Festivals

Diwali is the festival of Laxmi, the Goddess of prosperity and wealth. It is believed that Goddess Laxmi visit everyone during Diwali and brings peace and prosperity to all.

 On the night of diwali “Lakshmi-Pujan” is performed in the evenings. A traditional Puja is performed after sunset in all the homes.

Five pieces of ghee diyas (lamps) are lit in front of the deities, Naivedya of traditional sweets is offered to the Goddess and devotional songs- in praise of Goddess Laxmi are sung.  

After the Puja people light diyas (lamps) in their homes to usher in light, and clear the darkness from the world.
 
In villages cattle’s are adorned and worshipped by farmers as they form the main source of their income.

In south cows are offered special veneration as they are supposed to be the incarnation of Goddess Lakshmi and therefore they are adorned and worshipped on this day .
 
Step By Step Diwali Pujan:
 
First clean the Puja room and then Bathe each Deity ( Lakshmi & Ganesh) first with water, then with panchamitra/or rose water, followed by water once more.
 
Now put Deepak (Lamp)  in front of the Deities - As the  tiny diyas of clay are lighted to drive away the shadows of evil spirits
 
Make  a Panchamitra   with 5 ingredients of milk, curd, ghee(clarified butter), sugar & Honey. 
Place Few mithais, snacks & fruits as a prashad.
 
Make offerings of flowers, abir (red colour), sindoor (vermillion), haldi (turmeric). and Light the Agarbatti (incense sticks) and lamps filled with Ghee .
Now make offerings of fruit, sweet meat ( mithai), Salty snacks ( Mathis, Ghathia, Namakpare) and offer dakshina (token money), which could be given to the poor .
In the end offer paan (betel leaves), cloves. Now pray to the dieties to seek  their blessings.
Ganesh Puja-Ganeshji are a must for Diwali pujan. (Ganeshji is to be worshipped in all pujas before any other god or goddess.) Click here For Aarti
Laxmi Puja : Place Lotus and other flowers  at her feet  as an offering. A silver coin is placed in front of the Goddess during the puja. Now perform Arti with flowers in hand. Click here For Aarti
 After the puja have the Prashad and go out to burst crackers.
 

Diwali Preparations 

Diwali is the time for everyone to rejoice looking forward to a bright future. Especially of the Businessmen,

On this day they do puja of Account books and start writing their new accounts. This is called as “CHOPDA PUJAN” meaning puja of account books.
 
Each house entrances are made colorful with lovely traditional motifs of “Rangoli” designs to welcome Lakshmi, the Goddess of wealth and prosperity.

The Preparations of diwali begins well in advance.

People start decorating their homes, preparing sweets, light up their homes with colorful lights , buy new clothes & Jewelry
 
This new moon night or Amavasya is thus turned into a bright and colorful night. 

The lighting of lamps is a way of paying obeisance to god for attainment of health, wealth, knowledge, peace, valourand fame.
 
Fireworks are broughtout and the children join in the fun and frolic with all the bang -bang.
It is nice to distribute crackers so that there is universal enjoyment.

Hundreds of fire crackers can be seen glowing and then bursting as though it was a battle of glows and sparks in the skies.   
 
Markets are gaily decorated and lit up everybody adorned with new and bright clothes, especially ladies decorated with the best of ornaments, captures the social mood at its happiest.

It is a very jolly time for visiting, exchanging gifts, decorating homes, feasting, and of course attiring in new clothes.
 
On Diwali day, everywhere in India, at dusk when darkness unfolds itself, you can see a spectacular illumination of tiny flickering lamps adorning in rows - at homes, buildings and streets.

And all this illumination and fireworks, joy and festivity, is to signify the victory of divine forces over those of wickedness