggest the balancing and closing of account books.
Lakshmi Puja is celebrated as a part of Tihar, a second national festival of Nepal after Dashain. In Nepal, it is celebrated for five days, which include Kag (crow) Tihar; Kukur (dog) Tihar; Gai (cow) Tihar in the morning and Laxmi pooja at night; Maha puja (self puja); Goru (Ox and Bull) Tihar and Gobardhan Puja; and finally, Bhai Tika (bhai dhooj)—respectively the first, second, third, fourth and fifth days. On Lakshmi Puja in Nepal, people buy gold and silver, precious gemstones, new utensils of copper, brass and bronze as a sign of good luck, prosperity, money and wealth. These are then used to Lakshmi at night. Nepalese people perform this worship at a place cleansed with holy water, cow dung and red mud; they light the whole house with candles and lamps. From Lakshmi Puja, Deusi and Bhailo is played by gathering with friends.
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Wikipedia