Celebration of Goddess Kamala (Lakshmi), one of the Dash Mahavidyas

Kamala Jayanti celebrates the appearance of Goddess Kamala, the tenth and last of the Dasha Mahavidyas, on Kartika Amavasya, the night of Diwali. Kamala, 'she of the lotus', is the tantric form of Goddess Lakshmi. She is shown seated on a lotus, golden in colour, holding lotuses in two hands and granting boons and fearlessness with the others, while four white elephants pour amrita over her from golden pitchers — the Gaja Lakshmi image. Where the other Mahavidyas represent stages of spiritual power, Kamala represents its full flowering: prosperity, beauty, fertility and harmony enjoyed in the world, united with purity like a lotus in the mud. She rules the planet Venus (Shukra) in tantric astrology. Worshipping her on Diwali, the most auspicious night for Lakshmi, is said to remove poverty and debt and bring lasting abundance. Tantric sadhakas perform Kamala sadhana at midnight, while householders include her in the Diwali Lakshmi Puja with lotus flowers, kamal gatta (lotus seeds), and the Sri Sukta.

Sadhakas fast until the night puja.