A story associated with Goddess Lakshmi and an old lady
explains the importance of performing Lakshmi puja on Diwali. This Diwali
Lakshmi puja katha narrates the significance of lightning Diya (lamp) on Diwali
night.
One day Goddess Lakshmi was roaming on earth. It was the
Kartik Amavasya day – no moon day in Kartik month. She roamed and forgot about
night approaching. Because of the darkness created by no moon day, Goddess
Lakshmi lost her way and decided to stay among humans on the day.
But when Goddess Lakshmi looked around she found that all
the houses were closed and there were no Diya (light) burning.
After roaming for a while she came across a home which in which
a Diya was burning. It was a dilapidated hut of an old woman.
When Goddess Lakshmi reached the hut, the old woman invited
her into the home and said that it was not safe for a maiden to roam around on
a dark night.
She offered the little food that was in her home and made
bed for Goddess Lakshmi.
The next day morning when the old woman woke up she found
that the maiden had gone.
To her surprise, the old woman found that her dilapidated
hut had become a palace and she found gold and diamond scattered all around.
From that day people started lighting lamp on
the night of Kartik Amavasya believing Goddess Lakshmi will visit their home.