How to Perform Lakshmi Puja on Diwali

How to Perform Lakshmi Puja on Diwali: Step-by-Step Vidhi

Of all the rituals of Diwali, Lakshmi Puja is the heart of the festival. On the evening of the new moon, families across India clean their homes, light rows of diyas and sit together to welcome Goddess Lakshmi, the deity of wealth, prosperity and good fortune. Alongside her, Lord Ganesha is worshipped as the remover of obstacles, and in many homes Kubera is also remembered.

If you are performing the puja at home for the first time, or want to refresh the order of the steps, this guide walks you through the whole vidhi. It covers the date, the samagri you will need, how to set up the altar, each step in order and the common mistakes to avoid.

Diwali 2026 Date and Puja Timing

Diwali 2026 falls on Sunday, 8 November 2026. Lakshmi Puja is traditionally performed in the evening, during Pradosh Kaal, which begins after sunset, and especially in a stable (Sthir) lagna such as Vrishabha, when the puja is considered most auspicious.

Exact timings change from city to city because sunset times differ. Please check your local panchang or a trusted temple calendar for the precise muhurat in your city, and plan to begin the puja comfortably inside that window rather than at the very end of it.

Preparing Before the Puja

Preparation matters as much as the ritual. Before Diwali evening:

• Clean your home thoroughly. Lakshmi is believed to visit clean, bright homes, so declutter, dust and wash the puja room and the main entrance.

• Decorate the entrance. Hang a toran, draw rangoli and keep diyas near the door.

• Wear fresh, traditional clothes. Many families wear new or clean festive clothes for the puja.

• Keep the puja area ready. Arrange everything within reach before you begin so you do not need to get up in the middle of the puja.

Lakshmi Puja Samagri: What You Need

Different families add their own items, but a standard Lakshmi Puja samagri list includes:

• Idols or images of Lakshmi and Ganesha (a Lakshmi-Ganesh pair is traditional)

• A chowki or wooden platform and a clean red or yellow cloth

• Kalash (brass or copper pot) with water, mango leaves and a coconut

• Diyas with ghee or oil, and cotton wicks

• Kumkum, haldi, chandan and rice (akshat)

• Flowers, ideally lotus and marigold, and a garland

• Incense sticks (agarbatti) and camphor

• Panchamrit (milk, curd, honey, ghee and sugar)

• Sweets, fruits, batasha and puffed rice (khil) for bhog

• Betel leaves, betel nuts and coins

• Moli (sacred thread), a bell and a conch if you have one

• A puja thali to hold the items

• An asan to sit on during the ritual

• Your account books, a silver or gold coin, or other items of work you wish to include in the puja

You can find many of these items, from brass diyas to thalis, in the SATVIK Diwali collection, pooja thali collection, chowki collection and asan collection.

Lakshmi Puja Vidhi: Step by Step

Households follow slightly different traditions, and many families also have a pandit guide them. The sequence below is a commonly followed home vidhi.

Step 1: Achaman and purification

Sit comfortably, take a little water in your right palm and sip it three times (achaman). Sprinkle a few drops of water on yourself, the samagri and the puja space to purify them. Light your main diya and incense.

Step 2: Sankalp (the resolve)

Hold some rice, flowers and water in your right hand. Say your name, your family name (gotra) if you know it, the date and place, and state that you are performing the Lakshmi Puja for the well-being and prosperity of your family. Then release the water on the ground. If you do not know the Sanskrit formula, saying your intention sincerely in your own words is accepted by many families.

Step 3: Ganesha puja

Always begin with Ganesha. Offer him kumkum, rice, flowers, durva grass and a sweet. Say "Om Gan Ganapataye Namah" a few times, and pray that he removes obstacles from the puja and from your year ahead.

Step 4: Kalash puja

Offer kumkum, rice and flowers to the kalash. The kalash is treated as the seat of the divine, and in many homes the gods are invoked into it.

Step 5: Invoking Goddess Lakshmi (Avahan)

Fold your hands and invite the goddess into your home and into the idol. You can say, "Om Shri Mahalakshmyai Namah, I invite you to be seated here and accept my worship." Place a flower or a few grains of rice before the idol.

