Overview
Lakshmi Puja (Odia: ଲକ୍ଷ୍ମୀ ପୂଜା; Sanskrit: लक्ष्मीपूजा; Bengali/Assamese: লক্ষ্মী পূজা) is a Hindu occasion dedicated to the veneration of Lakshmi, the goddess of prosperity and the Supreme Goddess of Vaishnavism. The observance is centred on welcoming the goddess into the home and seeking her blessings of well-being and abundance.
In most parts of India and in Nepal, where it forms part of Tihar, Lakshmi Puja is observed on the third day of Deepavali. The occasion falls on the amavasya (new moon day) of the Hindu calendar month of Ashvin in the amanta tradition, which corresponds to Kartika in the purnimanta tradition of the Vikram Samvat calendar.
According to tradition, Lakshmi is believed to visit her devotees on this occasion and bestow good fortune upon them. To welcome the goddess, devotees clean their homes, decorate them with finery and lights, and prepare sweets and delicacies as offerings. It is held that the happier the goddess is during her visit, the more she blesses the family with health and wealth.
In Assam, Odisha, and Bengal, the puja is performed on Ashvin Purnima, the full moon day in the month of Ashvin that follows Vijaya Dashami and Durga Puja. This regional observance is also known as Kojagori Lokkhi Pujo. Women traditionally worship the goddess in the evening after cleaning the house and decorating the floor with jhunti, alpana, or rangoli. The puja is conducted in the evening, with family members participating together in the cleaning, decoration, and rituals at home.