Lakshmi Puja today

Lakshmi Puja, a religious festival of the Hindu community, will be celebrated on Saturday with due religious fervour and enthusiasm.

The Puja is arranged on the next full moon night after the end of Durga Puja, the biggest religious festival of the country's Hindu community.

This full moon night is also called Kujagori Purnima.

According to Hindu scripture, Lakshmi, wife of lord Vishnu, is the goddess of wealth, fortune, power, luxury, beauty, fertility and auspiciousness. She represents the beautiful and bountiful aspect of nature.

The owl, a predatory and usually nocturnal bird which is traditionally described as wise, is the carrier of Lakshmi.

She (Lakshmi) bestows power, pleasure and prosperity on those who deserve her grace. To get her blessings, one must respect the laws of life and appreciate the wonders of existence.

Traditionally Hindu women observe fasting on the occasion and the floors of their homes are decorated with footprints of Lakshmi and torch lights in the evening. They worship Lakshmi in their homes after taking a bath and wearing new or clean clothes.

The devotees believe that if Lakshmi Devi is satisfied with the visit, there will be no financial problems in the family and happiness and comfort will increase there.

The Hindu devotees will perform the puja at different temples and mandaps as well as at their homes.

In the capital, Lakshmi Puja will be performed in Dhakeshwari National Temple, Ramkrishna Math and Ramkrishna Mission, Shankharibazar, Tantibazar, Sutrapur, Farashganj, Lakshmibazar, Radhamadhab Bigraha Mandir and Radha Govinda Geo Temple.

After worshipping of Goddess Lakshmi, Anjali will be offered at temples and homes followed by the distribution of Prasad.

/KN/