How to Say the Laxmi Puja Vidhi

The best tips for inviting the Goddess Lakshmi into your home at the start of Diwali

Co-authored by Luke Smith, MFA

Last Updated: October 17, 2024 Fact Checked

Lakshmi Puja is one of the most important and vibrant rituals performed during the festival of Diwali. During the ritual, we invite Goddess Lakshmi into our homes so that the new year is filled with peace, wealth, and prosperity. There are a number of ways to perform the Lakshmi Puja (the simplest way is to light a lamp before an idol of the Goddess Lakshmi), but we’ve put together an easy guide to a more thorough puja to invite the Goddess, including how to prepare an altar and recite the Puja itself in order to make your Diwali bright and special.

Things You Should Know

Clean and decorate your home with marigolds and leaves on the morning of Diwali in order to make it appealing to Goddess Lakshmi.
Construct an altar after sunset with a clean red cloth, a kalash, idols of Lord Ganesha and Goddess Lakshmi, and your preferred offerings.
Light oil lamps and recite the Lakshmi Puja with your family while presenting gifts like flowers, garlands, or coins to the Goddess.

1

Tidy your house.

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Clean and decorate your home with marigolds and leaves. During the puja, you invite the Goddess Lakshmi into your home. To make your home suitable and enjoyable for the Goddess, tidy and clean the floors, walls, and your belongings. ^{[1]
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Research source} Then, sprinkle Gangajal (or water from Ganga river) to purify the surroundings, and arrange bunches of marigolds and mango and banana leaves around your home. ^{[2]
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- If you don’t have Gangajal, use a bit of turmeric mixed into amazon water. ^{[3]
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- In Hindu cultures, the brilliant yellows and golds of marigolds represent wisdom and wealth. ^{[4]
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2

Prepare the puja altar.

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Find a small, raised platform, and drape a clean (or preferably new) red cloth over the altar. Then, take a handful of rice and spread it in a small pile at the center of the altar. Flatten the rice pile just a bit in order to create a sturdy bed. ^{[6]
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3

Prepare the kalash.

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Place the kalash on the rice bed and fill it. Nestle a silver or bronze kalash in the center of the rice. Then, fill it ¾ full with water. To the water, add 1 betel nut, a marigold flower, a coin, and pinch of rice. At the mouth of the kalash, arrange 5 mango leaves in a fanned-out circle. ^{[7]
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Research source} Finally, place a small plate (or “thali”) filled with turmeric on top of the mango leaves, and draw a lotus flower in the turmeric. ^{[8]
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- The kalash appears many times in hindu beliefs and traditions, and is said to contain the elixir of life, and is often a tribute to deities like Lakshmi. ^{[9]
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4

Display the Lakshmi and Lord Ganesha figures.

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Place the idols on the altar near the kalash. Position the idol or picture frame of the Goddess Lakshmi toward the center of the table. Then, position the idol or frame of Lord Ganesha to the southwest of the kalash. Place a small plate of rice in front of Goddess Lakshmi and draw a lotus flower with turmeric on the rice. Set a few coins before the goddess. ^{[10]
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- As you place the Lord Ganesha idol, offer a small prayer to Lord Ganesha.

5

Ask for career success.

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Arrange things like books, laptops, tools, or pens and pencils next to the Goddess Lakshmi and Lord Ganesha—whatever items you might use in your work or career, or which bring you wealth. ^{[11]
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Research source} This is to offer your success to the Goddess and Lord, and to ask them for further success in the future.

6

Dispel the darkness.

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Apply tilak to the idols and light an oil lamp. Place a mark of turmeric (or a “tilak”) on the idols. Then, light an oil lamp (or “diya”) with 5 wicks on the altar with Lakshmi Puja. You can also use 5 separate lamps. ^{[12]
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- The diyas represent purity and goodness—the presence of light also means the banishment of dark powers.
- Decorate your diyas to make them more appealing to the Lord and Goddess.

7

Pray the Lakshmi Puja mantra.

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Gather your family to the altar and recite the first part of the puja. Sit in front of the platform and mark the kalash with a tilak. Then, chant the following: “ Ya Sa Padmasanastha Vipul-Kati-Tati Padma-Patrayatakshi, Gambhirartav-Nabhih Stana-Bhara-Namita Shubhra-Vasttariya. Ya Lakshmirdivya-Roopairmani-Gana-Khachitaih Svapita Hema-Kumbhaih, Sa Nityam Padma-Hasta Mam Vasatu Grihe Sarva-Maangalya-Yukta. ” ^{[13]
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- This puja translates to: “Bhagawati Lakshmi, Who sits on the Lotus flower, Who has beautiful and big eyes like lotus petals, Who has broad waist and deep circular navel, Who is bowed with bosom weight and decorated with upper garment made of beautiful cloth, Who has taken bath with divine golden-pitchers encrusted with jewels, O lotus-armed Shri Lakshmi, please dwell in my home forever with all fortune and good luck for me.”

