18 Kattik, Kathmandu: Laxmi Puja is being observed across the country today. The third day of Yamapanchak of Tihar festival is being celebrated by worshipping Laxmi, the goddess of wealth, affluence and prosperity, this evening, with devotion. On this day, people clean their houses and surrounding, illuminate their homes and light butter lamps to ‘invite’ the goddess to their homes, in the belief that the goddess Laxmi detests the house which is unclean and untidy. The night of Laxmi Puja is also known as Sukha Ratri, meaning the night of happiness as it is believed that Goddess Laxmi comes to reside in the house on this special night. To ‘welcome’ the goddess in the house, devotees make the footprint signs from their courtyard up to the main altar. In the evening of Laxmi Puja, troupes of teenage girls from the neighbourhood sing ‘bhailo’ songs amidst dancing and merriment. The bhailo troupes visit house to house in the neighbourhood performing the bhailo cultural songs and dance. In return, the house-owners, especially mothers, give them with various presents like paddy, rice grain, flower garlands, money and ‘sel roti’, a special delicacy cooked in ghee. It is believed the house-owner is bestowed with blessings from the goddess by presenting the donation to these bhailo troupes. Night illumination is carried out at homes by lighting electric lights and butter lamps. Some people also worship the cow in the morning on Laxmi Puja in accordance with their family tradition.
