Goddess Lakshmi only visits houses and premises that are kept clean and tidy

Black magic practitioners, aka tantrics, prescribe the use of owls and their body parts such as skull, feathers, ear tuffs, claws, heart, liver, kidney, blood, eyes, fat, beak, tears, eggshells, meat and bones for ceremonial pujas and rituals that take place on Diwali night. This deadly practice must be stopped: Eminent vastu expert Dr JP Sharma

With Diwali round the corner, it is time to pray and invoke the blessings of Goddess Lakshmi. The festival of lights is all about Goddess Lakshmi, the mother of prosperity and wealth.

Meanwhile, are you done with cleaning the house and work place job? It is essential ahead of any Diwali, as it is believed that Goddess Lakshmi prefers neat and tidy places.

Mahatma Gandhi forever preached that ‘cleanliness is godliness’. Always see to it that your dwelling places are clean.

In the realty world, the general presumption is that properties which are well-maintained find tenants and buyers, more easily.

According to the internationally acclaimed Vastu expert and author Dr. J.P. Sharma (who also uses the name of JP Trikha(, “Diwali is the perfect time to offer prayers to Goddess Lakshmi. You can do so by following Vastu principles. The first and foremost task is to clean the house and office. This ensures a smooth flow of energy as the Goddess is believed to grace a clean house. You will find some houses in a state of utter neglect. This is because of the irresponsible attitude of the occupant or when only aged owners live in their house.”

According to Vastu experts, one always ensure that open spaces are not obstructed at all. It blocks the energy. The house should be lit, preferably with diyas on Diwali. No corner of the house should be left in darkness. Further, place two oil lamps on both sides of the main entrance of your house or office.

It is also said that one ought to place pure water of Gangajal in a tray or utensil at the centre of the house. The tray can be filled with flower petals with a floating candle at the centre. This brings positivity in the house.

We often see houses in a very sad state. Even though owners live in one floor of the building, it is hardly maintained. Sepia and poor yellow colours of the house indicate the extent of neglect of a property that is worth in crores. The result of this apathy is that hardly any tenant likes to live there even if the rent is less.

Do you think such stinking places please Goddess Lakshmi? No, not at all!

Dr. Sharma further says that one must place flowers on the water in a clean vessel and place it in the north/east corner of the house. Om symbols should also be in the north/east corner.

Well, Diwali is a very secular festival. A devout Muslim and former bureaucrat from Maharashtra cadre, Zafar Iqbal said that that since his childhood days in Jaipur, he has been cleaning his house ahead of Diwali. “I know for sure that gods and goddesses prefer clean surroundings.”

You have put toran/bandarwal on the main door. An Asthamangala sign can also be placed there. Most houses have a Tulsi plant.

Vastu-shastra says that Tulsi plant should be planted in the courtyard in the middle of the house. If you do not have any courtyard in your home then you should plant it in the North direction. By doing this, all the difficulties in the path of your success can be removed.

Finally, Diwali is a scary time for owls, the chariot of Goddess Lakshmi, pets and plants. If we start with owls, this is time when they are killed in hordes in the name of black magic, superstition and taboos. While we worship Lakshmi on Diwali, there are many who spare no concern in killing her chariot.

“Black magic practitioners, aka tantrics, prescribe the use of owls and their body parts such as skull, feathers, ear tuffs, claws, heart, liver, kidney, blood, eyes, fat, beak, tears, eggshells, meat and bones for ceremonial pujas and rituals that take place on Diwali night. This deadly practice must be stopped,” says Dr Sharma.

Moving away from owls, the use of crackers during Diwali also terrifies animals as they have a highly sensitive sense of hearing. Experts urge pet owners to be very careful and keep them in a closed but comfortable area in the house. Some pets are reported missing for they run away upon hearing the unusually loud noises, while homeless animals face the risk of severe injuries from firecrackers that are burst on the roads. Animals get traumatised by the harsher side-effects of festivals, every year. And topping the list are firecrackers. With their heightened sense of hearing, animals often panic, get scared and run helter-skelter on hearing such terrifying noises. Many suffer burn injuries.

In addition, smoke causes irritation and infections, adding to the discomfort of the animals, particularly strays.

(The author is Delhi-based senior journalist and writer. He is author of Gandhi's Delhi which has brought to the forth many hidden facts about Mahatma Gandhi)