Diwali 2016 - Pooja Mahurat and Vidhi

 How To Perform Lakshmi Puja

At the place of Puja, spread a clean cloth and put rice on it creating a bed.Place a Kalash (stoup) (filled with water, flower, betel nut and clean coin) on the bed of rice.Around the mouth of the Kalash, arrange some mango leaves.Place a Thali (plate) on this Kalash.Using turmeric powder, draw a lotus on the thali and place the idol of Goddess Lakshmi on it.Keep few coins on the plate.Place the idol of Lord Ganesha on the right side of the Kalash. Idols of other Gods can also be kept along.Close your eyes and chant ‘OM’ in your mind.Sprinkle some water on all the puja items.Apply Haldi (turmeric) and Kumkum (vermilion) on the Kalash and put a flower on it.Light an earthen lamp filled with Ghee.Take a flower or flower petals and rice in your hands, close your eyes and meditate on Goddess Lakshmi. Sprinkle the flowers or flower petals and rice on the idol of Goddess Lakshmi.Now put the idol of Goddess Lakshmi on a Thali. Clean it with water, Ghee, milk, curd, honey and sugar. At last, clean the idol again with water.Now, place it back on the Kalash.Offer garlands, sandalwood paste, vermilion and light incense sticks.Offer coconut, betel nuts, betel leaves, fruits and sweets.Now offer Batasha sweets and puffed rice.In the end, perform Aarti for Goddess Lakshmi.

Sindhi Diyari Hindi Deepawali - The Diwali Festival

Diyari / Diwali/ Deepawali

The Festival of Diwali among Sindhis is known asDiyari. While the most of the customs for the celebration of Diayri are similar to others, Sindhis have also developed over a period of time, some special functions such as they wash Gold/ Silver coins in un-boiled milk and water. During Laksmi pooja, sweet in form of Chikki made of jaggery and peanuts is offered. After the Laksmmi aarti, Sindhis follow the custom of picking one coin from the lot and gently hitting the teeth with it. During this ritual, following phrase is spoken ” Laksmi aayi, Danat vaai” meaing Goddess Laksmi has arrived and poverty has gone away. This also has a message that after all you cannot eat the wealth. They keep their house open throughout night to welcome Goddess Lakshmi. 

On the day of , Sindhis do not indulge in cleansing exercise and the broomstick and vacuum cleaner are not used. To make up perhaps, decorations begin well in advance and the entire household is cleared, cleaned and washed. However on the festival day of Lakshmi pooja the broomstick is not put to use. Many Sindhi households also have three matkas in which sweets, dry fruits etc., are kept symbolizing the need to save. Sai Bhaji ( a delicious dish of spinach and Gram Dal ) with rice, sweet with jaggery is a must in the Sindhi household on Diyari

This festival is also important for trading community as they worship Laxmi as goddess of wealth and opens new accounts on the first night of festival. Sindhis worship Laxmi in their houses and also  worship in the toy shops ( Hatri) , toy shop or Hatri symbolize their shop and is made up mostly of clay in symmetric geometric design , painted and decorated with lime and other colour paints.

After meals on Diwali Sindhis burn Juari stalks ( Melhawan) against the wall of their houses, each male member burns two Juari stalks. This also suggest that it was partly associated with the cereal crop as they become ready for harvest in this season.

Normally the girl married in the same town visits parents house on Diwali. 

Happy Diwali to all my friends & relatives.