Celebration : October, after five days of
Mahadashami.
The Festival
After Durga Puja, Lakshmi Puja is the most important festival of
Bengalis. Lakshmi is the Goddess of light, beauty, good fortune and
wealth, she was the daughter of the sage Bhrigu and took refuge in
the ocean of milk when the gods were sent into exile.
Timing of the year
In the month of October, five days after Mahadashami, on full moon,
is the festivals of the Goddess of prosperity Laxmi who is
worshipped daily in most Hindu household for the family's well
being. Public Pujas are performed in the same premises as for Durga
Puja.
On this day the people in Bengal worship the Goddess of wealth,
Lakshami. They get the idols of Lakshmi and install them in the same
pandals and prepare offering specially made of fruits and sweets to
the goddess. The night, being a bright full moon with pleasant
climate, is usually spent in the open singing and dancing, generally
getting together.
Lakshmi Puja
The day of Lakshmi Puja falls on the dark night of Amabasya.
Lakshmi Puja is celebrated in the evening when tiny diyas of clay
are lighted to drive away the shadows of evil spirits, devotional
songs in praise of Goddess Lakshmi are sung and traditional sweets
is offered to the Goddess.
The strains of the joyous sounds of bells and drums float from the
temples as man is invoking Goddess Laxmi in a wondrous holy "pouring-in"
of his heart. All of a sudden that impenetrable darkness is pierced
by innumerable rays of light for just a moment and the next moment a
blaze of light descends down to earth from heaven as golden-footed
Deep-Lakshmi alights on earth in all her celestial glory amidst
chantings of Vedic hymns.
It is believed that on this day Lakshmi walks through the green
fields and loiters through the bye-lanes and showers her blessings
on man for plenty and prosperity.
Story of Lakshmi Puja
The story of Lakshmi Pooja goes like this. It is believed that when
the demons and deities were churning the ocean together to find out
the 'drink of immortality', it was on this day that Goddess Lakshmi
manifested herself and thus Lakshmi Puja is celebrated to
commemorate the birth of the Goddess of Wealth.
According to another legend that on the night prior to the
celebration of Diwali (as known in other parts of the country), Lord
Krishna has killed the demon Narakasura freeing the earth from his
terrors and liberating the 16000 princesses that were abducted by
him. Thus, on the next day (Diwali), the people illuminated their
houses and celebrated to express their joy and relief. Mahabharata
mentions the return of Pandavas to their kingdom from their 13-year
long exile on this very day. Vikramidtya, the great benevolent king
and warrior was believed to be enthroned on Diwali. Whatever the
reasons may be, however, Diwali, has always been associated with the
worshipping of Lakshmi. One other legend connecting Lakshmi to
Diwali is mentioned in Sanatkumar Samhita, which says that it was on
this day that Lord Vishnu liberated his consort from the captivity
of Bali, the mighty demon-king after a long period.
