Lakshmi Puja in Kolkata is celebrated both by the Bengali community and the non-Bengali community. The Bengalis celebrate Lakshmi on the full moon day that succeeds Maha Dashami. Maha Dashami marks the end of the Durga Puja. Goddess Lakshmi is the goddess of wealth, prosperity and peace. It is basically meant for housewives, who pray for the well being of their family but nowadays Lakshmi Pujas are also done in Pandals. On most occasions, the public Lakshmi pujas are done in the pandal, which was previously used for Durga Puja. The non-Bengali community conducts Lakshmi puja during the diwalis.
Description of the Idol of Goddess Lakshmi
The idol of Goddess Lakshmi is painted yellow and has four hands. She is draped either in 'Daker Shaj' or
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a sari and crown. She holds a lotus in one of her hands, a vermilion case in one hand, the ripe wheat flowers one another hand. Her bearer is the white owl.
Lakshmi Puja in Bengali Homes
The priest conducts the Puja and at times, the housewife herself conducts the rituals. The Ouja take place in the evening or night nut within the specified time span. The homes are decorated with 'Alpana'. The white color of the alpana is made from ground rice and water. Small, face to face 'S' shapes are drawn all over the homes to symbolize the footprints of the goddess. In some homes, symbols are used instead of idols. The symbolic representatives includes ripe wheat and containers or painted mud plates. The priest performs rituals and ararti. The unique feature is that they unlike other Indian pujas no musical instruments are played. Only the shell is sounded.
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