Varalakshmi Vratam is kept by married women, mainly in Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Karnataka and Tamil Nadu, for the prosperity, health and long life of the family. It falls on the Friday before the Shravana Purnima (Sravana month).
The story
Goddess Lakshmi appeared in a dream to Charumathi, a devoted wife, and told her to worship Varalakshmi — the Lakshmi who grants boons. Charumathi and the women of her town kept the vrat and were blessed with wealth and happiness. Parvati is said to have narrated this story to Shiva.
Samagri
- A kalash with rice or water, coconut, mango leaves and a new cloth or saree for the Goddess
- An image or face (mukham) of Lakshmi to adorn the kalash, with jewellery
- Turmeric, kumkum, sandal, flowers and garlands
- Thoram — a sacred yellow thread with nine knots, tied to the wrist
- Nine or eleven kinds of sweets and fruits for naivedyam
The puja steps
- Clean the house and draw kolam/rangoli; decorate the kalash as the Goddess the evening before or in the morning.
- Ganapati puja and sankalpa.
- Invoke Varalakshmi into the kalash; perform shodashopachara puja and Ashtottara namavali.
- Worship the thoram and tie it on the right wrist.
- Read the vrat katha, offer naivedyam and aarti.
- Offer tamboolam (turmeric, kumkum, fruits, blouse piece) to married women who visit.
If you can’t do everything
The tradition says sincere devotion matters most. A simpler puja with a lamp, flowers and the katha is also accepted. A pandit can guide the full puja at home or on a live video call.
Book Varalakshmi puja with a pandit who speaks your language.