When should the Lakshmi Aarti be sung?

During Diwali's Lakshmi puja, on Fridays, and at the time of lighting the evening lamp.

Whose aarti comes first on Diwali?

Traditionally Ganesh is worshipped first, followed by the Lakshmi Aarti.

Verse 1

Om jai Lakshmi mata, maiya jai Lakshmi mata | Tumko nishdin sevat, Hari Vishnu Vidhata ||

Victory to Mother Lakshmi, whom Vishnu and Brahma serve day and night.

Verse 2

Uma Rama Brahmani, tum hi jag-mata | Surya chandrama dhyavat, Narad rishi gata ||

You are Uma, Rama and Brahmani, the mother of the world; the sun and moon meditate on you and sage Narad sings your praise.

Verse 3

Durga roop niranjani, sukh sampatti data | Jo koi tumko dhyavat, riddhi siddhi dhan pata ||

In your pure form as Durga you give happiness and wealth; whoever meditates on you gains prosperity, success and riches.

Verse 4

Tum patal nivasini, tum hi shubhdata | Karm prabhav prakashini, bhavnidhi ki trata ||

You dwell even in the netherworld and bestow good fortune; you reveal the fruit of actions and carry us across the ocean of worldly life.

Verse 5

Jis ghar mein tum rahatin, sab sadgun aata | Sab sambhav ho jata, man nahin ghabrata ||

In the home where you live, every virtue arrives; everything becomes possible and the mind stays calm.

Verse 6

Tum bin yagya na hote, vastra na koi pata | Khan-paan ka vaibhav, sab tumse aata ||

Without you there would be no rituals and no clothing; all the abundance of food and drink comes from you.

Verse 7

Shubh gun mandir sundar, kshirodadhi jata | Ratna chaturdash tum bin, koi nahin pata ||

You are a beautiful temple of virtues, born from the ocean of milk; without you no one can obtain the fourteen jewels.

Verse 8

Mahalakshmi ji ki aarti, jo koi jan gata | Ur anand samata, paap utar jata ||

Whoever sings Mahalakshmi's aarti is filled with joy, and their sins fall away.