Lakshmi Puja, the way of honoring & pleasing Goddess Lakshmi is very important in Hinduism. With abelief of cherishing health, wealth & propseity, people indulge in Lakshmi Puja rituals. Make Lakshmi Puja 2016 a way to earn eternal wealth. Want to know how? Read on...

Lakshmi Puja 2016 date is October 30. The third day of the Diwali celebrations is the major day of Laxmi Puja. Diwali is a 5 day festival which begins on thirteenth lunar day of Krishna Paksha (dark half) with Dhanteras and ends with Bhai Dooj on the 5th day.

5 Days of Diwali 2016

1st day: Dhanteras
2nd day: Naraka Charturdashi (Chhoti Diwali)
3rd day: Diwali (Laxmi Puja)
4th day: Kartika Shuddha Padyami
5th day: Yama Diwitiya (Bhai Dooj)

Diwali (Lakshmi Pujan) comes at the end of the harvest season. Farmers thank God for the year that passed happily and pray for the upcoming year.

In this festive season Goddess Laxmi is worshiped, as she is the Goddess of wealth and prosperity. Devotees seek her divine blessings to attain a prosperous future by performing Laxmi Puja. With Goddess Lakshmi , Lord Ganesha , Goddess Saraswati and Lord Kuber are also worshiped.

It is believed that Lakshmi Puja ceremony is not possible without worshiping Lord Ganesha. Goddess Saraswati blesses the devotees with knowledge and wisdom as wealth without them would be of no use. Kuber is the God of wealth and affluence and he is also worshiped, as a part of Lakshmi Puja celebrations.

Laxmi Puja: The Legends

There are many legends that are associated with Diwali (Laxmi Puja) and its celebrations. One of them goes like this. During the great churning of ocean (Samundra Manthan), Goddess Lakshmi emerged from the Kshira Sagar (ocean of milk).

As per another legend, on this day Lord Vishnu�s incarnation Vaman killed king Bali and came back to his heavenly abode (Vaikuntha). It is believed that people who worship Goddess Lakshmi receive great rewards. Therefore, Laxmi Puja should be performed on this day.

Diwali is not just a Hindu festival, as it is celebrated with great fervor and delight amongst Sikhs and Jains too. In the Sikh religion, Diwali is celebrated as Bandhi Chhor Divas. On this day, Guru Hargobind Singh was released from prison. Sikh families on this day take vegetarian meal and read their Holy Scriptures.

In the Jain religion, it is celebrated as Deva Diwali. The last Jain Tirthankar Lord Mahavira attained Nirvana (salvation) on this day. Therefore, it can be said that Diwali is a major festival, which is celebrated all over the country for different reasons. People from different religions come together and celebrate this festival of lights.

One of the legends also say that on this day Lord Rama with his wife Sita and brother Laxman returned to Ayodhya after a fourteen year exile. To celebrate their safe return, people lit diyas (oil lamps) outside their houses and distributed sweets. On this exile, Lord Rama conquered the evil King Ravana, who had abducted Sita. King Ravana stood for immorality, dishonesty and arrogance. By conquering him, Lord Rama conquered all the evilness too.

Lord Ram stood for righteousness, morality, and honesty. Therefore, this auspicious day also motivates us to choose the same path as Lord Rama.

Spiritual Significance Of Lakshmi Puja

Lakshmi Puja marks victory of righteousness and truth over evil. The lighting of Diyas (earthen lamps) signifies ending the darkness outside and within us. It can be said that this is the day to end the ignorance and evilness we gather during the course of our lives. It is also believed that on this auspicious day of Laxmi Puja, Goddess Laxmi visits the Earth. Therefore, people keep their doors open to allow the Goddess to enter and bless the house with prosperity and wealth.

Those who close their doors and do not perform Lakshmi Puja do not receive her blessings. Here, the opening of door implies that we should not close the doors of our hearts and let the light of wisdom and knowledge enter. Festivals like Laxmi Puja connect us to our glorious history which we seem to forget these days.

Thus, these festivals are a way to take a quick peek into our mysterious past and understand it better. Also, celebrating these days forms a culture which can be passed on the coming generations. This will ensure that India and her traditions live forever.

We wish all the readers a very happy and prosperous Laxmi Puja 2016 and hope that festival of lights will bring light in your lives. May we get the strength to end the darkness we carry within us and begin a new life with Laxmi Puja 2016.