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With the harvest brought home the farmers feel greatly
satisfied with the yield. After six months of toil in the field, they fill
the granaries with the blessings of Goddess Lakshmi. So, the whole month
of Margashira is spent in worshipping the Goddess. All the rituals
connected with the festival "Manabasa Gurubara" or "Lakshmi
Puja" is done by housewives themselves.
On
each Thursday of the month the houses are plastered with cow-dung, the
floors are decorated with beautiful floral designs drawn with rice-powder
mixed with water. This is called 'Jhoti'. Footmarks are painted from the
doorstep to the place of worship as if Goddess Lakshmi has entered the
house. The roofs are decorated with flower garlands and festoon woven out
of paddy stalks.
Main Ritual
After purificatory bath in the morning the housewives worship the
Goddess, not through an image but significantly through paddy-measures.
Different varieties of rice-cakes and 'Kshiri' (rice-soup prepared with
milk and sugar) are prepared in every household and are offered to the
deity and then taken by all.
The Legend
In the evening the 'Laxmi Purana' is read or recited in which an
interesting story is told. Once 'Shreeya', an untouchable woman worshipped
Goddess Lakshmi by observing this festival. Being moved by her devotion
Lakshmi left Her permanent abode, the temple
which is situated inside the campus of the temple of Lord Jagannatha and
visited Shreeya's house. When Lord Balabhadra, the elder brother of Lord
Jagannatha came to know about this, She was declared defiled and was not
allowed to come back into the temple. Lakshmi was deeply hurt and went to
her father Sahara.
When Lakshmi went out of the temple all wealth in the temple started
vanishing. Later the Gods Balabhadra and Jagannatha couldn't find food to
sustain themselves. They came out of the temple in the attire of Brahmin
beggars in search of food. Ultimately they landed at the door of the
Goddess Lakshmi. Balabhadra apologised for the mistake and all of them
returned to the temple.
The 'Purana' ultimately teaches all to pay extreme regard to Goddess
Lakshmi and the person who disregards Her is sure to fall on evil days.
This means that wealth should be well protected and properly used and
misutilisation of wealth is sure to make a person suffer.