Lakshmi Sora: The Sacred Clay Discs That Preserve Bengal's Ancient Worship Traditions Lakshmi Sora is used mainly during Kojagari Lakshmi puja and also on Thursday worship of Goddess Lakshmi in Bengal. The Essence of Symbolic Worship In the spiritual landscape of Bengali Hinduism, particularly among families tracing their roots to East Bengal (present-day Bangladesh), a remarkable tradition continues to flourish—the worship of Goddess Lakshmi through painted clay discs known as Sora. These earthen symbols represent an ancient form of devotion that predates the widespread use of sculptural idols, embodying the profound Hindu understanding that the Divine transcends physical form. The practice finds its philosophical foundation in the Vedantic principle that Brahman, the Supreme Reality, is both saguna (with attributes) and nirguna (without attributes). While elaborate idols serve as powerful focal points for worship, simple symbols like the Sora remind devotees that divinity can...