Lakshmi Pooja on Diwali is one of the most beautiful and meaningful Hindu traditions. It is performed to welcome Mahalakshmi, the Goddess of wealth, prosperity, auspiciousness and well-being, into our homes.
But Lakshmi Pooja is not merely a prayer for money or material prosperity. We pray for Dhana (wealth), Dhanya (food), Arogya (health), Aishwarya (prosperity), Sadbuddhi (good sense), and peace within the family.
The central thought is that wealth should come with wisdom, prosperity with humility, and abundance with gratitude.
Let me explain the traditional procedure, step by step, with the Sanskrit mantras and slokas. I shall keep it practical enough to perform at home.
Diwali Lakshmi Pooja – Complete procedure and slokas.
1. Preparing the house and the Pooja altar
Traditionally, the house is cleaned thoroughly before Diwali. The entrance is decorated with kolam or rangoli, flowers and lamps.
For the Pooja, arrange:
Picture or idol of Sri Mahalakshmi.
A small platform covered with a clean cloth.
Flowers, preferably lotus if available, and tulasi where appropriate to your tradition.
Turmeric, kumkum, sandalwood paste and akshata (rice mixed with turmeric).
A small kalash with water, mango leaves and coconut.
Fruits, sweets, betel leaves and betel nuts.
Incense, camphor and ghee or oil lamps.
Coins or jewellery, if you wish to offer them symbolically.
A bell and a small vessel of water.
Place the account books, keys or instruments of your livelihood nearby if that is part of your family tradition.
2. Begin with prayer to Sri Ganesha
No auspicious undertaking begins without invoking Lord Ganesha.
Ganesha Dhyana Sloka
शुक्लाम्बरधरं विष्णुं शशिवर्णं चतुर्भुजम् ।
प्रसन्नवदनं ध्यायेत् सर्वविघ्नोपशान्तये ॥
Transliteration:
Shuklāmbaradharam Viṣṇum
Śaśivarṇam Chaturbhujam
Prasannavadanam Dhyāyet
Sarvavighnopaśāntaye.
Meaning: I meditate upon the One dressed in white, radiant like the moon, with four arms and a pleasant face, for the removal of all obstacles.
Then recite:
वक्रतुण्ड महाकाय सूर्यकोटि समप्रभ ।
निर्विघ्नं कुरु मे देव सर्वकार्येषु सर्वदा ॥
Vakratunda Mahākāya Sūryakoṭi Samaprabha, Nirvighnam Kuru Me Deva Sarvakāryeṣu Sarvadā.
O Lord with the curved trunk and mighty form, shining like millions of suns, please remove obstacles from all my undertakings.
3. Sankalpa – stating the intention
Take a little water, flowers and akshata in your right palm and mentally state your intention.
You may say:
मम उपात्त समस्त दुरितक्षयद्वारा
श्रीमहालक्ष्मी प्रीत्यर्थं
दीपावली पर्वणि श्रीमहालक्ष्मी पूजां करिष्ये ॥
Meaning: For the removal of all accumulated shortcomings and for the pleasure and blessings of Sri Mahalakshmi, I undertake this Lakshmi Pooja on the auspicious occasion of Deepavali.
You can add your family's welfare and the well-being of all beings to your prayer.
4. Kalasha Pooja
The kalasha represents sacredness, abundance and the presence of the divine.
Place the kalasha before the Goddess, with water, mango leaves and a coconut.
Recite:
गङ्गे च यमुने चैव गोदावरि सरस्वति ।
नर्मदे सिन्धु कावेरी जलेऽस्मिन् सन्निधिं कुरु ॥
Transliteration:
Gange cha Yamune chaiva
Godāvari Sarasvati
Narmade Sindhu Kāveri
Jale'smin Sannidhim Kuru.
Meaning: O sacred rivers Ganga, Yamuna, Godavari, Saraswati, Narmada, Sindhu and Kaveri, may your presence sanctify this water.
This water is then used for the worship.
5. Dhyānam – Meditating upon Mahalakshmi
Before offering anything, contemplate the divine form of the Goddess.
A beautiful Lakshmi Dhyana Sloka is:
या सा पद्मासनस्था विपुलकटितटी पद्मपत्रायताक्षी ।
गम्भीरावर्तनाभिः स्तनभरनमिता शुभ्रवस्त्रोत्तरीया ॥
या लक्ष्मीर्दिव्यरूपैर्मणिगणखचितैः स्नापिता हेमकुम्भैः ।
सा नित्यं पद्महस्ता मम वसतु गृहे सर्वमाङ्गल्ययुक्ता ॥
Transliteration:
Yā sā padmāsanasthā vipula-kaṭitaṭī padmapatrāyatākṣī
Gambhīrāvartanābhih stanabhara-namitā śubhravastrōttarīyā
Yā Lakṣmīr divyarūpair maṇigaṇa-khachitaiḥ snāpitā hemakumbhaiḥ
Sā nityaṁ padmahastā mama vasatu gṛhe sarvamaṅgalyayuktā.
