Bengal celebrates Lakhsmi Puja today
Kolkata, Oct 24 (IBNS): Days after West Bengal witnessed Durga Puja celebration, a spirit of festivity returned to the state on Wednesday as people worshipped Goddess of Wealth and prosperity-Lakshmi.
Being much smaller in size and less spectacular in outlook, Lakshmi Puja is a household celebration mostly observed in the evening of Kojagori Purnima (full moon) by the Bengali community of India.
Goddess Lakshmi and her totem, an owl, is considered to bring prosperity and wealth into families. The Goddess also enjoys a close relation with crops and is seen holding grains in one of her hands.
Her presence also calls for special decorations as 'alpana' (drawings or shapes done with a liquid white paint made with either rice dust or chalk) are drawn on the entrance of houses, mostly resembling the Goddess' feet as a sign of Lakshmi entering the household to bless the inhabitants.
West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee wished the nation on the occasion.
