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Lakshmi Puja: The Goddess of wealth & prosperity

way2barak, Oct. 09: After Durga Puja, it’s now time for Lakhsmi Puja.

A country with diverse cultural affinity, India is a land where almost everyday one or the other festival or rituals are performed. Such celebrations get multiplied when we talk about the Bengali community. For the Bengalis, every festival brings with it distinct food, delicious dishes, both sweet and spicy. Just after celebrating Durga Puja, the people of this valley are all geared up to celebrate Lakshmi Puja, who is regarded as the Goddess of wealth and prosperity.

Lakshmi Puja is celebrated on the occasion of Sharad Purnima or Kajogari Purnima. Kojagara Puja Purnima is more famously known as Sharad Purnima in most parts of India. In our part of the country, it is the most important day to worship Goddess Lakshmi which falls on the full moon day in lunar month of Ashvin. This year, the timings of the Puja are:

• Lakshmi Puja on Sunday- October 9 2022
• Duration- 00 Hours 49 mins
• Moonrise- 5:51 pm
• Purnima Tithi Begins- 03: 41 am on Oct 9, 2022
• Purnima Tithi Ends- 02: 24 am on Oct 10, 2022

In most of the Bengali households, women keep a fast on Kojagori Purnima, cook bhog for Goddess Lakshmi and worship Her. Making beautiful ‘alpana’ (rangoli) and drawing Lakshmi footprints using rice paste form an integral part of the puja. Special food is prepared to offer Maa Lakshmi. After Durga Pooja, this is another big festival celebrated in almost every Hindu house of Barak Valley.

Besides worshiping Goddess Lakshmi, the day also signifies the importance of good harvest and prosperity in farmers’ lives. On this pious day, they seek blessings of the divine power to achieve good yield and plentiful harvest. According to another belief, Lord Krishna began his Raas Leela with Radha and the Gopis on the night of Sharad Poornima. So, the day is also closely linked with Radha-Krishna’s love and Krishna’s romance with Gopis.

Many stories and legends are associated with Sharad Purnima or Kojagari Purnima. As per one story, there was once an artisan whot made an idol of Alakshmi (the Goddess of Poverty). The king of that kingdom promised his artisans that he would buy any object that remained unsold. So he bought the unsold idol of Alakshmi. Since then misery struck his kingdom. The queen was then advised by someone to observe the Kojagari Lakshmi vrat on the full moon night of Ashwin, and do the Laxmi puja as per the rituals. After performing the rituals, peace and prosperity returned back to the kingdom.

It is said the the word ‘kojagari’ or ‘kojagiri’ means “one who is awake.” Descending on the earth on this day, Goddess Lakshmi is said to go around  gives Her blessings to people who remains awake on that night. At many places, people stay awake at night on this day to be able to respond to her call, and get Her blessings. The Puraṇa narrates that on the new moon night of Ashwin the Goddess Lakshmi goes everywhere in search of an ideal home.

Though undoubtedly cleanliness, beauty and excellence attract Her yet She loves to live in a home inhabited by persons who are faithful, dutiful, merciful, righteous, have control over passions and are devotees of God…’ It is hoped that the Goddess of fortune finds a permanent shelter in the houses of the devotees this year.

Team way2barak wishes all our readers a very happy & prosperous Lakshmi Puja.