Diwali, the festival of lights, is one of the most important occasions in Hindu culture. At its heart is the Lakshmi Puja, where families welcome Goddess Lakshmi, the goddess of wealth and prosperity, into their homes.
But here’s the truth — most people scramble at the last moment to get everything ready, leading to stress and missed details. The key to a smooth, blissful Diwali is to start preparing early. This checklist will help you organize your puja samagri, clean your home temple, and ensure that your family can celebrate with peace and devotion.
Why Prepare Early for Lakshmi Puja?
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Avoid last-minute stress: No running around for samagri on Diwali night.
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Ensure auspiciousness: A clean, sattvic setup attracts divine blessings.
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Better devotion: When everything is ready, you can focus on bhakti (devotion) instead of logistics.
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Availability of items: Puja kits and essentials sell out quickly before Diwali.
Step 1: Clean & Energize Your Home
According to tradition, Goddess Lakshmi only enters homes that are clean and pure.
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Declutter rooms, especially your mandir area.
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Wash or replace altar cloths and backdrops.
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Sprinkle ganga jal with turmeric or rose water around the puja space.
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Light incense and a diya every evening until Diwali.
✨ Tip: Deep cleaning early in October ensures that only touch-ups are needed closer to Diwali.
Step 2: Organize Your Puja Samagri Checklist
Here’s what you’ll need for Lakshmi Puja:
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Idols: Lakshmi and Ganesha murti or photos
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Kalash: Filled with water, mango leaves, and coconut
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Puja Thali: Diya, incense, roli, chawal, haldi, kumkum
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Silver/Brass items: Lota, spoon, coin
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Offerings: Fruits, sweets, betel leaves, dry fruits
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Special Items: Lakshmi Charan Paduka, new account books (bahi-khata) for business owners
👉 Order a Prasadam Kit to save time. It includes essentials like diyas, incense, kumkum, and offerings, so you’re never short of items.
Step 3: Fix Your Lakshmi Puja Muhurat
Lakshmi Puja is performed on Amavasya Tithi during Pradosh Kaal (evening). The exact timing changes every year.
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Check your local muhurat timings.
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If unsure, you can book a puja online and let pandits perform it on your behalf.
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Write down the exact time and plan family schedule around it.
Step 4: Prepare the Prasadam Menu
Food is an offering of love. Start planning the menu early:
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Sweets: Kheer, laddoo, peda, or halwa
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Savories: Poori, chivda, dry fruits
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Fruits & Dry Fruits: Banana, apple, almonds, cashews
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Special offerings: Panchamrit (milk, curd, honey, sugar, ghee mix)
✨ Make sure prasadam is sattvic — avoid onion, garlic, or heavy spices.
Step 5: Decor & Lighting
Lakshmi is associated with light, beauty, and abundance.
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Place diyas at every entrance and window.
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Use torans of mango leaves and marigolds for doorways.
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Add rangoli with footprints leading to your mandir (symbolizing Lakshmi’s arrival).
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Light a main brass/silver diya during puja and let it burn throughout the night.
Step 6: Sankalp & Intention Setting
Before Lakshmi Puja, take a sankalp (vow). This is your intention for the coming year — prosperity, peace, family harmony. Write it down on a small paper and place it at the altar.
Step 7: Practice Daily Mini Rituals Leading to Diwali
To keep energy high until the big day:
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Light one diya at dusk daily.
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Chant “Om Shreem Mahalakshmyai Namah” 108 times.
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Keep your mandir fresh with daily flowers and incense.
Modern Add-Ons (For Busy Families)
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Use LED diyas where open flames are risky (apartments, pets).
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Play Lakshmi Aarti recordings if no one in the family can sing.
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Opt for eco-friendly rangoli powders and clay diyas.
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For NRIs: Join digital puja services to participate virtually.
👉 Book your Lakshmi Puja hassle-free here: Book a Puja or Chadhawa.
Quick 10-Point Checklist
✅ Home cleaned & altar cloths refreshed
✅ Lakshmi & Ganesha idols ready
✅ Puja samagri gathered / ordered kit
✅ Kalash & thali items arranged
✅ Muhurat timing noted
✅ Prasadam menu planned
✅ Diyas, rangoli, and torans ready
✅ Sankalp written down
✅ Daily diya & mantra practice started
✅ Family roles assigned for Diwali night
FAQs on Lakshmi Puja Prep
Q1. When should I start preparing for Diwali Lakshmi Puja?
At least 2–3 weeks in advance for cleaning and organizing puja samagri.
Q2. Do I need a pandit for Lakshmi Puja?
Not mandatory — families can perform at home. But if you want correct mantras and muhurat, book a pandit.
Q3. Can I reuse old puja items from last year?
Yes, if they’re clean and sattvic. Avoid chipped idols or broken diyas.
Q4. What is the best offering to Lakshmi Mata?
Lotus flowers, coconut, kheer, and sweets made with ghee are most auspicious.
Conclusion
Preparing early for Lakshmi Puja ensures that Diwali is a festival of joy, not chaos. By following this checklist, you can keep your focus on devotion, togetherness, and prosperity rather than last-minute stress.
✨ Begin your Diwali prep today:
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Or Book Lakshmi Puja Online with trusted pandits.
A little preparation now can fill your home with light, wealth, and happiness this Diwali. 🌸
