Varalakshmi Vratham: The Festival of Goddess Lakshmi
Varalakshmi Vratham, also known as ‘Varalakshmi Pooja’ and ‘Varalakshmi Nombu’ is considered a significant day to honor and worship Goddess Lakshmi, who is known as the Goddess of wealth and prosperity. This important Hindu festival is primarily followed by married women as a custom carried forward from their previous generation. It is believed that those who observe this festival are blessed with ‘var’ or ‘varam’, meaning – boon, by Goddess Lakshmi.
Varalakshmi Vratham is celebrated on the Friday before ‘Purnima’ of the ‘Shravan’ month, corresponding to the Gregorian months of July and August. This year, Varalakshmi Vratham is celebrated on the 12th of August 2022.
The Katha of Varalakshmi Vratham
According to a legend in the Hindu mythology, a Queen named ‘Sura Chandrika’ and a King named ‘Bathrasarias’ had a daughter - ‘Shyamabala’. Shyamabala was married to a prince from another kingdom. One day, while Shyamabala went to visit her parents at their kingdom, she noticed that her mother was driving away a beggar who was explaining the importance and puja vidhi of Varalakshmi Vratham. The Queen was not interested in what the beggar was saying, but Shyamabala listened to the beggar carefully and took note of it. Later, Shyamabala performed the Vraalakshmi Puja in her own kingdom. And since that day, the kingdom was blessed with abundance of glory and prosperity. Meanwhile, her parents’ kingdom was going through an extremely difficult period. The kingdom lost its wealth and glory. When Shyamabala sent pots of gold to her parents’ kingdom, to help them, the pots turned into ashes as soon as the queen set her eyes on it. Shyamabala then remembered the incident where her mother tried to ignore the beggar’s words, and realized the beggar was none other than Goddess Lakshmi. She then told her mother to perform the puja. Upon performing the puja by the Queen, their kingdom was able to attain its glory and wealth.
The Puja Vidhi of Varalakshmi Vratham
The puja samagri needed to perform the Vratham are as follows:
- Aarti thaali
- Akshat
- Camphor
- Chandan
- Cloth
- Coconuts
- Flowers
- Fruits
- Incense sticks
- Jewelry and accessories for the Goddess
- Kalash
- Kumkum
- Mirror
- Oil lamp
- Rice
- Sacred threads
The puja vidhi is as follows:
- Devotees usually wake up before sunrise, take bath and put on clean clothes.
- The puja area and chowki (wooden platform) are then cleaned and decorated with rangoli.
- Turmeric is then applied to the chowki, and raw rice is spread all over it. Smear haldi and kumkum on it, and then place kalash on a plate on top of the platform.
- Coat kalash with chandan paste and decorate it with mango leaves.
- Pour water in the kalash and add akshat into it. Then, place a coconut on top of the kalash, as the face of Goddess Lakshmi.
- Then decorate it with flowers and other accessories. Drape a piece of cloth as a saree to the Goddess.
- Place a mirror behind the Goddess. Place some scared threads beside the deity.
- Light the oil lamp and offer prayers to Lord Ganesha.
- You may chant the Mahalaxmi saharanamam stotram.
- Perform Aarti and offer naivedyam. Then, you may tie the scared thread to you and your family members.
India Sajawat and Puja Hut Wishes everyone a happy Varalakshmi Vratham. May Goddess Lakshmi bless you and your family with prosperity and good health!