Meaning: May that divine Lakshmi, seated on a lotus, with lotus-petal-like eyes, adorned with beautiful ornaments and holding a lotus in her hand, always reside in my home, bringing every auspicious blessing.
6. Āvāhanam – Inviting Goddess Lakshmi
Join your palms and invite the Goddess with devotion.
आगच्छ देवि देवेशि तेजोमयि महालक्ष्मि ।
क्रियमाणां मया पूजां गृहाण सुरवन्दिते ॥
Transliteration:
Āgaccha Devi Deveśi Tejomayi Mahālakṣmi
Kriyamāṇāṁ Mayā Pūjāṁ Gṛhāṇa Suravandite.
Meaning: O Mahalakshmi, worshipped by the Devas, please come and accept the worship offered by me.
You can also simply chant:
ॐ श्रीं महालक्ष्म्यै नमः।
Om Śrīṁ Mahālakṣmyai Namaḥ.
7. Shodashopachara – The sixteen traditional offerings
This is the heart of the traditional Lakshmi Pooja.
Shodashopachara means worshipping the deity through sixteen services, treating the Goddess as an honoured divine guest.
The sixteen offerings are:
No. Offering Meaning
1 Āsanam Offering a seat
2 Pādyam Water for washing the feet
3 Arghyam Water for welcoming
4 Āchamanīyam Water for sipping
5 Snānam Sacred bath
6 Vas tram Offering clothes
7 Ābharaṇam Ornaments
8 Gandham Sandalwood paste
9 Akṣatam Sacred rice
10 Puṣpam Flowers
11 Dhūpam Incense
12 Dīpam Light
13 Naivedyam Food offering
14 Tāmbūlam Betel leaves and nuts
15 Nīrājanam Camphor or lamp waving
16 Mantrapushpam Flowers offered with prayers
At each stage, you may say:
ॐ श्रीमहालक्ष्म्यै नमः।
आसनं समर्पयामि।
Om Śrī Mahālakṣmyai Namaḥ, Āsanaṁ Samarpayāmi.
This means: I offer a seat to Sri Mahalakshmi.
For the other offerings, replace the word Āsanam with Pādyam, Arghyam, Snānam and so on.
A practical point: If you have a metal idol, you may perform the ceremonial bath with water and panchamrit, followed by clean water. If you have a framed photograph, do not pour water over it; offer water symbolically in a small vessel or sprinkle it before the picture.
You need not perform elaborate bathing rituals if your family follows a simpler daily worship tradition.
8. Lakshmi Archana – Offering flowers and chanting her names.
This is a particularly beautiful part of the Pooja.
Offer flowers or akshata while reciting the names of the Goddess.
You may chant the following names:
Om Prakṛtyai Namaḥ
Om Vikṛtyai Namaḥ
Om Vidyāyai Namaḥ
Om Sarvabhūtahitapradāyai Namaḥ
Om Śraddhāyai Namaḥ
Om Vibhūtyai Namaḥ
Om Padmāyai Namaḥ
Om Padmapriyāyai Namaḥ
Om Kamalāyai Namaḥ
Om Viṣṇupriyāyai Namaḥ
These are among the traditional names found in Sri Lakshmi Ashtottara Shatanamavali.
If you have time, recite all 108 names.
9. Important Lakshmi Stotras.
There are three beautiful prayers you can include.
A. Mahalakshmi Ashtakam
This is an eight-verse hymn traditionally attributed to Indra.
The opening verse:
नमस्तेऽस्तु महामाये श्रीपीठे सुरपूजिते ।
शङ्खचक्रगदाहस्ते महालक्ष्मि नमोऽस्तु ते ॥
Namastestu Mahāmāye Śrīpīṭhe Surapūjite
Śaṅkhachakragadāhaste Mahālakṣmi Namostu Te.
Meaning: Salutations to Mahalakshmi, the divine power, worshipped by the Devas, holding the conch, discus and mace.
B. Lakshmi Gayatri
ॐ महालक्ष्म्यै च विद्महे
विष्णुपत्न्यै च धीमहि ।
तन्नो लक्ष्मीः प्रचोदयात् ॥
Om Mahālakṣmyai Cha Vidmahe
Viṣṇupatnyai Cha Dhīmahi
Tanno Lakṣmīḥ Prachodayāt.
