Celebrating Lakshmi Puja: Rituals to Welcome the Goddess of Wealth

Lakshmi Puja celebrated on Kojagari Purnima, is a significant festival dedicated to Goddess Lakshmi, the goddess of wealth, prosperity, and abundance. This festival occurs on the full moon day of the Hindu month of Ashwin, marking the end of the monsoon season and the beginning of the harvest period. Unlike the Lakshmi Puja performed during Diwali, Kojagari Lakshmi Puja is observed in the serene moonlight of Sharad Purnima.

In 2024, Lakshmi Puja falls on October 16, and it is celebrated today across India. Families and communities perform this puja with devotion, seeking the blessings of Goddess Lakshmi for financial success and overall well-being. In this guide, we’ll walk through the importance of Lakshmi Puja on Kojagari Purnima, explain how to perform the rituals at home, and provide a step-by-step guide to help you observe the festival with sincerity.

The Importance of Lakshmi Puja During Kojagari Purnima

While many associate Lakshmi Puja with Diwali, the Kojagari Purnima Lakshmi Puja holds its own significance. This full moon night is dedicated to celebrating the end of the agricultural season, and it is believed that Goddess Lakshmi descends to Earth, bestowing her blessings on those who remain awake through the night.

The term “Kojagari” is derived from the Sanskrit words "Ko Jagarti," meaning "Who is awake?" According to legend, Goddess Lakshmi visits homes on this night, asking, "Who is awake?" She blesses those who are alert and worship her with wealth and prosperity. This tradition of staying awake all night and performing the puja is particularly observed in West Bengal, Odisha, and other parts of India.

Unlike the boisterous celebrations of Diwali, Kojagari Lakshmi Puja is performed in a more tranquil atmosphere, often under the light of the full moon. The moon is believed to have a calming and healing effect, symbolizing peace and prosperity, which are essential elements of Lakshmi's blessings.

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When and How to Perform Lakshmi Puja at Home on Kojagari Purnima

Kojagari Purnima Lakshmi Puja is traditionally performed during the evening and night hours, with families staying awake under the light of the full moon. In 2024, the most auspicious time to perform Lakshmi Puja at home on October 16 is during the Purnima Tithi, which starts at 5:05 PM on October 16 and ends at 7:48 PM on October 17.

However, the best time to perform the main rituals is in the late evening, under the moonlight, as this is believed to be when Goddess Lakshmi descends to bless her devotees.

Lakshmi Puja Preparation Tips for Beginners

For those new to celebrating Lakshmi Puja on Kojagari Purnima, here are some Lakshmi Puja preparation tips for beginners:

1. Clean the Home: Just like during Diwali, cleaning your home before the puja is essential, as cleanliness is said to attract Goddess Lakshmi. Focus on the puja room and any space where you plan to perform the rituals.

2. Set Up the Altar: Prepare an altar with an image or idol of Goddess Lakshmi. Use flowers, particularly lotuses, as they are sacred to the goddess. Decorate the altar with lamps (diyas), incense sticks, and a clean cloth, preferably red or yellow.

3. Gather the Offerings: Traditional items required for the puja include:

• A kalash (water-filled metal pot) with mango leaves and a coconut.
• Fresh flowers, sweets (such as kheer or sweets made with milk), fruits, and coins.
• Kumkum, turmeric, rice, and betel leaves.

4. Arrange for Moonlight Observance: If possible, perform the puja outdoors or near a window where you can see the moon. Worshipping under the moonlight is an essential part of Kojagari Purnima, as it symbolizes purity and divine blessings.

Step-by-Step Guide to Lakshmi Puja Rituals on Kojagari Purnima

Now that you are prepared, let’s walk through a step-by-step guide to Lakshmi Puja rituals for Kojagari Purnima:

1. Purification of the Home and Altar

Sprinkle holy water (Gangajal) around the house and in the puja area to purify the space. This is a symbolic act to remove negative energies and welcome the goddess into a clean, sacred space.

2. Setting Up the Altar

• Spread a clean cloth on the altar and place the idol or image of Goddess Lakshmi on it.
• Light oil lamps (diyas) and incense sticks to create a serene and sacred environment.
• Arrange the kalash with water, mango leaves, and a coconut, symbolizing abundance.

