Friday — the day of Lakshmi

Friday (Shukravar) belongs to the Goddess — above all Lakshmi, and for millions of households Santoshi Mata, whose sixteen-Friday vrat is one of India's best-loved observances. The evening Lakshmi Puja with a lit diya, white sweets and kheer invites abundance into a clean and welcoming home.

What to do today

• Perform Lakshmi Puja in the evening; recite the Lakshmi Aarti.
• Offer kheer or white sweets.
• Those keeping the Santoshi Mata vrat take gur-chana and avoid anything sour.