Lakshmi is the much-loved Hindu goddess of wealth and prosperity. She is closely associated with Diwali, the festival of lights, and the Lakshmi Puja is one of the most important of Diwali traditions.

Diwali, or Deepavali, is one of the biggest of Hindu festivals. It is celebrated on the 1 th day of the month of Kartika in the Hindu lunar calendar, which usually falls on October or November. Diwali festivities last five days, and each of the five days has its own significance and traditions. The third and main day of Diwali, or Amavasya (the night of the new moon) is devoted to Lakshmi. Lakshmi Puja is usually performed on the evening of the third day, but it is sometimes also performed on Dhanteras, the first day of Diwali. The Lakshmi Puja worships three various forms of the Hindu goddess: Lakshmi, the goddess of wealth and money, Saraswati, the goddess of learning, and the fierce and powerful goddess Kali.

Lakshmi, the goddess of wealth, prosperity and good fortune, is a beautiful but unpredictable goddess. The daughter of sage Bhrigu, Lakshmi emerged from a mythical  ocean of milk as it was churned by gods and demons in their search of Amrita, the nectar of immortality. The beautiful goddess was married to Vishnu, one of the three main Hindu gods, and reincarnated as his consort during Vishnu’s later incarnations as Rama and as Krishna.

It is believed that Lakshmi visits the homes of her devotees during Diwali and blesses those who live in the house with good fortune and prosperity for the following year. The festival of Diwali is closely associated with wealth and prosperity, and is the beginning of a new business year, making Lakshmi’s blessing all the more important. Houses are cleaned thoroughly in anticipation of Lakshmi’s visit, as she is known to prefer cleanliness and will choose the cleanest houses to visit first. Rangoli, traditional designs and patterns are painted outside the front door or the front gate of the house using rice flour and vermilion powder, to welcome Lakshmi in. In the evening small oil lamps or diyas are lit to welcome Lakshmi in and to drive away evil spirits. Doors and windows are left open at night for the goddess to enter. Lakshmi Puja is the most significant Diwali tradition especially in northern and western India, and is performed to honour the goddess and to ask for prosperity and wealth for the coming year.