Step 6: Offerings (Upachar)

Offer the goddess each of these in turn:

• Water for washing her feet and hands

• Panchamrit or milk, to bathe the idol (or sprinkle it if the idol is delicate)

• Clean cloth or a piece of moli as clothing

• Kumkum, haldi and chandan as tilak

• Flowers and a garland, with a lotus if you have one

• Incense and diya shown clockwise before her

Step 7: Lakshmi mantra and Shri Sukta

Chant the Lakshmi mantra as many times as you can, using a mala if you like. A commonly recited mantra is:

"Om Shreem Hreem Kleem Mahalakshmyai Namah."

Many families also read or listen to the Shri Sukta or Lakshmi Chalisa. If you are short of time, a smaller number of sincere repetitions is better than rushing a long recitation.

Step 8: Naivedya (food offering)

Offer sweets, fruits, batasha, khil and any special dishes you have made. Keep the offering in front of the goddess for a few moments with folded hands, and then take it as prasad.

Step 9: Kubera and account book puja

Many business families offer a small puja to their account books, cash box, coins or tools of trade. Apply a little kumkum, rice and a flower on them. A silver or gold coin can be placed at the feet of the goddess during the puja.

Step 10: Aarti

Light the camphor and perform the Lakshmi aarti, usually "Om Jai Lakshmi Mata". Rotate the aarti thali clockwise before the idols while everyone sings together and rings a bell. Then take the warmth of the flame with your hands and touch your eyes.

Step 11: Pradakshina and prayer

Walk around the altar clockwise if there is room, or turn in place if there isn't. Then bow in front of the idols and make your own prayer for the health, harmony and prosperity of the family.

Step 12: Distributing prasad and lighting diyas

Share the prasad with everyone present. Then light diyas around the house, in the puja room, kitchen, balcony, courtyard and at the main entrance. This is the moment the whole home lights up.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

• Starting the puja outside the muhurat. Check your local panchang and begin on time.

• Skipping Ganesha. Tradition says Ganesha is worshipped first, always.

• Using a dirty or cracked diya. Choose a clean diya and fresh wicks and keep the flame steady.

• Rushing the ritual. The puja takes about 45 minutes to an hour. Give it the time rather than doing a hurried version.

• Leaving diyas unattended near curtains or children. Safety comes first.

• Making the puja only about wealth. Many elders remind us that Lakshmi is about well-being, gratitude and contentment as much as money.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q1. When is Lakshmi Puja in 2026?

Lakshmi Puja is on the evening of Diwali, Sunday, 8 November 2026. Check your local panchang for the exact muhurat in your city.

Q2. Can I perform Lakshmi Puja at home without a pandit? 

Yes. Many families perform it at home on their own, following the steps above. A pandit can help if you want the full Sanskrit rituals, but a sincere puja done in your own words is widely accepted.

Q3. Which direction should the Lakshmi idol face?

Traditionally, the idols are placed in the northeast or east part of the room, and the person performing the puja sits facing east or north.

Q4. Which flowers are best for Lakshmi Puja?

Lotus is considered most auspicious for Lakshmi. Marigold, rose and other fresh flowers are also commonly offered.

Q5. Why is Ganesha worshipped along with Lakshmi?

Ganesha is worshipped first as the remover of obstacles and the giver of wisdom. Many people believe that wealth without wisdom doesn't last, which is why the two are worshipped together.

Q6. How many diyas should I light on Diwali? 

There is no fixed number. Many families light at least five or eleven in the puja area and then more around the house. You can read about the types in our diya collection.

Conclusion

Lakshmi Puja is simple at its core. You clean your home, welcome the goddess with a sincere heart, offer what you have and share what you receive. The exact items and the exact words matter less than the intention behind them. If you get the preparation, the muhurat and the basic order right, the puja will feel complete.

At SATVIK, we want your Diwali puja to feel peaceful and well prepared. Find everything from brass diyas and thalis to chowkis and asans in our Diwali collection. Wishing you and your family a blessed and prosperous Diwali.