Lakshmi Panchami is celebrated on the fifth day of the Bright Half of the Hindu Lunisolar month Chaitra. Chaitra Shukla Panchami is also called as the Kalpadi tithi, which is the beginning of a new Kalpa according to the Vedic Division of Time. One of the seven Kalpadis, this Kalpadi is dedicated to Goddess Lakshmi, the Goddess of wealth and prosperity. This year in 2025 the Lakshmi Panchami will be celebrated on 02nd April 2025.
Significance of Lakshmi Panchami
One of the first festivals of the Hindu New Year, it falls in the first week of the First month of the Hindu New Year. Worshipping Goddess Lakshmi at the beginning of the New Year is considered very auspicious as it gives a good and auspicious start to the year ahead. It is believed that Goddess Lakshmi gives wealth and prosperity to the devotees. She is also called as Shri Devi, so the day is also called the Shri Panchami. Shri means glamour and strength. Without both, life can become miserable. So, the devotees of the Goddess Lakshmi has an abundance of luxuries, valour, strength, knowledge, bravery, courage, patience, beauty, intelligence, grains, good health and long beautiful life. Thus, worshipping Goddess Lakshmi at the beginning of every year can be understood as the best way to begin a year. There are eight forms of Goddess Lakshmi, called Ashta Lakshami. Worshipping Ashta Lakshmi every day will keep all the aspects of a good life in a balanced form and there will be no dearth of anything in one’s life.
Rituals performed on Lakshmi Panchami
People wake up early in the morning and take a holy bath. The fast begins with the beginning of the day. People worship Goddess Lakshmi and offer their prayers. They recite Aarti of Maha Lakshmi. During puja, the idol of Lakshmi Mata is bathed with Panchamrit and placed on an altar. Sandalwood, banana Leaves, garlands of flowers, rice, durva and red thread are offered to the idol of Maha Lakshami. People indulge in charity and donations. They give donations to the Brahmins and the needy people. The Vrati or the one fasting should only eat fruits and milk, normal food like Rice, roti, vegetables, etc should not be taken.
The married couples perform puja together to get the blessings of Goddess Lakshmi for their happy and peaceful married life. Mantras of Maha Lakshmi should be recited along with Lakshmi Chalisa or other Holy Scriptures related to Maha Lakshmi should be read and heard.
Lakshmi Panchami Vrat Katha
Once Goddess Lakshmi got annoyed with the Gods and she decided to teach them a lesson and she disappeared in the cosmic sea. The time Lakshmi Mata disappeared all the luxuries, strength and powers of the Gods also disappeared. The Gods were shocked and started finding Lakshmi everywhere, but they could not find her. On the advice of Dev Guru Brihaspati, Dev Raj Indra started doing a harsh penance. There was no result of the penance too. Then, Dev Raj Indra decided to fast by not eating or drinking anything till Goddess Lakshmi get pleased and returned to the Gods. Other Gods also started fasting like Indra and started chanting the names and mantras of Goddess Lakshami. Goddess Lakshmi could not ignore the fasting and prayers of her devotees and reappeared from the cosmic sea on the day of Chaitra Shukla Panchami. So, the tradition of fasting for Goddess Lakshmi on that day to please her started. This tradition is still followed by the devotees of Goddess Lakshmi and she pleases with them and blesses them with happiness, health and wealth.
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