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DEEPAVALI

Deepavali, the festival of lights, comes close on the heels of Dussehra. It is a festival that marks the victory of good over evil. Deepavali means a "row of lights", and it brings along with it glowing happiness and the touch of sparklers all around.

Diwali is one of the most important Indian festivals.
All over India, people celebrate Diwali with fire crackers, family get together, new clothes and pujas offered to Ganesha and Lakshmi.
Reach out to your friends and family on this most colorful festival and wish them a very happy and prosperous Diwali.

Diwali or more aptly Deepavali is very enthusiastically celebrated for five continuous days and each day has its significance with a number of myths, legends and beliefs.

Day : DHANTERAS or DHANTRAYODASHI.
It is the thirteenth day of the month of Ashwin. The word "Dhan" means wealth. As such this day of the five-day Diwali festival has a great importance for the rich mercantile community of Western India. Houses and Business premises are renovated and decorated. Entrances are made colourful with lovely traditional motifs of Rangoli designs to welcome the Goddess of wealth and prosperity. To indicate her long-awaited arrival, small footprints are drawn with rice flour and vermilion powder all over the houses. Lamps are kept burning all through the nights. Believing this day to be auspicious women purchase some gold or silver or at least one or two new utensils. "Lakshmi-Puja" is performed in the evenings when tiny diyas of clay are lighted to drive away the shadows of evil spirits. "Bhajans"-devotional songs- in praise of Goddess Laxmi are sung and "Naivedya" of traditional sweets is offered to the Goddess. There is a peculiar custom in Maharashtra to lightly pound dry coriander seeds with jaggery and offer as Naivedya. In villages cattles are adorned and worshipped by farmers as they form the main source of their income. In south cows are offered special veneration as they are supposed to be the incarnation of Goddess Lakshmi and therefore they are adorned and worshipped on this day.

A very interesting story about this day is of the sixteen year old son of King Hima. As per his horoscope he was doomed to die by a snake-bite on the fourth day of his marriage. On that particular fourth day of his marriage his young wife did not allow him to sleep. She laid all the ornaments and lots of gold and silver coins in a big heap at the entrance of her husband's boudoir and lighted innumerable lamps all over the place. And she went on telling stories and singing songs. When Yam, the god of Death arrived there in the guise of a Serpent his eyes got blinded by that dazzle of those brilliant lights and he could not enter the Prince's chamber. So he climbed on top of the heap of the ornaments and coins and sat there whole night listening to the melodious songs. In the morning he quietly went away. Thus the young wife saved her husband from the clutches of death. Since then this day of Dhanteras came to be known as the day of "YAMADEEPDAAN" and lamps are kept burning throughout the night in reverential adoration to Yam, the god of Death.

The SECOND day is called NARAK-CHATURDASHI or CHOTI DIWALI. IT is about 'Narakasur Vadh' (killing of the demon Narakasur), and is held on the fourteenth day of the month of Aashwin. The story goes that the demon king Narakasur ruler of Pragjyotishpur ( a province to the South of Nepal) after defeating Lord Indra had snatched away the magnificent earrings of Aditi, the Mother Goddess and imprisoned sixteen thousand daughters of the gods and saints in his harem. On the day previous to Narakachaturdashi, Lord Krishna killed the demon and liberated the imprisoned damsels and also recovered those precious earrings of Aditi. As a symbol of that victory Lord Krishna smeared his forehead with the demon king's blood. Krishna returned home in the very early morning of the Narakachaturdashi day. The womenfolk massaged scented oil to his body and gave him a good bath to wash away the filth from his body. Since then the custom of taking bath before sunrise on this day has become a traditional practice specially in Maharashtra. In South India that victory of the divine over the mundane is celebrated in a very peculiar way. People wake up before sunrise prepare blood by mixing Kumkum in oil and after breaking a bitter fruit that represents the head of the demon King that was smashed by Krishna, apply that mixture on their foreheads. Then they have an oil bath using sandalwood paste.

In Maharashtra also, traditional early baths with oil and "Uptan" (paste) of gram flour and fragrant powders are a `must'. All through the ritual of baths, deafening sounds of crackers and fireworks are there in order that the children enjoy bathing. Afterwards steamed vermiceli with milk and sugar or puffed rice with curd is served.

