Diwali Puja Vidhi: Step-by-Step Lakshmi Puja at Home

The Diwali Lakshmi Puja Vidhi at home follows the Shodashopachara method — 16 elements of worship (Shodasha = 16, Upachara = service/offering) prescribed in the Devi Bhagavata Purana for Lakshmi's complete invocation. This complete home puja takes 45-60 minutes when done with full attention. The most important rule: begin the Puja during Pradosh Kaal (the 90-minute twilight window after sunset on Diwali Amavasya). On October 20, 2026 (Diwali), this window is approximately 5:30-7:30 PM (verify for your city).

Reviewed by Dr. Meenakshi Sharma, M.A. Sanskrit & Vedic Studies, Varanasi — as of May 2026.

In Vedic tradition, Lakshmi (Sri) is not merely the goddess of money — she is the divine quality of Shri (excellence, beauty, auspiciousness) that makes everything flourish. Her Puja invites the quality of flourishing into the home's every domain: wealth, health, relationships, knowledge, and beauty. The Diwali Lakshmi Puja is the year's single most powerful opportunity to actively invite this quality. Check your Venus and 2nd house (wealth) placements — these reflect Lakshmi's domain in your chart — with the free birth chart calculator.

Gather before the Puja begins:

Deities: Lakshmi image or idol (brass or silver preferred), Ganesha image (always to Lakshmi's left), Kuber image or yantra (to Lakshmi's right)

Kalash (sacred pot): Copper or brass water pot, mango leaves for the mouth of the pot, coconut placed on top, wrapped with red cloth

Offering materials: Red flowers (lotus preferred, roses acceptable), marigold garlands, kumkum (red powder), turmeric, sandalwood paste, incense sticks (7 or 108), ghee lamp (Diya), camphor, gold or silver coin (place before Lakshmi)

Food offerings (Naivedya): Kheer (rice pudding), jalebi, modak, fruits (banana, apple, pomegranate), sugar crystals (Mishri), coconut

Puja items: Panchaamrit (mixture of milk, yogurt, ghee, honey, sugar), clean water in a small bowl, Gangajal if available, small spoon for Achaman, Aarti thali with multiple wicks

Ritual items: Sindoor for the married women's Bindi, Akshat (whole rice grains), camphor tablet, bell

Preparation (1 hour before Puja)

1. Clean the entire house — Lakshmi does not enter dirty homes 2. Set up the Puja altar facing east or north 3. Place Kalash at the center, Lakshmi image on a red cloth, Ganesha to the right of Lakshmi from the devotee's perspective 4. Draw Lakshmi footsteps from the main entrance toward the Puja room with kumkum 5. Light all the diyas around the home before beginning the formal Puja

Opening — Ganesha Puja

5. Begin with Ganesha: Om Gam Ganapataye Namah — 5 times. Always worship Ganesha first. 6. Offer flowers to Ganesha: "Ganesha is invoked to remove all obstacles from this Puja"

Kalash Puja (Inviting the Divine into the Sacred Pot)

7. Place the Kalash at the altar. Invoke all sacred rivers into it: Gange cha Yamune chaiva Godavari Saraswati, Narmade Sindhu Kaveri jale'smin sannidhim kuru 8. Touch the Kalash and say: "In this Kalash, I invoke the presence of Lakshmi Devi for this Puja"

The 16-Element Lakshmi Puja (Shodashopachara)

9. Avahana (Invocation): Ring the bell, light incense, say: Shri Mahalakshmyai Namah Avahayami (I invoke Sri Mahalakshmi) 10. Asana (Seat): Offer red flower as seat: Asanam Samarpayami 11. Padya (Foot wash): Offer clean water: Padyam Samarpayami 12. Arghya (Hand wash): Offer water: Arghyam Samarpayami 13. Achaman (Sipping water): Offer water to sip: Achamaniyam Samarpayami 14. Snana (Bath): Pour Panchaamrit over the Lakshmi idol: Snanam Samarpayami 15. Vastra (Clothing): Offer red cloth or flowers: Vastram Samarpayami 16. Upaveeda (Sacred thread): Offer yellow thread: Upaveetam Samarpayami 17. Gandha (Sandalwood): Apply sandalwood paste and kumkum to the idol: Gandham Samarpayami 18. Pushpa (Flowers): Offer lotus or red flowers: Pushpam Samarpayami. Recite Lakshmi's 108 names while offering flowers (or Sri Sukta — the Rigvedic Lakshmi hymn) 19. Dhupa (Incense): Wave incense 3 times clockwise: Dhupam Aghrapayami 20. Dipa (Lamp): Wave ghee lamp: Deepam Darshayami 21. Naivedya (Food): Offer the Puja food (kheer, fruits, sweets): Naivedyam Samarpayami. Place before the idol, then sprinkle water around it clockwise 3 times 22. Jala (Water): Offer water after the food: Uttaraaposanam Samarpayami 23. Tambula (Betel): Offer betel leaves: Tambulam Samarpayami 24. Dakshina (Offering): Place gold/silver coin or money before Lakshmi: Dakshina Samarpayami

Sri Sukta Recitation

25. Recite the Sri Sukta — the Rigvedic hymn to Lakshmi (16 verses from the Rigveda Khila). This is the most ancient Lakshmi prayer in the Vedic corpus.

Lakshmi Mantra Japa

26. Om Shrim Mahalakshmyai Namah — 108 times with mala

Aarti

27. Perform Lakshmi Aarti (Om Jai Lakshmi Mata) — wave the multi-wick Aarti thali clockwise 28. Ring bell throughout Aarti 29. Pass the Aarti thali clockwise to all family members — each person waves it before the deity

Closing

30. Pradakshina (circumambulation) — circle the altar 3 times clockwise 31. Pranam — full prostration before Lakshmi 32. Distribute Prasad to all family members — the Naivedya food that was offered 33. Keep lamps burning throughout the night

1. Starting the Puja before Pradosh — doing the Puja in the afternoon rather than the Pradosh window misses the most potent time 2. Worshipping Lakshmi before Ganesha — Ganesha must always be invoked first 3. Allowing lamps to go out — extinguished lamps signal Lakshmi has departed 4. Skipping the Sri Sukta — this Vedic hymn is the most potent Lakshmi invocation 5. Offering salt-cooked food — Puja Naivedya must be unsalted sweet offerings only