Lakshmi Puja traditions and rituals during Diwali

Lakshmi Puja is a significant Hindu ritual performed during the Diwali festival, particularly popular in North and West India. The ceremony emphasizes cleanliness, as tradition holds that the goddess visits neat and well-maintained homes. Ritual steps often include drawing Rangoli designs, preparing a kalash (pitcher) filled with water, grains, and mango leaves, and bathing the idol in panchamrit before placing it on a platform.

In Bengal, two distinct Lakshmi Pujas are observed within a fortnight: Kojagari on the Ashwin full moon and Dipanwita on the Kartik new moon. Legends associated with Dipanwita Lakshmi Puja include stories of the goddess blessing a princess in a dark forest and a tale involving a dispute between Vishnu and Lakshmi that led to their earthly incarnations.