QnA with Sri Sri

Q: Guruji, Please tell us about the Lakshmi pooja done in ‘Diwali’.

Sri Sri Ravi Shankar: The most important day of the Diwali Celebrations is the third day – Lakshmi Puja. This is the day when the sun enters its second course. This day is considered to be very auspicious, in spite of it being the darkest night. The impenetrable darkness of the night slowly disappears as small twinkling lamps light up entire cities. It is believed that Lakshmi walks on this planet on this night and showers blessings for abundance and prosperity. This evening people perform Lakshmi Puja and distribute homemade sweets to everyone.
On this very auspicious day, many saints and great people have taken Samadhi and left their mortal bodies. The great seers include Lord Krishna and Bhagwan Mahavir. This is also the very day when Lord Rama returned home with Sita and Lakshman after 14 years in exile.
It is believed that wealth (Goddess Lakshmi) is very transient and it stays only where there is hard work, sincerity and gratefulness. In Shriman Bhagvatam, there is a mention about an incident when Goddess Lakshmi left the body of King Bali and wanted to go with Lord Indra. On questioning, she mentioned that she resides only where there is 'Satya', 'Daan', 'Vrat', 'Tapa', 'Parakram' and 'Dharma'.