The THIRD day : Diwali On the dark new moon night, the entrances to all homes are lit up and decorated with rangoli patterns to welcome Lakshmi, the radiant consort of Vishnu and the goddess of wealth and lustre. Lakshmi Puja is performed on this day. Diwali is the last day of financial year in traditional Hindu business and businessmen perform Chopda Pujan on this day on the new books of accounts. The day ends with a mega cracker bursting sessions. For 5-6 hours, every family burns fire crackers worth thousands of ruppees. Poplular fire crackers are sparkling pots, bombs, rockets etc.

The FOURTH day : New Year day or Bestavarsh The day after the Lakshmi Puja, most families celebrate the new year by dressing in new clothes, wearing jewellery and visiting family members and business colleagues to give them sweets, dry fruits and gifts. Among the business communities of Gujarat, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh and Maharashtra, Diwali is the festival when the new business year begins. All business establishments and families perform muharat pujan or veneration of their books. Stock brokers do mahurat trading or symbolic auspicious business deals to i iwali : Time to shop or start new ventures } Diwali, one of the longest festivals in the Hindu year, is a time when everything in India comes to a standstill except family life, feasting and shopping. Diwali is considered auspicious for shopping, inaugurations of new homes, business deals or for starting any new ventures and projects.

The Fifth day of Diwali : Bhai DhoojThe second day of the bright forthnight (Shukla Paksh) of Kartik is called "Bhaiya-Duj". It comes once a year - after Diwali. The name itself denotes the day of the festival i.e.Diwali falls on the absolutely dark night of Amavasya (new moon), Dooj comes two days after Diwali. Many years ago, in the Vedic era, Yama (Yamraj, the Lord of death) visited His sister Yamuna(Yami) and she put the auspicious tilak on his forehead, they ate talked and enjoyed together and exchanged special gifts as a token of their love for each other and Yamraj announced that anyone who receives tilak from his sister on this day will never be thrown. Since then it became imperative for the brother to go to his sister's house to celebrate Bhaiyaduj.On Bhai Dooj, the teeka is applied on the brother's forehead. It is a day dedicated to sisters. We have heard about Raksha Bandhan (brothers day). Well this is sisters day. The sister usually goes in the morning and does the puja in the mother's house, before the brothers leave for their places of study or work.

The word "Diwali" is the corruption of the Sanskrit word "Deepavali" - Deepa meaning light and Avali, meaning a row. It means a row of lights and indeed illumination forms its main attraction. Every home - lowly or mightly - the hut of the poor or the mansion of the rich - is alit with the orange glow of twinkling diyas-small earthen lamps - to welcome Lakshmi, Goddess of wealth and prosperity. Multi-coloured Rangoli designs, floral decorations and fireworks lend picturesness and grandeur to this festival which heralds joy, mirth and happiness in the ensuring year.

Diwali is the festival of Laxmi, the Goddess of prosperity and wealth. It is believed that Goddess Laxmi visit everyone during Diwali and brings peace and prosperity to all. On the night of diwali "Lakshmi-Pujan" is performed in the evenings. A traditional Puja is performed after sunset in all the homes. Five pieces of ghee diyas (lamps) are lit in front of the deities, Naivedya of traditional sweets is offered to the Goddess and devotional songs- in praise of Goddess Laxmi are sung.

After the Puja people light diyas (lamps) in their homes to usher in light, and clear the darkness from the world. In villages cattle's are adorned and worshipped by farmers as they form the main source of their income. In south cows are offered special veneration as they are supposed to be the incarnation of Goddess Lakshmi and therefore they are adorned and worshipped on this day .

Step By Step Diwali Puja

First clean the Puja room and then Bathe each Deity ( Lakshmi & Ganesh) first with water, then with panchamitra/or rose water, followed by water once more.
Make a Panchamitra with 5 ingredients of milk, curd, ghee(clarified butter), sugar & Honey.

Place Few mithais, snacks & fruits as a prashad.
Make offerings of flowers, abir (red colour), sindoor (vermillion), haldi (turmeric). and Light the Agarbatti (incense sticks) and lamps filled with Ghee.
Now make offerings of fruit, sweet meat ( mithai), Salty snacks ( Mathis, Ghathia, Namakpare) and offer dakshina (token money), which could be given to the poor.
In the end offer paan (betel leaves), cloves. Now pray to the dieties to seek their blessings.

