Diwali also known as Deepavali, is one of the most important & popular festivals in Hindu culture. It is celebrated with great joy & fervour across India and by Indian communities worldwide. The festival signifies the victory of good over evil, and importance of knowledge over ignorance. Amidst the festive celebrations, Diwali Puja, holds a significant importance from spiritual perspective which is performed to seek the blessings of deities for health, wealth, and prosperity.
Diwali Puja is dedicated to the worship of various deities, primarily Goddess Lakshmi, the Goddess of wealth and prosperity, and Lord Ganesha, the remover of obstacles. The puja is believed to seek the deities’ blessings for health, wealth, and happiness for the coming year. It also honours Lord Rama’s return to Ayodhya after 14 years of exile and his victory over the demon king Ravana, symbolizing the triumph of righteousness.
Preparations for Diwali Puja start a month in advance. Homes are thoroughly cleaned and decorated with rangoli, flowers, and lights. The entrance of the house is decorated with torans and unique rangoli designs to welcome Goddess Lakshmi. The puja room is given the maximum attention by cleaning and decorating it with flowers, diyas, and incense sticks.
On the day of the puja, people take a ritualistic bath and dress in new or clean traditional clothes. A variety of sweets and savouries are prepared to offer to the deities and later distributed among family and friends. The main Diwali Puja is usually performed in the evening. The primary deities worshipped during the puja are Lord Ganesha, the remover of obstacles, and Goddess Lakshmi, the Goddess of wealth and prosperity. Some households also worship Lord Kubera, the god of wealth.
The puja begins with the purification of the puja space by sprinkling Ganga jal and drawing a swastika symbol on the altar.
The Diwali puja includes:
Ganesha Puja
This puja is performed before starting any puja or good work. Dedicated to Lord Ganesha, the puja aims to remove any obstacles and ensure success & well-being. A small idol or picture of Lord Ganesha is placed on the altar, and offerings such as flowers, sweets, and coconut are made. Pandits then ask devotees to begin the puja by bathing the idol in Kumkum, water, milk, honey and applying tilak on Ganesha’s forehead. Further, Devotees under the guidance of professional pandit for Ganesh Puja chant Ganesh mantras and perform aarti.
Lakshmi Puja
The main part of the puja is dedicated to Goddess Lakshmi. An idol or picture of Lakshmi, often accompanied by idols of Lord Vishnu and Saraswati, is placed on the altar. Devotees offer flowers, fruits, sweets, and money to the goddess under the guidance of Pandits. They chant Lakshmi mantras and sing bhajans to seek her blessings. The main attraction of the puja is the recitation of the Lakshmi Stotra, a hymn in praise of the Goddess done by pandits along with devotees.
Kuber Puja
Lord Kuber, the treasurer of the Gods is also worshipped alongside Goddess Lakshmi to ensure financial prosperity. Offerings similar to those made to Lakshmi are presented to Lord Kuber. Pandits assists devotees in seeking blessings by chanting mantras and prayers.
Lighting Diya
Lighting diyas and lamps is an integral part of Diwali Puja. Devotees light oil lamps and place them around the house, particularly near entrances and windows, to invite divine energy and remove negative forces. The entire house is illuminated, symbolizing the end of darkness and ignorance.
Aarti and Bhajans
The pandit concludes the puja by singing aarti and bhajans, which is followed by the distribution of prasad among family members and other attendees.
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