Clean the puja area

Clean the area which is selected for puja.

Choose the east wall

The direction of the puja area should be selected on the east wall of your house.

Place the idols

Keep the idol of Lord Ganesha on the left of the idol of Goddess Lakshmi. The idols placed in the puja should face east direction to enhance the energy of the puja rituals. Sit facing north-east direction while performing the puja. If you don't have an idol, you can print a picture or just keep the image in your mind.

Steps for performing Lakshmi Puja

Decide the place for the platform

Cover the platform with a red cloth. If red is not available then use any other bright color; avoid black or deep blue.

Create a bed of raw uncooked rice on the red cloth.

Place a kalash [pot] on the bed of rice

• Fill the kalash with 75% of water. Put a betel nut, flower, a clean coin, and some rice in the kalash.
• Now arrange the mango leaves around the neck of the kalash.
• Place a small plain plate over the kalash.
• Place the kalash on the chowki covered with red cloth.

If this is not available then you can make do with a pot of water too.

mango leaves around the neck 75% water + betel nut, flower, coin & rice on a bed of raw rice

Take a large plate

• Draw the sign of SWASTIK on it. Place the idol of Lord Ganesha and Goddess Lakshmi with reverence on the right side of the Kalash. Some coins or jewellery are included in the puja for wealth prosperity.
• Take some water and sprinkle on all puja items to purify them.
• Start the puja by applying Tilak with Kumkum [red powder] and flowers on the kalash. Kumkum should also be applied to the idol of Lord Ganesha and Goddess Lakshmi; also place some flowers.

Offerings for Goddess Lakshmi

Batasha [a spherical crispy sugar candy], laddoos, fruits of your choice, dry fruits, and sweets can be offered to the Goddess. This offering is called Prasad which will be distributed to all after the Puja. In the absence of traditional Diwali sweets, you could use plain sugar or any other sweet offering that doesn't have any egg or non-vegetarian component.

Puja Vidhi [Procedure]

• Now you must take some flowers and rice in your hands.
• Close your eyes and meditate on Goddess Lakshmi as you are invoking Goddess Lakshmi for her blessings.
• Recite the Mantra of Goddess Lakshmi for abundance of wealth and prosperity.

• Now place the idol of Lord Ganesha and Goddess Lakshmi on a clean plate and bathe it with 'Panchamrit' made of milk, curd, ghee, honey, and sugar.
• Clean the idols with water again and wipe them with a clean cloth. Place the idols back on the chowki [platform].
• Apply Kumkum Tilak, offer flowers, including incense to Goddess Lakshmi.
• Next make offerings of Prasad for attaining the blessings of the Goddess.

Clean and prepare your Puja area

Cleanliness helps prepare the home to receive divine blessings. Choose a space near an east-facing wall, keeping a small, stable table/platform for the puja items. Prepare the wall with decoration of lights or a flower garland.

Place the following items nearby:

• Idols or images of Lord Ganesha and Goddess LakshmiYou can take out a print of Lord Ganesh or Goddess Lakshmi by downloading it on your device online.
• A vibrant-colored clothA red cloth is suitable.
• Uncooked, unbroken rice grains
• A suitable vessel to pour water intoKnown as Kalash in Hindu tradition.
• Flowers, mango leaves, water, and coins
• Red vermilion powder (known as Kumkum)If not available, then you can use Sandal Powder as an alternative.
• A small oil lamp or just a candle
• Incense, if you use
• Fruits, sweets or other ideal offerings

These traditional items are all you need to perform puja; however, you can change the setup using items available to you.

Arrange a Kalash (a vessel) and Idols or an image (photo)

Place a vibrant colored cloth on the table you have chosen for puja. In Hindu tradition, bright colours, especially red, are considered positive for Diwali worship. Avoid black or dark blue during this ritual.

Spread a small amount of uncooked unbroken rice on the corner of the cloth and place the vessel on it.

Prepare the Vessel using three-quarters full of water. Add a flower, a clean coin and a small amount of unbroken rice. Add a betel nut, if available (not necessary), to the vessel. Décor mango leaves around the opening of the vessel, if available. Now, cover the vessel using a small plate if conventional in your tradition.

mango leaves around the opening ¾ water + flower, coin & rice on a little uncooked rice

Note: If you are not able to arrange a Kalash or mango leaves, then you can use a clean pot and fill it with water. These will allow you to perform the ritual without sourcing all traditional items.

After that, keep the idols or images of Goddess Lakshmi and Lord Ganesha beside the kalash. Hindu Tradition believes that Lord Ganesha should be placed to the left of Goddess Lakshmi. You can keep jewellery or coins near the idols/images as a signifier of happiness and abundance.

In Hindu tradition, the idols should face east; you should sit facing northeast to perform the puja. If your home interior is not suitable for this arrangement, then you can follow your family's traditional practice and perform rituals peacefully with pure intention.

Puja Items preparation

• Sprinkle clean water over the puja items lightly to perform the traditional act of purification.
• Apply a small amount of Red vermilion powder to the vessel and the idols/images of the Lord and Goddess. Offer flowers to them.
• Light a diya using ghee or oil – you can follow your family's tradition. You can use a candle as an alternative to a traditional diya.
• Use a traditional aromatic incense resin, if available; this will create a peaceful ambience during worship.

Offer Fruits and Sweets

The next step is to prepare offerings for Goddess Lakshmi; this may include:

• Sweets or Desserts (homemade or from market)
• Fresh Fruits
• Dried Fruit and Nuts

These food items offered to the goddess and god during worship are called Prasad. After performing puja, these items are shared with family members as a blessed offering.

If you cannot find traditional Indian sweets, you can offer plain sugar, fruits and vegetarian sweets – which are prepared without eggs and non-vegetarian ingredients. Choose what is available and appropriate for you.

Pray to Goddess Lakshmi

Keep unbroken rice grains and a few flower petals in your hands. Close your eyes, and concentrate on Goddess Lakshmi. Seek her blessings, and express your desires for peace, prosperity, wealth, abundance and well-being for the coming year.

Recite the Sanskrit Mantra dedicated to Goddess Lakshmi given below:

Perform the Ritual of Panchamrit (A sacred mixture of 5 ingredients)

Note: If the idols are not washable, then skip this step and perform the remaining ritual.

If you are using idols that can be washed, then perform the traditional Panchamrit ritual.

1. Curd (Plain Yoghurt)
2. Milk
3. Ghee (clarified butter)
4. Sugar
5. Honey

Prepare a mixture of these 5 ingredients in a clean bowl, and bathe the idols of the god and goddess by pouring the mixture gently into a bowl so the mixture doesn't go to waste.

Now, rinse the idols with clean water and dry them with a clean cloth before placing them on the puja platform.

Offer Red vermilion powder, flowers, and Sweets, Desserts & Fruits

Apply red vermilion powder to the goddess and lord, offer flowers to them, and light a candle or diya. Keep the sweets, desserts and fruits before the idols or images.

Pray for the well-being of your family, prosperity, happiness and peace in your home.

Hindu tradition suggests that these offerings are performed to express your devotion to the deities. The goal of the ritual is to approach the prayer with reverence and sincerity.