October — the full-moon night, five days after Durga Puja
লক্ষ্মী পূজা
Lakshmi Puja in Orange County
According to tradition, Lakshmi is believed to visit her devotees and bestow good fortune and her blessings upon them on this occasion. To welcome the goddess, devotees clean their houses, decorate them with finery and lights, and prepare sweet treats and delicacies as offerings.
When it happens
October — the full-moon night, five days after Durga Puja. Dates follow the lunar calendar and change each year — the next one is confirmed on our events page as soon as the venue is booked.
See the events calendarAlpana and the footprints of fortune
The ceremony families care most about is the drawing of alpana: elaborate, hand-painted white rice-paste patterns that stretch from the street right into the prayer room. Families paint tiny, detailed footprints of Goddess Lakshmi along the floor, a symbolic and deliberate path to guide the deity of wealth into their home. For families living far from Bengal, tracing these traditional patterns carries an extra weight—it is a grounding ritual that preserves a sense of sacred home and belonging. Sanhoti ensures the space is fully adorned with these welcoming designs every year for the community to share. If you would like to help paint the communal floor patterns, join us early so we can prepare the rice paste together.
White, red, and the night of vigilance
White and bright red are the colors of this festival—reflecting purity, auspiciousness, and the vibrant energy of the household. Women traditionally wear white saris with deep red borders (garad or lal-paar), while homes are lit with small clay lamps to banish the midnight darkness. The festival is defined by Kojagari, a word meaning "who is awake?", based on the belief that the goddess visits at midnight to bless those keeping vigil. It makes for an unusually serene, glowing, and spiritual atmosphere that lasts long into the night.
Food and the autumn harvest
The bhog is deeply tied to the autumn harvest and uniquely specific: khichuri paired with labra (a rich, mixed vegetable curry), accompanied by sweet coconut laddoos known as naru and crispy talar bora (palm fritters). By tradition, a variety of seasonal fried vegetables are offered alongside five types of whole grains to honor the harvest. The evening naturally transitions into a communal gathering where families share the bhog and recount the traditional brata katha (myths of the goddess). It is the most home-centered and comforting feast day in the Sanhoti calendar.
Questions
About Lakshmi Puja
- When is Lakshmi Puja celebrated?
- Kojagari Lakshmi Puja falls on Sharad Purnima, the full moon night five days after Vijaya Dashami (the final day of Durga Puja), usually in October. Sanhoti celebrates it annually in Orange County — see the events page for this year’s date and venue.
- Can anyone help with the alpana painting?
- Yes. Tracing the sacred footprints and patterns is a communal effort, and families do not need to be members to join in. Let us know in advance through the contact page if you or your children would like to come early and help paint the welcoming paths for the goddess.
- What should I wear to Lakshmi Puja?
- White saris with red borders (garad) or festive traditional attire in red, white, or gold are customary. It is not compulsory, and plenty of people come in ordinary clothes—the most important part is sharing the warmth of the evening.
- Why do people stay awake on this night?
- The festival is called "Kojagari," which means "who is awake?" Tradition says Goddess Lakshmi visits earth at midnight, bringing wealth and prosperity to households that keep a prayerful vigil. Because of this, the community gathers to chat, share food, and keep the lamps lit long into the night.