Diwali Rituals - Lakshmi, Ganesha, Diwali Pujan, Laxmi Puja, Ganesh Puja November 1, 2005  Save as Bookmark  Send this Page to Friend. Diwali Home   Diwali Wallpapers   Diwali Celebrations   Diwali Rituals   Diwali Sweets   Kali Puja   Origin Of Diwali   Send Diwali Greetings   The word "Diwali" is the corruption of the Sanskrit word "Deepavali" - Deepa meaning light and Avali, meaning a row. It means a row of lights and indeed illumination forms its main attraction. Every home - lowly or mightly - the hut of the poor or the mansion of the rich - is alit with the orange glow of twinkling diyas-small earthen lamps - to welcome Lakshmi, Goddess of wealth and prosperity. Multi-coloured Rangoli designs, floral decorations and fireworks lend picturesness and grandeur to this festival which heralds joy, mirth and happiness in the ensuring year.     Diwali is the festival of Laxmi, the Goddess of prosperity and wealth. It is believed that Goddess Laxmi 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 Puja 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- in praise of Goddess Laxmi are sung.     After the Puja people light diyas (lamps) in their homes to usher in light, and clear the darkness from the world. In villages cattle's 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 Puja 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. 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), haldi (turmeric). and Light the Agarbatti (incense sticks) and lamps filled with Ghee. Now make offerings of fruit, sweet meat ( 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 dieties to seek their blessings.     Ganesh Puja-Ganeshji are a must for Diwali pujan. (Ganeshji is to be worshipped in all pujas before any other god or goddess.) (Aarti)     Laxmi Puja : 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 Arti with flowers in hand. (Aarti) After the puja have the Prashad and go out to burst crackers.     For a Vivid Description of Sri Ganesh Puja & Sri Lakshmi Puja for making your Diwali celebrations brighter and complete, refer to our following sections: How to do Diwali Ganesh Puja How to do Diwali Lakshmi Puja