A complete step-by-step guide to performing the puja at home.
Dedicated to Goddess Lakshmi with Lord Ganesha and Lord Kubera
Clean the entire house thoroughly during the day. Draw Lakshmi footprints leading from the entrance to the puja room using rice flour. Decorate the entrance with rangoli, torans, and diyas.
Sit facing east or north. Hold water, akshat (unbroken rice), and a flower in your right palm. The Sankalp mantra below is pre-filled with today's panchang (tithi, nakshatra, samvat year, lunar month, and weekday) — only the bracketed cues marked [say "…"] remain for you to fill in: your city, your gotra, and your full name. Women replace गोत्रोत्पन्नः with गोत्रोत्पन्ना. Release the water, akshat, and flower onto a plate as you finish the mantra.
ॐ विष्णुर्विष्णुर्विष्णुः। श्रीमद्भगवतो महापुरुषस्य विष्णोराज्ञया प्रवर्तमानस्य अद्य ब्रह्मणो द्वितीये परार्धे श्वेतवाराहकल्पे वैवस्वतमन्वन्तरे कलियुगे प्रथमचरणे जम्बूद्वीपे भारतवर्षे भरतखण्डे आर्यावर्तान्तर्गते [say "your city name"] नगरे, विक्रम संवत्सरे 2083 (सिद्धार्थी) वत्सरे, मार्गशीर्ष मासे, कृष्ण पक्षे, चतुर्दशी तिथौ, रविवासरे, स्वाति नक्षत्रे, [say "your gotra, e.g. Kashyapa"] गोत्रोत्पन्नः, [say "your full name"] नामाहम्, सकल दुरित क्षय पूर्वक सकल अभीष्ट सिद्ध्यर्थं श्री महालक्ष्मी प्रीत्यर्थं श्री लक्ष्मी पूजनम् अहं करिष्ये।
The tithi, nakshatra, lunar month, weekday and samvat year in the mantra above are for Diwali Lakshmi Puja's upcoming date: Sunday, 8 November 2026. These values auto-update each year.
Place a kalash filled with water (drop a coin, akshat, supari, flower into it) at the center of the altar. Top it with five mango leaves and a coconut wrapped in red cloth. Tie moli around the neck.
Worship Lord Ganesha first to remove obstacles. Offer durva, red flowers, chandan, akshat, and modak to Ganesha with his mantra. No Hindu puja proceeds without first invoking Ganesha.
ॐ गं गणपतये नमः॥
Invoke Goddess Lakshmi by placing a lotus on her idol. Offer the sixteen upacharas: Asana, Padya, Arghya, Achamaniya, Snana with panchamrit and Gangajal, Vastra, Chandan, Akshat, Pushpa (lotus especially), Dhupa, Deepa (ghee lamp), Naivedya, Tambula, Phala (fruits), Dakshina, Pradakshina.
ॐ श्रीं ह्रीं क्लीं महालक्ष्म्यै नमः॥
Worship Lord Kubera — the treasurer of the gods — to the left of Lakshmi. Offer him yellow flowers, akshat, and coins. Place cash, jewellery, and account books before him for blessing.
ॐ यक्षाय कुबेराय वैश्रवणाय धनधान्याधिपतये धनधान्यसमृद्धिं मे देहि दापय स्वाहा॥
Recite the Shri Suktam from the Rig Veda — the most sacred hymn to Lakshmi — or the Kanakadhara Stotra of Adi Shankaracharya. Also chant 'Om Shreem Mahalakshmyai Namah' 108 times on a rudraksha or kamal gatta mala.
Light eleven diyas around the puja area and outside the house — at the entrance, on the windowsills, and in the courtyard. The light welcomes Lakshmi and dispels inauspiciousness.
Perform the Lakshmi Aarti with lit camphor in a thali, circling clockwise in front of the goddess. Ring the bell and sing 'Om Jai Lakshmi Mata'. Conclude with deep-daan — gifting a small lamp.
ॐ जय लक्ष्मी माता, मैया जय लक्ष्मी माता। तुमको निस दिन सेवत, हर विष्णु विधाता॥
Offer a final pushpanjali to Lakshmi, prostrate, and ask for blessings. Distribute the naivedya — sweets, kheer, batasha — to all family members and neighbours. Keep a small lamp lit through the night in front of the goddess.
This guide reflects classical Parashari tradition. Regional variations exist — consult a family priest for specifics.