Ganesh Puja-Ganeshji are a must for Diwali pujan. (Ganeshji is to be worshipped in all pujas before any other god or goddess.) (Aarti)

Laxmi Puja : Place Lotus and other flowers at her feet as an offering. A silver coin is placed in front of the Goddess during the puja. Now perform Arti with flowers in hand. (Aarti)
After the puja have the Prashad and go out to burst crackers

How to do Diwali Lakshmi Puja

CLEANING YOURSELF

You must take a bath, and wear new, or at least clean, clothes, before starting to arrange for the actualceremony. The yajamana, should sit facing the east if the icon faces the west (purvabhimukham upaviseva). If the icon faces the east, you should sit facing the west (pascimabhimukham upaviseva).

Kalasa (pot)

This is a pot in the shape of an expanded vase (a lotacan be used in place of Kalash). Place water inside the Kalash. Place thebunch of 5 or 5 Mango Leaves inside the neck and place a saucer of rice ontop of the Kalash. (This Saucer represents the MOON

Place One big diya,filled with ghee, on the plate of rice resting on top of the Kalash (this represents THE SUN). Together they represent MAHA LAXMI. It is customary to setthe pot on some grains of unbroken rice. This pot represents Varuna, the God ofthe Ocean. AND LAXMI as Mother Earth.

Place the other big diya on your right hands side -this one is for arti the wicks should be of the rolled up type. Another diya should be kept on the side next to Ganesh. This can be a small one, with apulled up wick. This is for the purpose of performing arati later on. It should be placed on a small platter or tari on some rice.

Place a lower platform before the one on which the icons and the big diyas are placed. The red cloth should be spread on thislower platform. Now fill the other 8 (diyas) with ghee and wicks and place them around the Kalash in a Half circle with the circle towards you. Each diya is placed on a rice platform.

PERFORM SODASAMATRIKA PUJANAM FIRST
(THE WORSHIP OF THE SIXTEEN MOTHERS)

The 16 mothers are represented on the platform by 16 small heaps of rice and a NUTMEG on top. Bowing to the 16 mothers,take rice, flowers and fragrance (atar) in your hands and say:

GOURI PADMA SACIMEDHA SAVITRI VIJAYA JAYA DEVASENA SVADHA
SVAHA MATARO LOKAMATARAH HRSTIH PUSTISTATHATUSTI ATMANAH-
KULADEVATAH GANESE NADHI KAPUJ YAH URDD HOU PUJYASCA SODA SAH

Gouri, Padma, Saci, Medha, Savitri, Vijaya, Jaya,Devasena, Svadha, Svaha, Mataro,Lokamatrah, Hrstih, Pustistatha, Tusti, Atmakuladevataare the sixteen venerable mothers.

Take a handful of rice, and pouring it through yourfingers on the red cloth. This is the representation for various deities as explained below: Sprinkle the flowers, rice and fragrance (atar).

MAHALAXMI PUJANAM (THE WORSHIP OF MAHALAKSMI)

It is only now that Laxmi herself gets worshipped.Start on this confidently and happily.

DHYANAM (MEDITATION)

SRI MAHA-LAXMI STOTRAM

Aum Namaste-astu mahaa-maaye sree peethe sur-poojite,Shankha chakra gaddaa-haste, Mahaa Lakshmi namo-astute.

O Great Mother, abode of fortune, Who artworshipped by the Devas, I salute Thee; O Mahaa Laxmi, wielder of conch,disc and mace, obeisance to Thee.

Aum Namaste garu-daaroode, kolaa-sura bhayankari;Sarva paapa hare devi, Mahaa Lakshmi namo-astute.

My salutations to Thee, Who ridest the Garuda andart a terror to the demon Kola; O Mahaa Laxmi remover of all miseries, myobeisance to Thee.

Aum Sarvagye sarva varde, sarva dustha bhayankari;Sarva duhkha hare devi, Mahaa Laxmi namo-astute.

Salutations to Thee, Who knowest all, The Giver of all boons, a terror to all the wicked, remover of all sorrow, my obscene to Thee.

Aum siddhi buddhi prade devi. bhukti-muktipradaayini; Mantra moorte sadaa devi, Mahaa Laxmi namo astute.

O Goddess of Wealth, giver of intelligence andsuccess and of worldly enjoyment and liberation, Thou hast always the mystic symbols as Thy forms, O Mahaa Laxmi, obeisance to Thee.

