Dhanvantari & Lakshmi

Before the puja, purchase a new gold or silver item, or at minimum a steel/brass utensil. This purchase symbolizes inviting wealth into the home. The item should be bought during Pradosh Kaal if possible.

Clean the entire home, especially the puja area and main entrance. Spread a clean cloth on the puja platform. Place the Dhanvantari and Lakshmi images, new purchases, coins, and sweets on the platform.

Sip water three times for purification. Take the sankalpa by holding water and akshat in the right hand, stating the purpose of the puja.

Worship Lord Dhanvantari (the divine physician, avatar of Vishnu who emerged with Amrit Kalash during Samudra Manthan). Offer kumkum, akshat, flowers, dhatura, and incense. Chant the Dhanvantari Mantra.

Worship Goddess Lakshmi with flowers, kumkum, akshat, and incense. Place coins and the new metal purchase before her image. Chant the Lakshmi mantra.

Light 13 earthen diyas filled with ghee or mustard oil. Place them outside the main door facing SOUTH — this is the Yama Deepa, lit to ward off untimely death (apamrityu). One diya should be placed facing south in the evening and left to burn through the night.

Offer sweets, fruits, and coriander seeds as naivedya. Perform aarti with camphor and ghee lamp, singing the Dhanvantari aarti.

Circumambulate the puja setup 3 times. Pray for good health, wealth, and protection from untimely death for the entire family. Distribute prasad.