Diwali, also known as the Festival of Lights, is one of the most auspicious times in the Hindu calendar. The festival is celebrated with joy, devotion, and a sense of renewal. There are several things that are considered particularly auspicious to do on diwali, as they are believed to bring prosperity, peace, and good fortune. Here's a list of auspicious things to do on Diwali:

1. Clean and Decorate Your Home

• Why It’s Auspicious: Cleaning and tidying up your home before diwali symbolizes the removal of negativity and the welcoming of positive energy and prosperity. It is also believed that Goddess lakshmi, the goddess of wealth, blesses clean and well-decorated homes.
• What to Do:
  • Clean your house thoroughly.
  • Decorate with flowers, rangolis (colorful patterns), and lights (diyas and candles).
  • Light the home with diyas (oil lamps), as they represent the triumph of light over darkness.

2. Perform lakshmi Puja

• Why It’s Auspicious: Goddess lakshmi is the goddess of wealth, prosperity, and well-being. diwali is considered the perfect time to invite her blessings into your home.
• What to Do:
  • Set up a clean altar with images or idols of Lord Ganesha (remover of obstacles) and Goddess Lakshmi.
  • Light diyas and incense sticks around the altar.
  • Offer sweets, fruits, and flowers to the deities.
  • Chant prayers and mantras like “Om Shreem maha Lakshmiyei Namah” and “Om Gan Ganapataye Namah”.
  • Perform an Aarti (devotional song) to honor the gods.

3. Light Diyas and Candles

• Why It’s Auspicious: Lighting diyas represents the victory of light over darkness and good over evil. It’s a symbolic gesture that drives away evil spirits and negative energy.
• What to Do:
  • Light diyas (small oil lamps) around your home, especially near windows, doorways, and entry points.
  • Light candles to fill the space with brightness and positivity.
  • The tradition of lighting diyas is also an invitation to Goddess lakshmi to enter your home and bless it with prosperity.

4. Wearing New Clothes

• Why It’s Auspicious: Wearing new clothes on diwali signifies new beginnings and a fresh start. It is believed that new clothes bring good luck and prosperity.
• What to Do:
  • Buy and wear new clothes, preferably in bright colors like gold, red, yellow, or green, which are considered auspicious.
  • Dress in traditional attire like sarees for women and kurta-pajamas for men, to honor the festival’s cultural significance.

5. Offer Prasad (Blessed Offerings)

• Why It’s Auspicious: Offering prasad is considered a way to share the blessings of the gods with family and friends. The prasad (blessed food offerings) represents gratitude and a connection to the divine.
• What to Do:
  • Prepare sweets like laddoos, barfis, kheer, or halwa as offerings.
  • After the puja, distribute prasad among family, friends, and neighbors.
  • Share prasad with everyone in your household to spread the blessings of the gods.

6. Give and Receive Gifts

• Why It’s Auspicious: diwali is a time for sharing and expressing love. Exchanging gifts symbolizes goodwill and prosperity. Giving gifts is believed to spread happiness and joy.
• What to Do:
  • Exchange gifts with family, friends, and neighbors.
  • Gifts can include sweets, clothing, dry fruits, or cash.
  • Cash gifts, called “Lakshmi’s blessings,” are considered especially auspicious during Diwali.

7. Pay Off Debts and Settle Accounts

• Why It’s Auspicious: diwali marks the beginning of a new financial year in many parts of India. It is a time to settle old debts and financial matters, symbolizing the clearing of past burdens.
• What to Do:
  • Pay off outstanding debts or loans if possible.
  • Clean up your financial records and set new financial goals for the year ahead.
  • If you own a business, this is a good time to balance the books and start fresh.

8. Visit Temples and Participate in Community Prayers

• Why It’s Auspicious: Visiting temples and participating in community prayers is considered an important way to connect with the divine and celebrate Diwali. It is believed to bring blessings not only to the individual but also to the community.
• What to Do:
  • Visit local temples to offer prayers, light diyas, and seek blessings.
  • Participate in community diwali events, including aarti (devotional songs) and other religious ceremonies.
  • Share your joy with the community through collective prayers and celebrations.

9. Celebrate with Fireworks (Responsibly)

• Why It’s Auspicious: Fireworks represent the celebration of light and victory over evil. Traditionally, fireworks are lit to mark the joyous occasion of diwali and to drive away negative forces.
• What to Do:
  • Light firecrackers like sparklers, rockets, and fountains.
  • Ensure safety: Always follow safety precautions while lighting fireworks. It’s important to consider the environment and safety while enjoying the fireworks.

10. Help the Less Fortunate

• Why It’s Auspicious: diwali is a time of sharing, and helping the less fortunate is an essential part of the festival. It is believed that by giving to others, you invite the blessings of prosperity and good fortune into your own life.
• What to Do:
  • Donate clothes, food, or money to those in need.
  • Visit orphanages, old age homes, or animal shelters and distribute sweets and gifts.
  • Offer help to people in your community who might not be able to celebrate diwali in the same way.

11. Performing the Goddess lakshmi Ghar Puja (Home Worship)

• Why It’s Auspicious: diwali is also the day that marks the return of Goddess lakshmi to her devotees. It is believed that she blesses homes with wealth, good fortune, and prosperity.
• What to Do:
  • Light lamps (diyas) in all corners of the house to create an atmosphere of positivity and to invite Goddess Lakshmi.
  • Offer prayers to her and seek blessings for a prosperous and successful year.

Conclusion:

Diwali is a time for renewal, joy, and spiritual reflection. By engaging in these auspicious activities, Hindus believe they can bring good fortune, remove obstacles, and invite prosperity into their homes and lives. Whether it’s through worship, helping others, lighting diyas, or celebrating with loved ones, diwali is a celebration of positivity, love, and togetherness.

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