The Prayer Hymn (Aarti) for the Hindu Diwali Celebration

On Diwali, the five-day festival of lights that signifies the victory of light over darkness and hope over despair, Hindus offer prayers to Lakshmi, the Goddess of wealth and beauty for prosperous new beginnings. The celebration corresponds with darkest new-moon night of the Hindu month of Kartika, which falls between mid-October and mid-November in the Gregorian calendar. On this day, the devout Hindu wakes up early in the morning, observes a day-long fast, worships the family deities and pays tribute to his or her ancestors. Diwali is one of the happiest of holidays for Hindus, in which people indulge by buying new clothes, jewelry, or even major items such as cars. It is one of the biggest shopping days of the year for Hindus, and at night, fireworks displays are found everywhere. 

Before Lakshmi Puja, homes are decorated with flowers and leaves and rangoli is created with rice paste. The idols of Lakshmi and Ganesha are placed on a piece of red cloth and to their left is kept a white cloth for placing the nine planets or Navagraha gods. Parents and elder recite to children the ancient stories and legends about conflicts between good and evil. 

Diwali is celebrated by followers of Jainism and some sects of Buddhism, too. Wherever it is practiced, the Diwali festival celebrates the triumph of spiritual good over evil. 

A Prayer Song for Diwali

Here is the text of the hymn sung during Diwali in honor of Goddess Lakshmi.

Jai lakshmi maataa, Maiyaa jaya lakshmi maataa

Tumako nishadina dhyaavata, Hara vishnu vidhaataa

Brahmaanii, rudraanii, kamalaa, Tuuhii hai jaga maataa

Suurya chandramaa dhyaavata, Naarada rishi gaataa

Durgaa ruupa nirantara, Sukha sampati daataa

Jo koi tumako dhyaavata, Riddhi siddhi dhana paataa

Tuuhii hai paataala basantee, Tuuhii shubha daataa

Karma prabhaava prakaashak, Jaganidhi ke traataa

Jisa ghara mein tuma rahatii, Saba sadaguna aataa

Kara na sake soyee kara le, Mana nahin ghabaraataa

Tuma bina yagya na hove, Vastra na koii paataa

Khaana paana kaa vaibhava, Saba tumase hii aataa

Shubha guna mandira sundara, Ksheerodadhi jaataa

Ratana chaturdasha tuma hii, Koii nahiin paataa

Aartii lakshmii jii kii, Jo koii nara gaataa

Ura aananda umanga ati, Paapa utara jaataa