During
Light the main puja lamp with ghee. The count of the lamps kept in the puja must be 11, 21 or 513. In the southeast corner of the home, place a mustard or sesame oil lamp and keep it lit throughout the Diwali festival.
Keep the house and business premises neat, clean and well lit during the Diwali celebrations. Goddess Lakshmi likes clean places and blesses the homes and business sites that are maintained well. Abstain from disputes, quarrels and disagreements in the house or business during the puja.
Let all the members of the family participate in the pujas. Remember, this is the best part of all your lives and it is important to suspend all your other activities during the puja focusing mainly on worshipping Goddess Lakshmi. When you involve in the puja as a family, you will see harmony, peace, hope and happiness filling the household or business place.
Place valuables like gold, silver, jewels and others in the puja. This act can bring good luck. It is also auspicious to place the things, account books and other materials connected with your education or business in the puja.
Don’ts for Diwali Puja
Never borrow money or lend money during the Diwali celebrations. Never give things to others after sunset. Though charity is a good thing to do during Diwali festival, never give away anything during the pradosh kaal or the two hours’ time immediately following the sunset.
Do not gift items like leather goods, sharp edged items, and crackers to anyone during the festival. In case it becomes a must to give any of these items, give them along with sweets.
Never cook or consume non-vegetarian foods in home, abstain from taking alcohol during Diwali.
Throughout the night of Diwali puja, never leave the puja place unattended so that the lamp you light burns with a continuous supply of ghee or oil.
Do not clap while singing Lakshmi aarti. Never shout or sing loudly during the puja since Lakshmi abhors loud noise and will get offended with such activities.
Do not sweep the puja area or the house immediately after the puja as this act can cancel the merits and benefits received from the puja.