Rituals
On the day of Varalakshmi vratam, women clean their homes and decorate their front yards with rangolis (colorful designs traced on the floor). Later, they take a bath and deck themselves with beautiful clothes and jewellery. They then begin the process of performing the vrata by first arranging the kalasha or sacred pot. They fill the pot with rice and water which symbolize prosperity and cover it with mango and betel leaves. They then place a coconut smeared with turmeric and vermilion on the kalasha and also decorate the coconut with a new cloth. Some people decorate the kalasha with many kinds of jewels to make it look more beautiful. They place this kalasha on a plate filled with rice. The main puja begins by worshiping Lord Ganesha, who is believed to drive away all obstacles and evil forces. Later, goddess Mahalakshmi is invoked into the kalasha. They then worship a couple of torams (a bunch of nine threads with nine knots) and tie one to the kalasha while the other one is tied around the right hand wrist of the lady performing the pooja. Later, they chant the Lakshmi Ashtottara Shatanamam (a list of hundred names in praise of the deity). They then offer the goddess nine varieties of delicacies including both sweets and savories. In conclusion of the vratam, they sing hymns in praise of goddess Varalakshmi and also invite another married woman assuming her to be goddess Varalakshmi and offer her sweets. That evening, they invite all the neighboring ladies to their homes and offer them tamboolam, an offering consisting of betel leaves, fruits, betel nuts, vermilion, turmeric and dakshina (money). They also collectively sing songs in praise of goddess Varalakshmi. Alternately ,in some parts also Vaibhav Lakshmi Vrat Katha is also performed .This vrat is done for wish fulfilment on fridays by people .In this Vrat ,people worship Goddess Lakshmi in 8 forms .i.e, 1)Shri Dhan Lakshmi Maa 2)Shri Gaj Lakshmi Maa 3)Shri Veer Lakshmi Maa 4)Shri Aishwarya Lakshmi Maa 5)Shri Vijya Lakshmi Maa 6)Shri Adi Lakshmi Maa 7)Shri Dhanya Lakshmi Maa 8) Shri Santan Lakshmi Maa .The vrat is performed by hindus with complete devotion on each friday by fasting and praying Goddess Lakshmi .
Read more about this topic: Mahalakshmi Vrata
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