English
Diwali: The Story of Lakshmi Puja
Source: Folk tale (the merchant's daughter and Lakshmi of the peepal tree)
In a village lived a merchant who had a daughter, simple and devout. Every morning after her bath she went to the peepal tree outside the village to offer it water.
Goddess Lakshmi dwelt in that peepal. Seeing the girl's sincere devotion, one day Lakshmi appeared before her in the form of a beautiful woman and said with a smile, “Will you be my friend?”
Innocently the girl said, “I'll ask my father and tell you.” At home she told her father everything. The merchant understood that this was no ordinary woman. “Daughter,” he said, “you must certainly be her friend.”
The next day the girl said yes. A few days later Lakshmi invited her home. There she was welcomed in a way that left her wide-eyed: she was seated on a golden stool, served a feast of fifty-six dishes on gold and silver plates, and given a lovely shawl to wrap herself in.
As she said goodbye, Lakshmi said, “Friend, now I too will come to your home.”
At these words the girl's face fell. She went home quietly and sat down, sad. When her father asked why, she said, “Father, my friend honoured me so much. Now she will come to our house. Where will I seat her? What will I feed her? We have nothing worthy of her.”
The merchant said lovingly, “Daughter, don't worry. Welcome her with love, with whatever we have. First clean the house well, plaster and whitewash it, light a lamp and wait for your friend.”
The girl did just that. She swept the courtyard, made the house shine, drew rangoli at the door and lit a lamp with devotion. All the while she prayed in her heart, “Mother, keep my honour.”
Just then a kite came flying and dropped a precious necklace into her courtyard. The girl showed it to her father. He said, “This has come for your friend's welcome.” With that necklace a golden stool, fine plates and delicious food were arranged.
Soon Lakshmi arrived, together with Lord Ganesha. The girl stepped forward to welcome them both and, pointing to the golden stool, said, “Friend, please be seated.”
Lakshmi smiled. “Friend, I don't stay anywhere. I don't sit even on the thrones of kings.” But the girl lovingly insisted, “Today you must sit.”
Won over by her friend's love, Lakshmi sat on the stool. The girl served Ganesha and Lakshmi their meal with great respect. Then, folding her hands, she said, “Friend, I'll be back in a moment. Please stay here until I return.”
Lakshmi gave her word. And the story says the girl did not come back that day. Bound by her promise, Lakshmi stayed in that house, and the merchant's home overflowed with wealth and grain.
That is why at Diwali people clean their homes, draw rangoli at the door, light lamps, and worship Lakshmi together with Ganesha, praying, “Mother, as you stayed in your friend's home, stay in ours too.”
What this story teaches
Lakshmi comes where there is cleanliness, devotion and love, and stays where she is made to feel at home, like a friend.
On Diwali evening, in the Pradosh period, homes are decorated with lamps and Lakshmi and Ganesha are worshipped. This tale is told as a folk story across North India and has several versions; in some the necklace belongs to a queen, in others the merchant's daughter-in-law takes the girl's place. Another well-known Diwali folk tale is that of the king and the washerwoman (or the queen's lost necklace).
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