Friday is the most auspicious day to worship Goddess Laxmi Devi, the consort of Lord Vishnu and the Goddess of wealth and prosperity. Today, devotees welcome the Goddess home with puja and invoke Her blessings. It is believed that Goddess Laxmi enters homes that are clean and tidy; hence, devotees clean their houses before conducting Laxmi puja. Few devotees also worship the broom as it is a symbolic representation of cleanliness.
Puja Essentials
A number of puja items are required for Laxmi puja such as picture or idol of Goddess Laxmi, Kalash, kumkum, haldi, mango leaves, ghee, honey, curd, milk, puja sweets and puffed rice.
Process of Conducting Laxmi Puja
After cleaning their house and taking bath, devotees place a clean cloth at the puja place and make a bed of rice on the cloth. The Kalash is placed on the bed of rice, which is then filled with water. Items such as rice, a clean coin, flowers and betel nuts are then put inside the Kalash.
A small plate is then placed on the Kalash and the idol or photograph of Goddess Laxmi devi is placed on the small plate. Puja is then conducted by offering flowers, kumkum, haldi and lighting lamps and incense sticks. An abhishekam is done by offering honey, curd, ghee and milk.
After performing the abhishekam, the idol is cleaned with water. Later flowers, kumkum, sweets, betel nuts, betel leaves and haldi are then offered to the Goddess while chanting the following mantra:
Namosthesthu Maha Maye, Shree padee, sura poojithe, Shanka, Chakra, Gadha hasthe, Maha Lakshmi Namosthuthe
Perform Mahalaxmi Puja and Receive divine blessings.