Adorn your entrance with diyas to invite Lakshmi into your house

Diwali is a festival of lights. It is said that Lakshmi, the goddess of wealth, visits all clean and well-lit households on Diwali. So get rid of the old and bring in the new to make a fresh start in life and prepare to invite the blessings of the goddess.

As pre-Diwali preparations, clean your home and workplace. Diwali perhaps is the best time to do away with old newspapers, magazines, empty bottles, old clothes and irreparable electronic gadgets. This junk, when collected over a long period of time, emit negative energy. Damp, decaying walls and windows that need repairs should be immediately attended to.

Make use of space clearing method and ritual offered by feng shui wherein a person closes his eyes and focuses on the cosmic energy prevailing in the entire house. Sit in the centre of the house, facing the northeastern direction and ask forgiveness for any wrong deed you have done in the past and then visualise the house being filled with positive energy. This will purify the house and bring in happiness, wealth and prosperity.

On the day of Diwali, adorn your entrance with garlands, rangolis and diyas. Use powder colours and flowers in white, red and yellow to make rangolis.

These colours hold a special significance. While white symbolises purity and tranquillity, red is the colour for luck and prosperity and yellow brings joy and happiness. The threshold should be well lit with earthen diyas on either side of the entrance.

Keep an idol of Ganesh near the entrance and worship it with all the five elements of nature. Place an earthen pot in front of it, fill it with fresh water, float marigold flowers, drop a few metal coins and light diyas or floating candles in it. Remember that an idol of goddess Lakshmi should never be placed outside the house.This Diwali, make a wealth bowl by tying a red ribbon around it and fill it with lots of coins. Place this wealth bowl in the extreme southeastern corner of the house. Never leave any wealth corner of the house devoid of money.

On the auspicious occasion of Diwali, welcome and entertain your guests. Decorate your living room with fresh flowers, aroma candles and diyas. Lighting fireworks also helps in warding off evil spirits.

Tip of the week: This Diwali, amavasya ends and a new moon takes birth at 4.33am on November 10. Write your wishes within 10 minutes of this powerful time on a pink piece of paper, place it in the temple, light a diya and meditate to have your wishes granted.