Aum Aadhyanta rahite devi, aadhya-shakte maheshvari;Yogaje yoga-sambhoote, Mahaa Lakshmi namo-astute.

O Mother Maheshvari, without a beginning or anend; O Primeval Energy, born of Yoga; O Mahaa Laxmi, obeisance to Thee.

Aum Stoola suksham mahaa rovdre, mahaa shaktemahodaye; Mahaa paapa hare devi, Mahaa Laxmi namo-astute.

O Mahaa Laxmi, who art both gross and subtle,most terrible, great power, great prosperity and great remover of allsins, obeisance to Thee.

Aum Padmaa sanas-thite devi, pare brahma svaroopini;Para meshi jagan-maatar, Mahaa Laxmi namo-astute.

O Devi, seated on the lotus, who art The SupremeBrahman, The Great Lord and Mother of the Universe, O Mahaa Lakshmi, obeisanceto Thee.

Aum Svetaambar dhare devi, naanaa lankaar bhooshite;Jagat stithte jagan maatar, Mahaa Laxmi namo-astute.

O Devi, robed in white garments, and decked invarious kinds of ornaments, Thou art The Mother of the Universe and its support;O Mahaa Laxmi, obeisance to Thee.

Aum Mahaa Laksham-yashtak stotram, yahahpathed-bhakti maan narah; Sarva siddhim vaapnoti, Mahaa Lakshmee prasaad taha.

Whoever with devotion recite this hymn to SriMahaa Laxmi, composed in eight stanzas, attains all success through the Grace ofMahaa Laxmi Devi.

Take flowers or unbroken grains of rice in yourhands. Meditate upon the goddess, saying:

YA SA PADMA SANASTHA VIPULA KATI TATI PADMA PATRAYAT AKSI
GAM BHIRA VARTANA BHISTANA BHARANA MITA SUBHRA VASTROTTARIYA
YA LAKSMIR DIVYA RUPA IRMANI GANA KHA CITAIH SNA PITAHEMA KUMBH AIH
SA NITYAM PADMA HASTA MAMA VASATU GRHE SARVA MANGALYAYUKTA SWAHA

Laksmi who is seated on a lotus, has eyes as wideas lotus petals, massive hips, deep navel, and heave breasts, wears white upperand lower garments, wears jewelry, is bathed from a golden pitcher, carries alotus in her hand, and is associated with every auspicious sign, let her residein my house.

Drop the flowers and the rice at the feet of the goddess.

AVAHANAM (INVOCATION)

Now you have to invoke Laxmi. Avahanam is the act of invoking her. Join your hands with palms upwards, only the little fingers touching ( with open palms). Make the usual gesture of welcoming guests in, andinvite Laxmi to the household, office or factory where she is going to be worshipped and say:

OM SARVA LOKASYA JANANIM SULA HASTAM TRILO CANAMSARVADE VAMA YIMI SAM,DEVI MAVA HAYA MY AHAM DEVIM AVAHA YAMI SWAHA

I invoke the mother of the three worlds, the three eyed one with the spear in her hand, in whom all the gods reside. I invoke the goddess.

Now, Kalash Puja:

KALASH (VARUNA) PUJA IS THE RE-CREATION OF THE EARTHLY YOURSELF AS BRAMHA

Fill the kalasha with water. Offer sandalwood powder,flowers and tulasi to decorate it. Place a coconut on top of the vessel and putyour palms over the top of it while chanting the following mantras:

THE KALASH REPRESENTS THE RE-CREATION OF THE NEWEARTH OR NEW KALAPURSHA BECAUSE YOU ARE NOT HAPPY WITH THE OLD EARTH OR OLDLIFESTYLE ON EARTH

KALASHASYA MUKHAE VISHNUHU KANTAE RUDRAHASAMAASHRITAHAMULAE TATRA STHITHO BRAHMA MADHYAE MAATRAGANAHASMRITAHA

We worship the kalasha (vessel above which the coconut is placed) invoking Mahavishnu at the mouth of the vessel. We invokeLord Rudra (an aspect of Shiva) at the neck of the kalasha and Brahma at thebase of the vessel. We invoke the Universal Mother Goddess and Her retinue in midst of the kalasha. Thus the male and female trinities are invoked. Salutations!

AUM AAJIGHRI KALASHAM MAHYAATVAA-VINSHATVINDAVAHPUNROOJEE-NIVARTASYA SAANAH; SAHASRAMDHUKSHVORU-DHAARAAPAYASVATEE PUNARMAA VISHATAA-DRIYAH.

