On Lakshmi Puja, people buy gold and silver, precious gemstones, new utensils of copper, brass, and bronze as a sign of good luck, prosperity, money and wealth. After lighting their houses with candles and lamps, these valuables are then used in the evening to worship Lakshmi. 

The lighting of the candles comes from the epic story of Ramayana. In the story, which recounts the legend of Lord Rama’s battle with the demon Ravana, Sita is the wife of Lord Rama. Hindus believe Sita is an incarnation of Lakshmi. The story tells us that Rama had been cast out of his rightful kingdom, and had gone to live in a forest with his wife and brother. Ravana then abducted Sita from the forest 

After Rama defeated Ravana to rescue Sita, as celebrated on the festival of Dussehra (Dashain), he returned home with Sita and his brother Lakshman. To help them find their way back home in the dark, people lit candles. In honour of this, on Laxmi Puja, people light candles in their homes to guide Lakshmi, in the hope that she will bestow good fortune on their home for the coming year.