Lakshmi Puja — Deepawali

Goddess Lakshmi / Lord Shiva (Ishtalinga puja first)

Lingayat / Veerashaiva

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Deepawali — the Festival of Lights — falls on Kartika Amavasya (the new moon of Kartika month). For the Lingayat community of Karnataka, Deepawali is a joyful celebration of light, prosperity, and community. The day begins with Ishtalinga puja (honouring Shiva within), followed by home cleaning, rangoli, lighting rows of earthen diyas, and performing Lakshmi puja in the evening. Traditional Karnataka sweets — especially holige — are prepared and shared with neighbours and family.

Dates 2026–2027

November 8, 2026

Mantra

ॐ श्री महालक्ष्म्यै नमः

Om Shri Mahalakshmyai Namah

Salutation to Goddess Mahalakshmi — the goddess of prosperity, grace, and abundance

How to recite

Begin Deepawali with Ishtalinga puja at sunrise — offer bilva leaves, flowers, and incense to Shiva as the Ishtalinga. In the evening, perform Lakshmi puja: clean and decorate the home, light rows of diyas (lamps), draw rangoli at the entrance, and offer flowers, kumkum, turmeric, and sweets to Goddess Lakshmi. Invite her in with an open door and lit lamps.

Benefits

Deepawali Lakshmi Puja invites the goddess of prosperity, light, and auspiciousness into the home. For Lingayats, the day begins with Shiva (Ishtalinga puja) and is filled with light, community, and gratitude. Lighting diyas symbolises the triumph of light over darkness — a universal truth at the heart of Basavanna's teaching.

✦ Special Note

In the Lingayat tradition, Ishtalinga puja is performed first thing in the morning before any other activity. Deepawali is a day of joy, not strict fasting — the emphasis is on light, gratitude, and sharing. Light as many earthen diyas as possible around the home — Basavanna taught that the divine light is within every soul, and Deepawali is a reminder of that inner light. Dates per the Kannada Drik Panchang (drikpanchang.com, Karnataka reckoning), cross-checked against astronomical tithi computation.

Foods Allowed

Bisi bele bath (hot lentil rice with vegetables and spices) — ideal for partial or light fasting daysAkki roti (rice flour flatbread) with coconut chutney or shenga chutneyJolada roti (sorghum/jowar flatbread)Shenga roti (peanut flatbread) — Karnataka specialtyAvalakki (flattened rice / poha) — uppittu or sweet versions with coconut and jaggeryRagi mudde (finger millet balls) with hulli or sambarSajjige (semolina sweet pudding / kesari with ghee and dry fruits)Shenga chutney (peanut chutney) — with coconut and green chiliCoconut-based dishes — coconut rice, coconut chutney, modak with coconut fillingTraditional Karnataka sweets — holige (obbattu), kadubu, mysore pak, besan ladooDry fruits and nuts — almonds, cashews, pistachios, raisinsMilk, kheer, and dairySeasonal fruits — banana, apple, pomegranate, grapesPori (puffed rice) — traditional Deepawali prasadVegetarian home-cooked festive meal

Foods to Avoid

Non-vegetarian food — Lingayat tradition is strictly vegetarianOnion and garlicAlcohol

Meal Idea

Holige (obbattu) with ghee — Karnataka's beloved festive sweet flatbread filled with chana dal and jaggery — shared with family and neighbours as the quintessential Deepawali treat across Karnataka

🪔 Aarti

Om Jai Shiv Omkara

ॐ जय शिव ओंकारा, स्वामी जय शिव ओंकारा । ब्रह्मा, विष्णु, सदाशिव, अर्द्धांगी धारा ॥ एकानन चतुरानन पंचानन राजे । हंसासन गरुड़ासन वृषवाहन साजे ॥ दो भुज चार चतुर्भुज दसभुज अति सोहे । त्रिगुण रूप निरखत त्रिभुवन जन मोहे ॥ अक्षमाला वनमाला मुंडमाला धारी । त्रिपुरारी कंसारी कर माला धारी ॥ श्वेतांबर पीतांबर बाघंबर अंगे । सनकादिक गरुड़ादिक भूतादिक संगे ॥ कर के मध्य कमंडलु चक्र त्रिशूलधारी । सुखकारी दुखहारी जगपालनकारी ॥ ब्रह्मा विष्णु सदाशिव जानत अविवेका । प्रणवाक्षर के मध्ये ये तीनों एका ॥ काशी में विराजे विश्वनाथ, नंदी ब्रह्मचारी । नित उठ दर्शन पावत, महिमा अति भारी ॥ त्रिगुणस्वामी जी की आरती, जो कोई नर गावे । कहत शिवानंद स्वामी, मनवांछित फल पावे ॥

Karpur Gauram Karunavataram

कर्पूरगौरं करुणावतारं संसारसारं भुजगेन्द्रहारम् । सदावसन्तं हृदयारविन्दे भवं भवानीसहितं नमामि ॥

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