AUM ATRA GANESH VARUNA GAURYA AADI KALSHAA DHISHTITDEVATAASARVEIHAAGACHCHANTU IHA TISHTANTU SUPREETAA VARDAA BHAVANTU.ITI KALASHPRATISHTAA SRI KALASH STHAAPYA SRI KALASH DEVATAA SRIVARUNA DEVATAAYEBHYO NAMAH.

AVAHANA - Invocation -Place the following ingredients on a pan leaf and insert into the Kalash
BY THIS YOU ARE PLACING THE MINERALS AND RESOURCESINSIDE THE NEW EARTH:

Chandan (brown Sandalwood powder)
Panch Amritam (a mixture of 5 ingredients)
Sindoor (Red Sandalwood powder)
Pushpam.(White Flowers)
Hardee (Yellow Tumeric powder)
Neemam (Neem Leaf)
Gingelly (White Sesame Seeds)
Tusi
Akshat (White Uncooked Rice)
Yagno Pavitam (Holy Thread)
Dhan (Unshelled Rice)
Durwa Grass(Special Grass)
Lawang (Cloves)
Naivediam (Mixture of Sugar, Milk Cream & Honey)
Elaich (Unshelled Cardamom)
Coins (silver)
Supari (Betel Nuts)
Vastram (Cloth of Silk)
Ritu-Ohal (Grapes or Raisons)

AUM YAH PHALY-NEERYAA APHALAA APUSHPAA YAASHCHA PUSHPINI NOH;
BRIHASPATI PRASOO TAAS TAA NO MUNCHAN TVA GVANG HASAH.

Tie the thread on the Kalash - kaacha soot or Holythread is to be tied around the neck of the Kalash

AUM YUVAA SUVAASAAHA PARIBEET-AAGAATSAUSREYAAN-BHAVATIJAAYAMAANAH;
TAN DHEERAASAHA KAVAYA UNAYANTI SVAADHYOMANASAADEVAYANTIH.
Placing the vegetation on Earth - 5 mango leaves are tied together (or 1 bunch of 5 mango leaves are placedin the Kalash, with the stems falling inside the Kalash

KALASH PRARTHANA AUM KALASHSYA MUKHEVISHNU KANTHERUDRAHSAMAASRITAH;
MOOLE TATRASTHITO BRAHMAA MADYEMAATRIGANAHSMRITAAHA.

THE WORSHIP OF VARUNA

With flowers in your hands, pray that your Earth has berenewed

Now it is the turn of Varuna, the god of the Ocean.Varuna is represented by the water you have taken in the kalasa or pot. SoVarunapujana is also known as kalasapujana. Take some water in your hand andsay:

KALASE VARUNAYA NAMAH SWAHA

Invoking all the places of pilgrimage in thispot, I worship it and bow to it.

NOW THE NINE FORMS OF LAXMI ARE WORSHIPED - THE 8DIYAS AND THE ONEIN THE MIDDLE KNOW

Do the following while chanting the mantra:

Bring the deity alive - by pouring with a spoon,Panch Amritam (mixture of 5 ingredients)……………….Aum Panch-aaamriten pas-chaach chuddod-ken Shri LaxmiMata samarpa-yaami swaha

Offering a Seat to the deity...............AumIdam aasaanam Shri Lammi Mata samarpa-yaami swaha

Touching the feet of the deity...........AumPaada-yoha paadyam Shri Lammi Mata samarpa-yaami swaha

Giving deity water to drink...............AumHastayor-arghyam Shri Lammi Mata samarpa-yaami swaha

Purifying area around deity with water.....AumMukhe aachman-eeyam Shri Lammi Mata samarpa-yaami swaha

Energizing the deity with fluid...........AumSnaanaar-tham jalam Shri Lammi Mata samarpa-yaami swaha

Now place all items on a Pan Leaf and offer to each,saying the mantra along:

Vastram (Silk Cloth)................ AumVastram Shri Lammi Mata samarpa-yaami swaha

Kacha Soot (Holy Thread)............AumYajno-paveetam Shri Lammi Mata samarpa-yaami swaha

Attar (Perfume).............................AumGandham Shri Lammi Mata samarpa-yaami swaha

Chandan (Brown Sandalwood).....AumChandanam prati grihayatam Shri Lammi Mata samarpa-yaami swaha

