The Festive season is on. After the end of Bengali’s biggest festival Durga Puja in a few days Kojagori Lakshmi Puja falls. Kojagori Lakshmi puja took place in the Purnima (full moon) Tithi of Ashwin month that falls in September or October every year after Sarodiya Durga Utsav. This puja is called Kojagori Lakhi puja.
Kojagori Lakshmi Puja 2024 Date:
Kojagaori Lakshmi Puja will celebrate on October 16, 2024.
Purnima timing of Kojagori
- Purnima Tithi starts on October 16, 2024 – 7.44 pm (Wednesday)
- Purnima Tithi end on October 17, 2024 – 5.19 pm (Thursday)
Kojagori Lakshmi Puja
Ma Lakshmi is goddess of wealth. Almost every Bengali Hindu family worshipped Ma Lakshmi for wealth, good luck, good health and fame. According to Puranas the meaning of ‘Kojagori’ means “Who is awake?”
According to Hindu Mythology, on this Kojagori Purnima Tithi Ma Lakshmi visits the house to house to find who is awake. Goddess Lakshmi entered the house of the devotee who stay awake and offers the whole night.
Kojagori Lakshmi Puja Ritual
- The first step is to clean the whole house as Goddess Lakshmi believed to resides in the clean house.
- People draws alpona or rangoli at the entrance of the house by using rice flour or chalk paste for welcoming Ma Lakshmi. People draw footprint of Lakshmi Ma leading to home.
- An Altar or puja space set up with idol or picture of Goddess. The idol id place on a ashan with clean cloth surrounded by flower and offerings.
- A Kalash filled with water topped with mango leaves and coconut is place on the altar.
- A bhandar has been placed with rice and Paddy.
- Sprinkling Ganga Jal or Holy water around the house and puja area, (symbolizing purification).
- Lightnings diyas, offering flower, sweets, fruits and bhogs.
- People offers coins, money and other valuable items in fronts of Goddess symbolizing material wealth and prosperity.
- Chanting Mantras and Lakshmi Panchali: people chants mantras ‘Om Hreem Shreem Lakshmibhyo Namaha’ and recite Lakshmi Panchali during worshipped.
- People awake whole night in this day which Kojagori, symbolizing the idea of waiting for Goddess Lakshmi’s blessings.
- After Puja Prashad distributed towards devotee.
Things needed in during Puja
- Lakshmi idol or picture
- Clay or earthen oil lamps (diyas)
- Flowers
- Fruits (bananas, coconuts, etc.)
- Rice and Paddy, Durva Grass
- Sweets (narkel naru, puli pithe)
- Incense sticks and dhoop
- turmeric, and sandalwood paste
- Betel leaves and nuts
- Coins or silver items
- Panchamrita (mixture of milk, yogurt, honey, sugar, and ghee)
- Holy water (Ganga jal)
- Coconut
- Conch Shell (Shankha)
- Tulsi Leaves
- Sindoor (Vermilion) and Alta