This Pooja Bahi Khata is a traditional red cloth-covered account book made for Diwali Chopda Pujan, the ritual of worshipping new account books with Goddess Lakshmi. Its first page is a printed Shri Bahi Pujan page with Ganesh ji, Mahalakshmi and Saraswati, ready for your swastik, roli and "Shubh Labh". The 48 plain pages that follow are yours to begin the new year's hisab with a blessing.

Also known as a chopda, lal bahi, vahi or khata book, it measures 18 x 14 cm, a comfortable size for the home mandir, the shop counter or the office pooja.

What Makes This Bahi Khata Special

The cover is wrapped in deep red cotton cloth and finished by hand with white running-stitch embroidery in flowing wave lines. A natural cotton string ties it closed, the way bahis have been kept in trading families for generations.

Inside, the Shri Bahi Pujan page carries a border of diyas, the blessing "यह वर्ष आपको लाभदायक होवे और लक्ष्मीजी सदा प्रसन्न रहें", Shubh and Labh, a swastik and Om, and the three deities of Chopda Pujan side by side: Shri Ganeshaya Namah, Shri Mahalakshmyai Namah and Shri Saraswatyai Namah. At the foot of the page sit day and night choghadiya panels for reference.

What You Get

• 1 Pooja Bahi Khata with red cloth cover and cotton string tie
• 1 printed Shri Bahi Pujan page with Ganesh, Lakshmi and Saraswati
• 48 plain blank pages
• Size: 18 cm wide x 14 cm tall
• Packed in a protective plastic sleeve

Why Families Worship a New Bahi on Diwali

For Gujarati, Marwari and many North Indian business families, Diwali marks the close of one financial year and the start of the next. On Lakshmi Puja evening the new bahi is placed before Goddess Lakshmi and Lord Ganesh, and the first page is marked with a kumkum swastik, "Shri" and "Shubh Labh". In Gujarat this is often called Sharda Pujan, honouring Saraswati alongside Lakshmi, since wisdom and wealth are meant to walk together.

The first real entry is usually made at an auspicious muhurat, often on the new year or on Labh Pancham, so the year's accounts begin with intention rather than habit.

How to Use It for Chopda Pujan

• Place the bahi on a clean red or yellow cloth beside your Lakshmi Ganesh murti or frame.
• Draw a swastik with roli or kumkum on the Shri Bahi Pujan page and write "Shri" and "Shubh Labh".
• Offer rice grains, flowers and a little haldi, and keep a pen or kalam with the bahi.
• Light a diya and perform Lakshmi Puja with your family.
• Keep the bahi in your mandir, locker or cash drawer through the year.

Chopda Pujan in the UAE

Across Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Sharjah and Ajman, Indian traders, shop owners and family businesses keep the Diwali bahi tradition alive, from the souks of Bur Dubai and Deira to offices in Business Bay. Finding a proper printed bahi here can be surprisingly hard, which is why we stock it ahead of the festive rush.

At AED 40, this bahi qualifies for free delivery anywhere in the UAE. Pair it with the rest of your festive pooja from our Diwali Specials collection.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is a bahi khata used for in Diwali pooja?

A bahi khata is the account book that families and business owners worship during Diwali Lakshmi Puja, known as Chopda Pujan or Sharda Pujan. It is placed before Goddess Lakshmi so the new year's accounts begin with her blessings.

Are the inside pages ruled or printed?

Only the first page is printed, with the Shri Bahi Pujan design and deities. The remaining 48 pages are plain and blank, so you can use them for accounts, notes or writing Shubh Labh and your family's blessings.

Does the choghadiya panel have this year's timings?

No. The day and night choghadiya panels on the pujan page are headings for reference only, with no timings printed. Check your local Dubai panchang or ask your pandit ji for the exact muhurat.

What size is the bahi?

It measures 18 cm wide and 14 cm tall when closed. It fits easily on a home mandir or a shop counter and is simple to store in a drawer or locker.

Can I use it if I don't run a business?

Yes, many families worship a bahi at home to welcome Lakshmi into the household's finances. It also works beautifully as a devotional notebook for your yearly budget and gratitude notes.

What should I write on the first page?

Traditionally a swastik is drawn in kumkum, with "Shri" written above it and "Shubh" and "Labh" on either side. Some families also write "Shri Ganeshaya Namah" and the date of the pujan.

Do you deliver across the UAE?

Yes, we deliver to Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Sharjah, Ajman and the rest of the UAE. Orders above AED 30 ship free, so this bahi ships free on its own.

How is it packed?

Each bahi is packed in a clear plastic sleeve to keep the cloth cover clean and the pages crisp until your pujan.

Add Divine to your Rituals.