3. Invoking Goddess Lakshmi

Begin by invoking the presence of Goddess Lakshmi through mantras and prayers. Light the oil lamps and offer flowers, fruits, and sweets to the goddess. While offering, chant the Lakshmi mantra:

   - “Om Shreem Mahalakshmiyei Namah”

This mantra is repeated throughout the puja to focus on invoking the divine blessings of wealth and prosperity.

4. Offering Traditional Lakshmi Puja Offerings

Make the traditional Lakshmi Puja offerings to the goddess, such as:

• Flowers: Offer fresh flowers like lotuses, symbolizing purity.
• Sweets and milk-based items: Kojagari Purnima is closely associated with milk, as the full moon night is considered ideal for consuming dairy products, especially kheer (sweet rice pudding made with milk). Offering kheer as prasad is a popular practice on this day.
• Coins or money: Symbolizing material wealth, place coins near the idol during the puja.

5. Performing the Aarti

Perform the aarti by rotating a lit camphor lamp in front of the goddess while singing traditional hymns or chants. This act of devotion is believed to please the goddess and solidify her blessings.

6. Worshipping the Full Moon

One of the unique aspects of Lakshmi Puja on Kojagari Purnima is worshipping the full moon. After completing the puja indoors, step outside or near a window and gaze at the moon. Offer prayers and kheer to the moon, seeking blessings for good health, peace, and prosperity.

7. Concluding the Puja

Distribute the prasad (blessed food) among family members. Traditionally, families stay awake late into the night, enjoying the cool moonlight and feasting on milk-based sweets, symbolizing the bounty of the harvest season.

Traditional Lakshmi Puja Offerings and Mantras on Kojagari Purnima

The traditional Lakshmi Puja offerings and mantras for Kojagari Purnima include a few unique elements compared to the Diwali Lakshmi Puja. While flowers, fruits, and sweets are common offerings, the use of milk and dairy products, particularly kheer, holds special significance on this day.

• Milk-based offerings: As Kojagari Purnima celebrates the harvest and abundance, dairy products symbolize nourishment and prosperity. Offering milk, kheer, or sweets made from milk is seen as an essential part of the rituals.
• Mantras: Chanting the following Lakshmi mantras during the puja can enhance the spiritual connection with the goddess:

“Om Shreem Hreem Shreem Mahalakshmiyei Namah”

“Shree Mahalakshmi Ashtakam Stotra” is another powerful hymn dedicated to invoking the blessings of Goddess Lakshmi.

Lakshmi Puja Rituals for Wealth and Prosperity

The Lakshmi Puja rituals for wealth and prosperity on Kojagari Purnima are centered around inviting abundance into the household. Staying awake through the night, enjoying the moonlight, and reciting mantras for Goddess Lakshmi are key to these rituals.

• Staying awake through the night: It is believed that Goddess Lakshmi blesses those who remain awake and worship her with wealth and success.
• Milk and kheer: Milk symbolizes purity, and consuming milk-based sweets under the full moon is believed to promote health and prosperity.

Best Time to Perform Lakshmi Puja on Kojagari Purnima (October 16, 2024)

As mentioned, the best time to perform Lakshmi Puja on Kojagari Purnima is during the Purnima Tithi, starting from 5:05 PM on October 16 and ending at 7:48 PM on October 17. The rituals are best performed in the late evening, after sunset, while the moon is visible.

The Significance of Lakshmi Puja for Financial Success on Kojagari Purnima

The significance of Lakshmi Puja for financial success on Kojagari Purnima extends beyond material wealth. It is also a spiritual practice that promotes peace, harmony, and prosperity in all aspects of life. The full moon’s gentle light is symbolic of the nurturing and calming energy that Goddess Lakshmi brings into the home.

By performing this puja, devotees believe they can invite not only financial success but also peace, health, and happiness into their lives.

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Welcoming the Goddess of Wealth on Kojagari Purnima

Lakshmi Puja on Kojagari Purnima is a tranquil and spiritually enriching festival that celebrates the abundance and prosperity brought by Goddess Lakshmi. Whether you’re following the step-by-step guide to Lakshmi Puja rituals or focusing on the traditional Lakshmi Puja offerings and mantras, this special day offers an opportunity to connect deeply with the goddess and invite her blessings into your life.

As you celebrate Lakshmi Puja today, October 16, 2024, may your home and heart be filled with wealth, peace, and prosperity, all under the divine light of the full moon.

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