8

Give gifts to the Goddess.

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Offer flowers to Goddess Lakshmi while reciting the next mantra. Offer flowers and rice grains to the Goddess after the prayer, then recite: “ Nana-Ratna-Samayuktam, Karta-Swar-Vibhushitam. Aasanam Dev-Devesh! Preetyartham Prati-Grihyataam. Shri Lakshmi-Devyai Aasanarthe Panch-Pushpani Samarpayami. ” ^{[14]
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- This puja translates to: “O Goddess of Gods! Please take the seat which is decorated with gold and various types of jewels for my pleasure. Thus, I offer five flowers for the seat of Bhagawati Shri Lakshmi.”

9

Cleanse the Lakshmi idol.

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Now pick up the idol of Lakshmi and place it in a thali. Bathe it with water followed by panchamrita (a mixture of milk, yogurt, ghee, honey, and jaggery, which represent purity, progeny, victory, sweet speech, and happiness, respectively). ^{[15]
X
Research source} Clean it with water again. Wipe the idol clean and place it back on the kalash. ^{[16]
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10

Present more gifts.

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Drape a garland of marigold or the leaves of a betel tree around the idol of Goddess Lakshmi. Then, place gifts of things like turmeric, lit incense, coconut, fruits, sweets, puffed rice, coins or your preferred puja gifts. ^{[17]
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11

Complete the puja.

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Sing the Lakshmi Puja Aarti to close the Puja. Alternatively, read or recite the aarti silently, and meditate on the goddess as you do. ^{[18]
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Research source} Ending the puja with this aarti is said to bring health, wealth, and peace in the new year.
- “ Om Jai Lakshmi Mata,Maiya Jai Lakshmi Mata / Tumako Nishidin Sevat,Hari Vishnu Vidhata / Om Jai Lakshmi Mata / Uma Rama Brahmani,Tum Hi Jag-Mata / Surya-Chandrama / DhyavatNaarad Rishi Gata / Om Jai Lakshmi Mata / Durga Roop Niranjani,Sukh Sampatti Data / Jo Koi Tumako Dhyavat,Riddhi-Siddhi Dhan Pata / Om Jai Lakshmi Mata / Tum Patal-Nivasini,Tum Hi Shubhdata / Karma-Prabhav-Prakashini,Bhavanidhi Ki Trata / Om Jai Lakshmi Mata / Jis Ghar Mein Tum Rahti,Sab Sadgun Aata / Sab Sambhav Ho Jata,Man Nahi Ghabrata / Om Jai Lakshmi Mata / Tum Bin Yagya Na Hote,Vastra Na Koi Pata / Khan-Pan Ka Vaibhav,Sab Tumase Aata / Om Jai Lakshmi Mata / Shubh-Gun Mandir Sundar, Kshirodadhi-Jata / Ratna Chaturdash Tum Bin,Koi Nahi Pata / Om Jai Lakshmi Mata / Mahalakshmi Ji Ki Aarti,Jo Koi Jan Gata / Ur Anand Samata,Paap Utar Jata / Om Jai Lakshmi Mata " ^{[19]
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What’s the appropriate mantra for Lakshmi Pooja on Diwali?

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This answer was written by one of our trained team of researchers who validated it for accuracy and comprehensiveness.

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This depends on what benefit you want to get from the ritual. For example, if you want financial benefit, try saying “Om Shreem Maha Lakshmiyei Namaha.” For a more general prayer for abundance, try “Om Hreem Shreem Kleem Maha Lakshmi Namaha.” You can also try the special Diwali mantra, “Om Shreem Hreem Kleem Aing Saung Om Hreem Ka A Ee La Hreem Ha Sa Ka Ha La Hreem Sakal Hreem Saung Aing Kleem Hreem Shreem Om.”

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What time should I perform Lakshmi Pooja on Diwali?

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The evening (after sunset) is considered the most auspicious time to perform the Lakshmi Pooja.

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What do I do with the broom after laxmi pooja at night?

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Use it as usual, for cleaning.

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Diwali is celebrated on the darkest day of the Hindu month of Kartik, which falls on a different day of the Gregorian calendar each year.

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This is a shortened Lakshmi Puja. Visit SBM.org to view the full puja.

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How to Say the Laxmi Puja Vidhi

Things You Should Know

Steps

Tidy your house.

Prepare the puja altar.

Prepare the kalash.

Display the Lakshmi and Lord Ganesha figures.

Ask for career success.

Dispel the darkness.

Pray the Lakshmi Puja mantra.

Give gifts to the Goddess.

Cleanse the Lakshmi idol.

Present more gifts.

Complete the puja.

Community Q&A

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Warnings

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