Shubh Diwali!

Diwali, the Vedic Festival of Lights occurs at the New Moon in the lunar month of Kartika. It symbolizes the new year and the triumph of light over darkness, and this year falls on Thursday 23rd October. For those of us living in the Frozen North (aka, London) it is a very welcome celebration, just as the clocks go back and we're plunged into darkness.

This is traditionally the most auspicious time of year to worship Lakshmi, the Goddess of wealth and prosperity. If you wish to manifest your desires for the coming year, clean your home, light diya lamps filled with ghee and, after a bath, chant Lakshmi mantras. A picture or statuette of Lakshmi is often beneficial: puja materials are obtainable from many Indian supermarkets at this time of year. It is best to use a mantra that you have been given personally by a teacher, but rather than choose one randomly (with faulty pronunciation) the next best thing is to listen. 

The above chant is Sri Suktam, a famous Sanskrit hymn in praise of Mahalakshmi, from the Rig Veda. In 16 verses (slokas), Lakshmi is addressed as the bestower of fame and abundance in the form of gold and food, and entreated to banish her sister Alakṣmī, who is associated with need and poverty. The English translation is given.

This year the Diwali New Moon happens to be a partial Solar Eclipse, which occurs at 09:45pm GMT, in the constellation of Chitta. Eclipses are especially auspicious times to perform chanting and puja.

I personally will be attending Diwali celebrations at the the Shri Swaminarayan Mandir in north London: http://londonmandir.baps.org/forthcoming-events/diwali-2014/

Enjoy!