On Diwali evening, in Gujarat, traders worship their financial ledgers. This ritual, called Chopda Pujan, has been practised since ancient times, when business owners close their old financial books, open new ones, and seek blessings from Goddess Lakshmi, Lord Ganesha, and Goddess Saraswati.
It is believed that by dedicating the ledger books to these deities, it removes all types of problems related to business transactions.
Let's understand why this ritual is practised and how to perform it.
What is Chopda Puja?
Chopda Puja or Chopda Pujan is also known as Sharda Puja or Muhurat Pujan. In Gujarati, Chopda refers to a bound account ledger, traditionally a set of papers stitched by hand rather than the spiral or hand-bound registers used now.
Pujan is the formal worship of financial records where old account books are closed, and new ones are opened to mark the end of the financial year under the Hindu Vikram Samvat calendar.
There are two main purposes of this ceremony:
- By closing the old financial book, a person balances all accounts, clears debts, and writes off losses.
- It helps attain divine grace for business progress and abundance in the upcoming year.
Pujan is the formal worship of financial records, where old account books are closed (Image: Pexels)
4 Reasons Why Gujarati Business Owners Worship Their Ledgers On Diwali
Here are the four main reasons why Gujarati people perform Chopda Pujan on the evening of Diwali:
1. Money Symbolically Represents Prasad
In Gujarati business philosophy, money is not merely material possessions. It is seen as Goddess Lakshmi. Worshipping ledger books on Diwali reflects the belief that wealth must be treated with respect and managed responsibly, ethically, and with gratitude.
2. Seek Divine Grace
During Chopda Puja, three primary deities are invoked: Goddess Lakshmi for financial prosperity, Lord Ganesha to remove obstacles and ensure good judgment and Goddess Saraswati for knowledge, learning and wisdom.
Thus, worshipping the ledger symbolises a promise to run the business with all three virtues.
3. The Psychological Financial Reset
Before the puja begins, on the first page of the new ledger, people traditionally write the sacred words Shubh (Goodness) and Labh (Profit) in red ink alongside a Swastika, drawn by Kumkum or turmeric paste.
This practice acts as psychological financial rest. By physically writing these things, a trader clears old debts and records to begin the new year with clarity and renewed focus.
4. Performing The Puja At Auspicious Timing
Chopda Puja is performed during a specific, auspicious time called Chopda Pujan Muhurat. Performing the puja on this specific window is believed to maximise productivity and minimise future risks.
ALSO READ: Why Does Goa Burn Giant Narakasura Effigies A Day Before Diwali?
How Chopda Puja Is Performed In Modern Times?
In modern times, instead of performing the puja on the ledgers, tech-savvy entrepreneurs, D2C brand founders, and stock traders perform Chopda Puja on:
- Laptops and Tablets
- Stock Trading Terminals
- SaaS And Cloud Dashboards
- Digital bookkeeping system
- New office stationery
- Calculator
Step-By-Step: How Traditional Chopda Puja Is Performed
Chopda Pujan is performed on Diwali evening. While many traders perform this puja at their shops or business locations, smaller traders can also do it at home.
1. First, clean the puja space thoroughly.
2. Then the old year's Chopda (ledger)is closed, and old payments or debts are cleared.
On the first page of the new ledger, using kumkum, draw a Swastika and write Sri (Grace), Shubh (Goodness), and Labh (Profit) on the opening pages.
3. Offer flowers, incense, marigolds, rice grains and sweets over the ledger.
4. A ghee lamp is lit to represent the removal of financial ignorance and darkness.
5. If possible, chant Vedic mantras and then perform the aarti. Afterwards, pray to them for prosperity in your business.
Chopda Pujan is performed on Diwali evening (Image: Pexels)
Therefore, traders and businessmen of Gujarat perform Chopda Puja so that their upcoming year becomes fruitful and brings peace and prosperity to their business.
FAQs
1. Is Chopda Puja exclusively practised by Gujarati traders?
While largely observed by the Gujarati business community, similar traditions of seeking blessings for account books exist in various forms among other Indian communities during Diwali, though Chopda Puja is uniquely Gujarati.
2. When exactly is Chopda Puja performed during the Diwali festival?
Chopda Puja is traditionally performed on the evening of Diwali itself, often coinciding with the main Lakshmi Puja, marking the start of the new financial year for many traders.