Diwali is the five-day festival which is celebrated with great enthusiasm and valour across India. The most important day during this Diwali celebration has to be Badi Diwali, the day of Laxmi Puja, where the Goddess of Wealth is worshipped. However, in North India, people also Worship the Goddess of Knowledge, Saraswati before the traditional Laxmi Puja, and this is called as Chopda (meaning book) Pujan in Gujarati. Chopda Pujan 2019 will be commemorated on October 27, on the day of Diwali 2019. On Diwali Day, Goddess Saraswati and Laxmi are given equal importance and the Saraswati Puja Vidhi holds a lot of significance in Diwali celebration. People worship the Goddess as per Puja Shubh Muhurat, hence Laxmi Puja Vidhi is of great importance. Laxmi Pooja 2019 Date & Shubh Muhurat: Which Side Lakshmi-Ganesh Murti Should Be Placed? Know Laxmi Puja Time on Badi Diwali, Pooja Vidhi, Aarti and Significance.

Laxmi Puja during Diwali is known as Chopda Pujan in Gujarat, and the books and accounts of people from this predominantly entrepreneurial community is worshipped on this day. Chopda refers to the traditional accounting books and on this day, new books of accounting are brought out and people begin afresh. Devotees worship to Goddess Saraswati, Laxmi Lord Ganesha for their blessings and seek their continued prosperity all year round.

When is Chopda Pujan 2019?

Chopda Pujan is traditionally done by people from Gujarat just before the Laxmi Puja on the Amavasya Tithi of the Hindu month Kartika. Chopda Pujan 2019 will, therefore, be conducted on October 27 during the Choghadiya Muhurat, which is supposed to be auspicious for the rituals.

Choghadiya Muhurat Timing for Chopda Pujan

There are multiple Choghadiya Muhurat timings throughout the Diwali day and people often choose the timing in accordance with what suits them the most. The Amavasya Tithi of Diwali begins at 12:23 PM on Oct 27, 2019, and goes on till the next day morning at 9:08 AM. Amrit, Shubh, Labh and Char are considered to be the Choghadiya Muhurat which are considered auspicious to perform Puja

The Choghadiya Muhurat for Diwali Chopda Pujan according to Drikpanchang.com is as below:

Afternoon Muhurat (Shubha) - 01:49 PM to 03:15 PM

Evening Muhurat (Shubha, Amrita, Chara) - 06:08 PM to 10:49 PM

Night Muhurat (Labha) - 01:56 AM to 03:30 AM, Oct 28

Early Morning Muhurat (Shubha) - 05:03 AM to 06:37 AM, Oct 28

Chopda Pujan Vidhi

During the Shubh Muhurat, businessmen and entrepreneurs who belong to the Gujarati community traditionally began new accounting books on this day, by worshipping the business books or Chopdas and seeking the blessings of Goddess Lakshmi, Maa Sharda (Saraswati) and Lord Ganesh to make the upcoming year profitable for their business. People often wrote Swastika, Om and Shubh-Labh with vermillion paste or red ink, and it is believed that these words helped people to have an auspicious and lucky beginning. However, with the continued digitalisation of businesses, the Chopras are now being replaced by laptops and computers, which are adorned with auspicious symbols and phrases.

What is the Significance of Chopda Pujan?

Chopda Pujan is an extremely important ritual for the Hindi business community who live across the world. It is the Puja that is dedicated to seeking the Lord’s blessings for the beginning of a new year of books for those from Gujarat. However, this Puja is also done by businesspeople from other parts of the country, who close all the pending accounts on this day and begin new books. While the businesses remain shut on the day of Diwali, people often invite their staff for this auspicious Chopda Pujan ritual and celebrate with festive decorations, delicious delicacies and gifts after the rituals.

Chopda Pujan is also called as Muhurat Puja as well as Sharda Puja, and people from various parts of North India also call this celebration as Bhai-Khata. During this Puja mantras and Vedas are often chanted in the background. Chopda Pujan is often followed by Laxmi Puja, where Goddess Lakshmi and her husband, Lord Kubera are worshipped for the continued prosperity and inflow of wealth to the businesses as well as families. Here’s wishing everyone a Happy Diwali!

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Oct 27, 2019 02:59 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).