Meaning: May we meditate upon Mahalakshmi, the divine consort of Vishnu. May Goddess Lakshmi illuminate and guide our intellect.
C. Sri Suktam
This is especially significant in Sri Vaishnava worship.
It is a Vedic hymn from the Rigvedic tradition, glorifying Sri, the Goddess of auspiciousness, abundance and divine grace.
Its opening verse:
हिरण्यवर्णां हरिणीं सुवर्णरजतस्रजाम् ।
चन्द्रां हिरण्मयीं लक्ष्मीं जातवेदो म आवह ॥
Hiraṇyavarṇāṁ Hariṇīṁ Suvarṇarajatasrajām
Chandrāṁ Hiraṇmayīṁ Lakṣmīṁ Jātavedo Ma Āvaha.
Meaning: O Jātavedas, invoke for me Lakshmi, golden-hued, radiant, adorned with gold and silver ornaments, luminous like the moon.
If you already recite Sri Suktam, Diwali is a particularly auspicious occasion to include it.
10. Naivedyam – Offering food
Prepare a small plate with:
Fruits
Payasam or sakkarai pongal
Milk
Coconut
Sweets
Betel leaves and betel nuts
Offer the food with this mantra:
ॐ प्राणाय स्वाहा ।
ॐ अपानाय स्वाहा ।
ॐ व्यानाय स्वाहा ।
ॐ उदानाय स्वाहा ।
ॐ समानाय स्वाहा ।
ॐ ब्रह्मणे स्वाहा ॥
You may then say:
ॐ श्रीमहालक्ष्म्यै नमः।
नैवेद्यं समर्पयामि ॥
Om Śrī Mahālakṣmyai Namaḥ, Naivedyaṁ Samarpayāmi.
Meaning: I offer this food to Sri Mahalakshmi.
Ring the bell gently and allow a few moments for the offering.
11. Kubera Pooja
Some families worship Kubera along with Lakshmi on Diwali.
Kubera is regarded as the guardian of wealth.
You can offer flowers and akshata while chanting:
ॐ यक्षाय कुबेराय वैश्रवणाय धनधान्याधिपतये ।
धनधान्यसमृद्धिं मे देहि दापय स्वाहा ॥
This is a prayer seeking prosperity and the resources necessary for a good life.
Worshipping Kubera is optional and is not a compulsory part of every family's Lakshmi Pooja.
12. Lakshmi Aarti
Now comes the most joyous part.
Light camphor or take the aarti lamp and move it clockwise before the Goddess.
The popular aarti begins:
ॐ जय लक्ष्मी माता, मैया जय लक्ष्मी माता ।
तुमको निशदिन सेवत, हरि विष्णु विधाता ॥
You may sing the complete Lakshmi Aarti with the family.
13. Final prayer and Namaskaram
After the aarti, offer flowers and bow before the Goddess.
A beautiful concluding prayer is:
सर्वमङ्गलमाङ्गल्ये शिवे सर्वार्थसाधिके ।
शरण्ये त्र्यम्बके गौरि नारायणि नमोऽस्तु ते ॥
Sarvamaṅgalamāṅgalye Śive Sarvārthasādhike
Śaraṇye Tryambake Gauri Nārāyaṇi Namostu Te.
Meaning: O Divine Mother, the most auspicious among all that is auspicious, the fulfiller of all worthy purposes, the refuge of all beings, salutations to You.
This is a Devi prayer, traditionally found in the Devi Mahatmyam.
Conclude with:
कायेन वाचा मनसेन्द्रियैर्वा
बुद्ध्यात्मना वा प्रकृतिस्वभावात् ।
करोमि यद्यत् सकलं परस्मै
नारायणायेति समर्पयामि ॥
Kāyena Vācā Manasendriyairvā
Buddhyātmanā Vā Prakṛtisvabhāvāt
Karomi Yadyat Sakalaṁ Parasmai
Nārāyaṇāyeti Samarpayāmi.
Meaning: Whatever I do through my body, speech, mind, senses, intellect or by my natural disposition, I offer everything to the Supreme Lord Narayana.
This concluding sentiment is especially beautiful in Sri Vaishnava worship.
In Sri Vaishnava sampradaya, Sri Mahalakshmi is not viewed merely as the Goddess who grants material wealth. She is the Divine Mother, inseparably associated with Sriman Narayana, and the compassionate Purushakara — the one who intercedes on behalf of the jivatmas.
Therefore, Lakshmi worship is understood in the context of Sriyaḥpati, Sriman Narayana.
You can include:
Sri Suktam.
Lakshmi Ashtakam.
Sri Stuti of Vedanta Desika.
A prayer to Sri and Narayana together.
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