Diwali Puja Process: Step by step Diwali Pujan

Diwali is the festival of Lakshmi, the Goddess of prosperity and wealth. It is believed that Goddess Lakshmi visit everyone during Diwali and brings peace and prosperity to all. On the night of Diwali "Lakshmi-Pujan" is performed in the evenings. A traditional Pujan is performed after sunset in all the homes.

Five pieces of ghee diyas (lamps) are lit in front of the deities, naivedya of traditional sweets is offered to the Goddess and devotional songs are sung in praise of Goddess Laxmi. After Deepawali Puja people light diyas (lamps) in their homes to usher in light and clear the darkness from the world.

In villages cattle are adorned and worshipped by farmers as they form the main source of their income. In south, cows are offered special veneration as they are supposed to be the incarnation of Goddess Lakshmi and therefore they are adorned and worshipped on this day.


Step By Step Diwali Pujan:


* First clean the Puja room and then Bathe each Deity (Lakshmi & Ganesh) first with water, then with panchamitra/or rose water, followed by water once more


* Now put Deepak (Lamp) in front of the Deities - As the tiny diyas of clay are lighted to drive away the shadows of evil spirits


* Make a Panchamitra with 5 ingredients of milk, curd, ghee (clarified butter), sugar & Honey.


* Place Few mithais, snacks & fruits as a prashad.


* Make offerings of flowers, Abir (red colour), Sindoor (vermillion) and Haldi (turmeric). Light the Agarbatti (incense sticks) and lamps filled with Ghee.


* Now make offerings of Fruit, Sweet dishes (mithai), Salty snacks (Mathis, Ghathia, Namakpare) and offer Dakshina (token money), which could be given to the poor. In the end offer paan (betel leaves), cloves. Now pray to the deities to seek their blessings.


* Ganesh Pooja : Ganesh Puja is a must for Diwali Puja. (Lord Ganesha is to be worshipped in all pujas before any other God or Goddess.) (Ganesh Aarti is sung)


* Lakshmi Pooja : Place Lotus and other flowers at her feet as an offering. A silver coin is placed in front of the Goddess during the puja. Now perform Aarti with flowers in hand (Lakshmi Aarti is sung). After Deepawali Pujan have the Prasad and go out to burst Diwali Crackers.

Story Behind Dashera & Diwali

All Hindu festivals are according to the Hindu lunisolar calendar, and so, in the solar calendar of the west, it varies from year to year within a month. The months of autumn, which according to the Hindu calendar are Ashvina and Kartika (September-October-November), are packed with Hindu festivals of which Dashera and Diwali are the most widely observed. This period marks the season of celebration following the harvests of summer and the rainy season. Many schools are on vacation for this period to celebrate the Dashera-Diwali festivals. The stories of Dashera and Diwali are our focus today.

Immediately prior to the nine-day worship (Navaratri) of Durga, is the fortnight of ancestral worship or tarpan, called Peetri Paksha. It starts on the first day of moon in Ashvin and ends on the new moon day. Devout Hindus remember their ancestors and offer water and black sesame seed (til) with prayers for these fifteen days. The last day, the new moon day, is called Mahalaya.

The present day Durga Puja, celebrated in autumn, was introduced by Rama who worshipped Durga for nine days in order to defeat Ravana, the demon king of Shri Lanka. Ravana was slain on the tenth day which is now commemorated by the celebration of Dashera. Hence, in many parts of India, the story of Rama (Ramayana) is enacted as Ramlila for a month prior to Dashera and the effigy of Ravana is burnt on the Dashera day with the display of fireworks. Dashera is the occasion for Hindus to exchange presents and messages of good will. Apart from religious prayers, it is a season full of communal festivities.

Now let us hear the story of Durga. Long ago, there was a powerful demon king named Mahishashur (a demon who could take the shape of a buffalo). Mahishashur prayed to Brahma, one of the forms of supreme power, and sought his blessings to become immortal. Brahma said "Mahisha, once born, one must die. I cannot grant immortality." However, according to his desire, Brahma blessed Mahisha that he will be killed only by a woman. Mahishashur, with his extraordinary power, very soon drove away the gods from heaven and took over the throne of their king Indra. Finally, the gods joined their forces to create the goddess Durga. Durga later killed Mahishashur and brought peace back to earth. According to mythology, Durga was married to Shiva, the god of destruction. She has four children - Luxmi, the goddess of wealth, Saraswati, the goddess of knowledge, Kartikeya, the god of war and the elephant-headed younger son Ganesh the god of success and remover of obstacles. Durga comes to the earth every year for ten days, along with her four children, to meet her people on the earth where she was born. The images are made of clay or paper maché and decorated with silk sarees, and jewels. Goddess Durga is depicted slaying the demon Mahishashur while riding a lion. On the back drop of the image is the picture of Shiva in the center surrounded by other gods and goddesses. The image is worshipped on the 7^th, 8^th, and 9^th days of Navaratri. On the tenth day, or Dashera, the images are immersed into a river symbolizing the return of Durga and her children to Lord Shiva. On the tenth day begins Vijaya Dashami or Dashera. This is the day when Ram had slain Ravana. During Durga Puja, Hindus celebrate the victory of mother goddess Durga or divine forces, over Mahishashur, the evil forces.

Diwali follows Dashera. It is a spectacular religious festival held in late autumn. The celebration takes place on the darkest night of autumn, the new moon day (Amabashya), at the beginning of Kartika (October-November), eighteen days after the celebration of Dashera. Diwali means cluster of lights. On the Diwali day, rows of lamps decorate the houses and presents are exchanged.

Diwali, in the north of India, is associated with the coronation of Rama when he returned to Ayodhya (in Uttar Pradesh) after vanquishing the demon Ravana on the day of Dashera. Ram had been in exile for fourteen years and his followers were pleased to see his return to Ayodhya. They welcomed him by decorating their houses with lamps and rejoiced with the display of fireworks at night. Diwali is seen as a renewal of life. Houses are painted and new purchases are made at this time. In Maharasthra, Diwali is seen as a festival for warding off king Bali, the ruler of the underworld. In the western part of India, many Hindus believe that the souls of their ancestors come to visit their homes during the new moon day of Diwali. Lamps are lit to guide the way of the departed souls. In Gujrat, Diwali is associated mostly with the worship of Luxmi, the goddess of wealth. It is believed Luxmi on this day emerges to bring prosperity to the world. Luxmi puja in Gujrat lasts for five days which starts with Dhanterash, the worshipping of wealth. The fourth day is Gujratís New Years Day. Luxmi is believed to visit the homes that are well lit. So, families decorate their houses with light, flowers and paper chains. It is believed that lighting the new lamps will drive away evil and poverty from the world and heralds better times. In the eastern part of India, especially in West Bengal, Luxmi puja is celebrated five days after Dashera, on the full moon day (Purnima). On the following new moon day (Amabashya), coinciding with Diwali, goddess Kali is worshipped. Kali has a terrifying look. She destroys all evils. Lamps are lit in her honor, and in return, she promises a renewal of life and justice on earth.

Four days after Diwali is the brotherís day or Bhiadweej (or Bhaiphonta). Sisters put sandalwood mark on brotherís forehead praying to Yama, the god of death, to grant a long and prosperous life for her brother.