Diwali Puja Vidhi

On Diwali, during Amavasya day, newly installed statues of Lord Ganesha and Shri Lakshmi are worshipped. Apart from Lakshmi Ganesha Puja, Kuber Puja and Bahi-Khata Puja (बही-खाता पूजा) are also done.

On the Diwali Puja day, the full day fast should be observed. The fasting should be either Nirjal (निर्जल) i.e. without the water or Phalahar (फलाहार) i.e. with fruits only or with milk only depending of the body capability and will-power of the person.

Diwali Puja should be done at an appropriate Diwali Puja Muhurat while considering fixed Lagna, Pradosh time and Amavasya Tithi.

Diwali Puja – Materials Required

• Statue of Lord Ganesha, Goddess Lakshmi, Lord Narayana and Mata Saraswati
• Silver or Gold coins
• Betel Nuts or Supari (10)
• Raw Rice
• Water in a small pot or Lota
• A thali
• Oil Lamps or ghee Diyas
• Paan or Mango leaves (5)
• A whole coconut with water
• Raksha Sutra
• Panchamri
• Red vermillon (also known as Kumkum) to apply as a tilak
• Camphor
• Incense sticks (or agarbatti)
• Dry fruits (almonds, cashew nut, raisins, pista)
• Rose flower and petals
• A piece of red cloth
• Rose water
• Indian sweets (Mithai) which can be ladoo, peda or anyother in any amount
• Kalash
• Milk, curd, honey, ghee
• Tulsi leaves

Diwali Puja Vidhi

1. Keep all these things together at one place.
2. Place chawki on your place of puja. Spread red cloth on it.
3. Place photo/idol of Goddess Lakshmi, Saraswati and Lord Ganesha.
4. Place 3 heaps of raw rice in front of Goddess Lakshmi photo for Lord Vishnu, Kuber and Indra.
5. Light a lamp to start puja. This lamp should be kept lit overnight. Also light dhoop stick.
6. Pray Lord Ganesha to come and remove all obstacles during Lakshmi puja.

• Put tilak of roli and akshat on forehead of Lord Ganesha.
• Offer scent, flowers, dhoop, sweets (naivedya) and earthen lamp to Lord Ganesha.

7. Now start Lakshmi puja. Put Tilak of roli and rice on forehead of Goddess Lakshmi.

• Offer scent, flowers, dhoop, sweets and earthen lamp (deepak) to Goddess Lakshmi.
• Now offer coriander seeds, cotton seeds, dry whole turmeric, siver coin, currency notes, supari and seed of lotus flower to Goddess Lakshmi.

8. Pray to Lord Vishnu to come along with Goddess Lakshmi.

• Offer scent, flower, dhoop, sweets, fruits and earthen lamp to Lord Vishnu.

9. Pray to Lord Kuber to come along with Goddess Lakshmi and give wealth.

• Do worship of lord Kuber by offering earthen lamp, scent, flowers, dhoop and sweets.

10. Pray to Lord Indra to come along with Goddess Lakshmi and give prosperity.

• Do worship of Lord Indra by offering scent, flowers, dhoop, sweets and earthen lamp.

11. Now do worship of Goddess Saraswati.

• Put tilak on forehead of Goddess Saraswati and put akshat on it.
• Offer scent, flowers, dhoop, sweets and earthen lamp.
• Pray to get divine knowledge and guidance on life path.

12. Now do worship of Elephants in photo. Offer a pair of sugarcane to elephants of Goddess Lakshmi.
13. Do Lakshmi Arti after this Puja.

All above Puja(s) are done with full rituals. As full Diwali Puja might take hours to finish and available Lakshmi Puja Muhurat might be too short to perform all Puja(s), Diwali Puja can begin before Lakshmi Puja Muhurat so that Lakshmi Puja time coincides with the available Muhurat time. The remaining Puja can continue after Lakshmi Puja beyond the Muhurat time.

It should be taken care that the Deepak lit during Diwali Puja continues to light throughout the night. After Puja it is suggested to read Shri-Sukta, Lakshmi-Sukta and other Stutis of Shri Lakshmi. If possible a full-night vigil dedicated for Shri Lakshmi Stuti is also recommended.