Sindoor (Red Sandalwood)............AumSindooram Shri Lammi Mata samarpa-yaami swaha

Hardee (Yellow Tumeric)..............Aumhaldeeyam Shri Lammi Mata samarpa-yaami swaha

Gingelly (White Sesame Seeds)...Aumgingelly Shri Lammi Mata samarapa-yaami swaha

Akshat (White Uncooked Rice)....Aumakshataya Shri Lammi Mata samarapa-yaami swaha

Dhan (Unshelled Rice).................Aumdhanam Shri Lammi Mata samarapa-yaami swaha

Kapoor (Camphor).......................Aumkapoor Shri Lammi Mata samarpa-yaami swaha

Lawang (Cloves)..........................Aumlavang Shri Lammi Mata samarpa-yaami swaha

Elaichi (Unshelled Cardamom)......Aumelaichi Shri Lammi Mata samarpa-yaami swaha

Supari (Betel Nuts)......................Aumtaam-boolam Shri Lammi Mata samarpa-yaami swaha

Ritu-Ohal (Grapes or Raisons)....Aumritu-phalam Shri Lammi Mata samarpa-yaami swaha

Pushpam (White Flower)...............Aumpushpam Maalam Shri Lammi Mata samarpa-yaami swaha

Neemam (Neem Leaf)..................Aumneemam Shri Lammi Mata samarpa-yaami swaha

Tulsi ...............................................Aumtulsee-dalam niveda-yaami Shri Lammi Mata samarpa-yaami swaha

Durva Grass (Special Grass)........Aumdhubam Shri Lammi Mata samarpa-yaami swaha

Naivediam (Mixture of Sugar, Milk Cream &Honey)..Aum Naivedyam Shri Lammi Mata samarpa-yaamiswaha

Coins (silver).............................Aumdakshinaam Shri Lammi Mata samarpa-yaami swaha

With an incense arti the deity..Aumdhoopamaa-ghraa-payaami Shri Lammi Mata samarpa-yaami swaha

With a diya arti the deity........Aumdeepam darsha-yaami Shri Lammi Mata samarpa-yaami swaha

Circle the deity with the arti of light.......Aumkarpoor-aaraarti-kayam Shri Lammi Mata samarpa-yaami swaha..................................................................Aumpra-dakshinaam Shri Lammi Mata samarpa-yaami swaha

"Samarpa-yaami" means not for me but for you God

Recite Mahalaxmi Bhajan & Aarti after performing this.

Origin Of Diwali

Diwali is a spectacular religious festival held in late autumn. The celebration takes place on the darkest night of autumn, the new moon day (Amabashya), at the beginning of Kartika (October-November), eighteen days after the celebration of Dashera. Diwali means cluster of lights. On the Diwali day, rows of lamps decorate the houses and presents are exchanged. Diwali, in the north of India, is associated with the coronation of Rama when he returned to Ayodhya (in Uttar Pradesh) after vanquishing the demon Ravana on the day of Dashera. Ram had been in exile for fourteen years and his followers were pleased to see his return to Ayodhya.

They welcomed him by decorating their houses with lamps and rejoiced with the display of fireworks at night. Diwali is seen as a renewal of life. Houses are painted and new purchases are made at this time. In Maharasthra, Diwali is seen as a festival for warding off king Bali, the ruler of the underworld. In the western part of India, many Hindus believe that the souls of their ancestors come to visit their homes during the new moon day of Diwali. Lamps are lit to guide the way of the departed souls. In Gujrat, Diwali is associated mostly with the worship of Luxmi, the goddess of wealth.

It is believed Luxmi on this day emerges to bring prosperity to the world. Luxmi puja in Gujrat lasts for five days which starts with Dhanterash, the worshipping of wealth. The fourth day is Gujratís New Years Day. Luxmi is believed to visit the homes that are well lit. So, families decorate their houses with light, flowers and paper chains. It is believed that lighting the new lamps will drive away evil and poverty from the world and heralds better times. In the eastern part of India, especially in West Bengal, Luxmi puja is celebrated five days after Dashera, on the full moon day (Purnima). On the following new moon day (Amabashya), coinciding with Diwali, goddess Kali is worshipped. Kali has a terrifying look. She destroys all evils. Lamps are lit in her honor, and in return, she promises a renewal of life and justice on earth.