Lakshmi Puja

Lakshmi Puja or Lakshmi Pooja is a Hindu religious festival that falls on Amavasya of Krishna Paksha in the Vikram Samvat Hindu calendar month of Kartik, on the third day of Deepawali and is considered as the main festive day of Deepawali. According to legend, Lakshmi, the goddess of wealth, prosperity, auspiciousness, and good fortune, and Lord Vishnu’s wife, visits her devotees and bestows gifts and blessings upon each of them. To welcome the Goddess, devotees clean their houses, decorate them with finery and lights, and prepare sweet treats and delicacies as offerings. Devotees believe the happier Lakshmi is with the visit, the more she blesses the family with health and wealth. In Bengal Lokkhi Pujo or Laxmi puja is performed on Sarada Purnima day, the full moon day following Vijaya Dashami. This puja is also known as Kojagori Lokkhi puja. Women worship Maa Laxmi in the evening after cleaning their house and decorating the floor of their houses with alpona or rangoli.