Diwali Chopda Pujan / Sharda & Lakshmi Pujan

On Diwali, businesses clean their premises, close the old accounts and set up an altar. The pandit performs Ganesh puja, then Goddess Lakshmi and Kuber puja, and Saraswati puja, with books or pens offered for accuracy in the accounts. In the main Chopda Pujan the new account books (or a laptop) are placed before the deities, kumkum, sandalwood and rice are applied, and a swastika, Om, 'Shubh' and 'Labh' are written on the first page. The puja ends with aarti and prasad, and the books are traditionally kept in the puja room overnight. The Lakshmi puja muhurat falls in the Pradosh evening of Diwali. Exact times differ by city, so your pandit confirms the muhurat for you.

1. Preparation: the premises are cleaned and the altar is set with murtis or pictures of Goddess Lakshmi and Lord Ganesha. 2. Ganesh puja. 3. Goddess Lakshmi, Kuber and Saraswati puja. 4. Chopda Pujan: the new books are placed before the deities, kumkum, sandalwood and rice are applied, and Shubh, Labh and a swastika are written on the first page. 5. Aarti and prasad. The books are kept in the puja room overnight. The full ritual takes about 1 hour.