Diwali Puja Vidhi at Home From Sankalp to Aarti
Diwali puja vidhi at home starts with Sankalp (संकल्प) and Ganesh worship. Offer water, clothes, flowers, dhoop, diya, and bhog to Maa Lakshmi. End with Aarti, a closing prayer, and Prasad.
Perform Lakshmi Ganesh puja with murtis (मूर्तियाँ) or a photo of both deities. Follow your family tradition if its prayers or order differ.
Start the Puja Steps
Prepare for Puja Before Taking Sankalp
Bathe, wear clean clothes, and arrange the Diwali puja items. Place the murtis or photo on a clean chowki (चौकी, low wooden platform). Sit facing the murtis or photo, with the puja items within reach.
Check the Diwali Puja Muhurat (पूजा का शुभ समय) for your city. Arrange everything before the puja begins.
Items to place beside the chowki
Use separate dishes for food and other offerings. Place an empty bowl nearby to collect water after each offering.
Take fresh water for each spoonful offered during puja. Pour it into the collection bowl after offering it.
For a photo or painted murti
Wipe the photo or painted murti gently with a dry cloth. For water offerings, hold a spoonful before the image. Pour it into the collection bowl without wetting the image.
Bathe a murti only if water will not damage it. If unsure, use the same method as for a photo.
Light the diya
Place the diya on a stable plate. Add the wick and ghee or lamp oil, then light it. Move paper, flowers, and cloth away from the flame.
Take three sips for Achaman (आचमन)
Hold the spoon in your left hand. Pour a little water into your right palm. Recite one name below, then take a small sip. Repeat with fresh water for each of the next two names.
Om Achyutaya Namah.
हिन्दी अर्थ: भगवान अच्युत को नमस्कार।
Om Anantaya Namah.
हिन्दी अर्थ: भगवान अनन्त को नमस्कार।
Om Govindaya Namah.
हिन्दी अर्थ: भगवान गोविन्द को नमस्कार।
Rinse your right hand over the collection bowl after the third sip. Take fresh water for Sankalp.
Keep Your Diwali Puja Kit Ready
Compare the kit contents with the preparation list, then arrange fresh flowers, fruit and cooked Bhog separately.
Buy Diwali Puja KitDiwali Puja Vidhi From Sankalp to Aarti
Take the Diwali Puja Sankalp (संकल्प)
Sankalp is the decision to perform the puja (पूजा करने का निश्चय). Hold fresh water, akshat, and a flower in your right palm.
Recite the prayer below with your name, date, and place. Choose करता हूँ or करती हूँ as appropriate.
मैं [नाम], आज [तारीख] को [स्थान] में श्री गणेश और माँ लक्ष्मी की पूजा का संकल्प [करता हूँ / करती हूँ]। कृपया मेरी पूजा स्वीकार करें।
Place the flower and rice in the collection bowl, then pour in the water. This Hindi prayer does not ask for your gotra (गोत्र, family lineage). Ask your pandit for the details if using a full Sanskrit Sankalp.
Worship Ganesh Before Lakshmi
Place a flower before Ganesh, with durva grass if used at home. Apply chandan (चन्दन, sandalwood paste) to the murti only if it will not damage it. For a photo or painted murti, place the chandan on a small dish.
Light the dhoop and hold it in its holder before Ganesh. Set it down, then lift the plate holding the lit diya. Recite the Ganesh Puja mantra while making these offerings:
ॐ गं गणपतये नमः।
Roman reading: Om Gam Ganapataye Namah.
हिन्दी अर्थ: श्री गणेश को नमस्कार।
Set the plate down before starting Lakshmi puja. Offer Bhog to both deities in step 9.
Welcome Maa Lakshmi With Prayer
Join your palms and focus on Maa Lakshmi for Dhyana (ध्यान). Recite her name:
श्रीलक्ष्मीदेव्यै नमः।
Roman reading: Shri Lakshmi Devyai Namah.
हिन्दी अर्थ: माँ लक्ष्मी को नमस्कार।
For Avahana (आवाहन, welcoming the deity), offer this prayer:
माँ लक्ष्मी, कृपया मेरी पूजा स्वीकार करें। हमारे घर में आपका स्वागत है।
Offer a Seat and Water to Lakshmi
Place a flower before Maa Lakshmi to offer a seat, or Asana (आसन). The murti or photo stays in place.
For each offering below, hold a fresh spoonful of water before Maa Lakshmi. Recite the matching prayer, then pour the water into the collection bowl.
| Offering | What the water is for | Hindi prayer |
|---|---|---|
| Padya (पाद्य) | Washing the feet | माँ लक्ष्मी, चरण धोने के लिए यह जल स्वीकार करें। |
| Arghya (अर्घ्य) | Offering water with respect | माँ लक्ष्मी, आदरपूर्वक अर्पित यह जल स्वीकार करें। |
| Achamaniya (आचमनीय) | Sipping or rinsing the mouth | माँ लक्ष्मी, आचमन के लिए यह जल स्वीकार करें। |
These offerings are for Maa Lakshmi. Do not drink this water.
