Why Buy a Broom on Diwali? Quick Answer
In Hindu folk tradition, the broom (*jhadu*) is regarded as a form of Goddess Lakshmi because it removes dirt, poverty and negativity (*daridrata*) from the home — and Lakshmi lives only where there is cleanliness. Buying a new broom on Dhanteras (Friday, 6 November 2026) and worshipping it on Diwali (8 November) is believed to welcome Lakshmi and sweep away misfortune. The best time to buy it on Dhanteras is after the Trayodashi tithi begins at 10:30 AM on 6 November, ideally before sunset.
The Lakshmi Connection
The scriptures repeatedly link Lakshmi with purity: she is said to leave homes that are dirty, quarrelsome or dark, and to stay where there is cleanliness, light and harmony. Because the broom is the tool that creates this cleanliness, popular belief treats it with respect, almost as a symbol of the Goddess herself. That is also why people avoid stepping on or kicking a broom.
Why on Dhanteras?
Dhanteras begins the five days of Diwali and is the day for buying new items that bring prosperity — metal utensils, gold, silver and a new broom. Buying a broom on Dhanteras signifies sweeping out the old year's poverty and inviting Lakshmi into a clean home before the main puja.
Broom Puja Method (Diwali)
- 1Buy a new broom on Dhanteras (6 Nov) and keep it in a clean place.
- 2On Diwali, before the main Lakshmi puja, tie a kalava (red thread) or a white thread on the broom.
- 3Apply a small tilak of roli and offer akshat.
- 4Pray: "May all poverty and negativity leave this home."
- 5Use the new broom from the next morning (9 November) onwards.
Rules and Beliefs About the Broom
- •Keep it hidden, not in plain sight, and not standing upright.
- •Don't step over it or touch it with your feet.
- •Don't keep it in the kitchen or puja room.
- •Avoid sweeping the house after sunset (traditional belief; practical cleaning is fine).
- •On Diwali night, many families don't sweep or throw garbage out.
- •Dispose of the old broom respectfully — many do it on a Saturday or Amavasya — and don't burn it.
- •Don't gift your used broom to anyone.
Practical Tips
- •Buy a natural broom (grass or coconut) — it is the traditional choice and eco-friendly.
- •Buying an odd number (1 or 3) is a common folk preference.
- •Remember: the real point is a clean home. Clean thoroughly before Diwali.
Summary
The broom is respected as a symbol of Lakshmi because it removes dirt and poverty. Buy a new one on Dhanteras, 6 November 2026 (after 10:30 AM), worship it with kalava and tilak on Diwali, 8 November, and start using it from the next day.
