Diwali Puja
Diwali is not associated with lights, gifts and cracker firing but also with Diwali Puja that has great importance. Diwali Puja is an important ritual performed everywhere with Diwali celebration. It is mainly performed to pay honor to Goddess Lakshmi In Hindu mythology, Goddess Lakshmi is considered the Goddess of wealth and prosperity. The Puja is performed in the evening time. People clean their houses before Puja as the goddess like the cleanliness very much and it is believed that she abodes in the place that is clean. On Diwali five deities are worshiped. Lord Ganesha, who is also known as Vighnaharta (remover of all problems and obstacles) is worshiped first of all. He has got in blessing from all Devtas (Gods) the right of being worshiped first. Therefore every auspicious work is started with worship of Lord Ganesha. Then Goddess Lakshmi is worshiped in her three forms. The first is MahaLaxmi who is the Goddess of wealth, prosperity and money. The second form is Goddess Saraswati who is the Goddess of knowledge and wisdom. The third form is Mahakali who is the goddess of power and destroyer of enemies. On Diwali Kuber is also worshiped who is believed to be the treasurer of Gods. He is believed to be the owner of all the worldly wealth according to the Hindu mythology. People also worship Navgreha (nine planets of Hindu astrology) who affect the lives of human on earth.
For Diwali Puja people bring home idols of Goddess Lakshmi and Lord Ganesha made up of silver metal. A platform that is above the ground is made and is covered with red colored cloth as the Goddess like the red color very much. Then the metal idols are are placed in a new metal saucer or a in a wide vessel and bathed with a mixture of milk, honey, sugar, ghee and curd. Thereafter the idols are placed on the platform. The people, who are not able to buy silver metal idols of deities, buy the earthen idols and place them on the platform. A coconut is placed in front of them which is considered very auspicious for such auspicious occasions. Then some flowers are offered to the deities. Goddess Lakshmi likes red flowers very much therefore red roses are the first preference. Pan and Supari are also offered to them. Tilak with the paste of Vermilion powder is done on the foreheads of deities. Five pieces of earthen lamps full of Desi Ghee are lit in front of Godess Laxmi and Lord Ganesha. Thereafter some religious books based on the story of Goddess Laxmi are read and some Bhajans (religious songs) are sung to please the Goddess. Thereafter fruits and sweets are offered to the deities. After performing Puja people go out and lit earthen lamps all around their houses and even on the way to their houses. They believe that Goddess Laxmi visits every house on Diwali and come inside those houses, which are clean and well lighted.