Offer Snan (स्नान, Bath) to Maa Lakshmi
For a murti that can be bathed
Place the murti in a tray and gently pour clean water over it. If using Panchamrit (पंचामृत), mix milk, curd, ghee, honey, and sugar beforehand. Pour the Panchamrit over the murti, then rinse with clean water. Dry the murti and return it to the chowki.
Recite the matching prayer while pouring:
For a photo or painted murti
Hold a spoonful of fresh water before Maa Lakshmi. Recite the water prayer above, then pour the water into the collection bowl.
Do not serve liquid collected from cleaning or bathing the image as a drink. Prepare a separate portion of Panchamrit in a clean bowl to serve as Prasad.
Offer Clothes and Tilak
Offer Maa Lakshmi a small clean cloth as Vastra (वस्त्र). Drape it over the dry murti or fold it before the photo.
Apply chandan or roli as tilak (तिलक) if it will not damage the murti. For a photo or painted murti, put the paste or powder on a small dish.
Hindi prayer for cloth and chandan:
माँ लक्ष्मी, यह वस्त्र और चन्दन स्वीकार करें।
If offering roli, say रोली instead of चन्दन. The offered cloth should be separate from the chowki covering.
Offer Flowers and Akshat
Place flowers and akshat before Maa Lakshmi, beside the murti or on a dish. If offering a garland, place it without tipping the murti or photo.
Hindi prayer:
माँ लक्ष्मी, ये फूल और अक्षत स्वीकार करें।
Offer Dhoop and the Diya
Hold the lit dhoop in its holder before Maa Lakshmi. Recite this prayer, then set the holder down:
माँ लक्ष्मी, यह धूप स्वीकार करें।
Lift the plate holding the lit diya before Maa Lakshmi. Recite this prayer, then set the plate down:
माँ लक्ष्मी, यह दीप स्वीकार करें।
Offer Bhog next. The Aarti comes in step 12.
Offer Bhog to Lakshmi and Ganesh
Place fruit or sweets on a plate before Lakshmi and Ganesh. This food offering is called Naivedya (नैवेद्य) or Bhog (भोग).
Hindi prayer:
श्री गणेश और माँ लक्ष्मी, कृपया यह भोग स्वीकार करें।
Leave the food before Lakshmi and Ganesh until the closing prayer.
Offer Water After Bhog
Place the cup of drinking water beside the Bhog plate. Offer it to Lakshmi and Ganesh with this prayer:
श्री गणेश और माँ लक्ष्मी, यह पीने का जल स्वीकार करें।
Offer a fresh spoonful of water for rinsing the mouth. Recite this prayer, then pour the water into the collection bowl:
श्री गणेश और माँ लक्ष्मी, मुख धोने के लिए यह जल स्वीकार करें।
If offering Tambula, place paan and supari on a small dish before Lakshmi and Ganesh.
Recite a Lakshmi Prayer and Offer Flowers
Join your palms and recite this verse from Shri Sukta (श्री सूक्त):
मनसः काममाकूतिं वाचः सत्यमशीमहि । पशूनां रूपमन्नस्य मयि श्रीः श्रयतां यशः ॥
Roman reading:
Manasah kamam akutim vachah satyam ashimahi. Pashunam rupam annasya mayi shrih shrayatam yashah.
संक्षिप्त हिन्दी अर्थ:
मन की इच्छाएँ और संकल्प पूरे हों, वाणी में सत्य हो। पशुधन और अन्न की समृद्धि मिले। मुझमें श्री और यश का वास हो।
For Pushpanjali (पुष्पांजलि, offering flowers with prayer), hold flowers in your joined palms. Recite this prayer, then place the flowers before Lakshmi and Ganesh:
श्री गणेश और माँ लक्ष्मी, मेरी प्रार्थना और ये फूल स्वीकार करें।
Sing Ganesh and Lakshmi Aarti
Sing Jai Ganesh Deva (जय गणेश देवा), followed by Om Jai Lakshmi Mata (ॐ जय लक्ष्मी माता).
Lift the plate with the lit diya and move it clockwise (घड़ी की दिशा में). Circle it before Lakshmi and Ganesh as you sing. Follow your family practice for the number of circles. Set the plate down before joining your palms or bowing.
End the Puja With Prayer and Prasad
Bow before Lakshmi and Ganesh. Offer Kshama Prarthana (क्षमा प्रार्थना), asking forgiveness for mistakes during puja:
श्री गणेश और माँ लक्ष्मी, पूजा में हुई भूलों के लिए क्षमा करें। कृपया मेरी पूजा स्वीकार करें।
Share the offered food as Prasad (प्रसाद). Stay near the diya and watch it while it burns.
Murtis worshipped daily can remain in your home mandir after Diwali puja. You do not need to immerse them in water (मूर्ति विसर्जन).
Questions About Diwali Puja at Home
Do I need new Lakshmi and Ganesh murtis every Diwali?
You can worship the murtis already in your home mandir. If your family brings new murtis each Diwali, follow that custom.
Can I use Hindi prayers instead of Sanskrit?
Yes. Use the Hindi prayers provided with each offering. For Vedic chanting, follow the Sanskrit text and pronunciation (उच्चारण) taught by your teacher or pandit.
Does this puja include Havan?
No. These steps end with Aarti, the closing prayer, and Prasad. If your family performs Havan (हवन), arrange its materials separately and follow its ritual instructions.
