Guest guest Posted July 31, 2009 Report Share Posted July 31, 2009 Pranamam to All my Dear Devotees, Today is very specail day dedicated to Varamahalaksmi. On this occasion i wish you all Group Members & Moderators and their families, Goddess lakshmi may shower her blessing for a long, happy, wealthy & healthy life. How to perform the Varlakshmi Pooja? Varalakshmi Puja or Varalakshmi Vratha is an important ritual observed by married women in South India and Maharashtra for the prosperity and welfare of their families. Varalakshmi Puja falls on a Friday in the month of August and the preparations for the puja begin on Thursday. All the necessary items needed for the pooja are collected by Thursday evening. The date of Varalakshmi Vratam in 2009 is July 31. People wake up early in the morning on Friday and take a bath. Traditionally speaking the waking up time for the puja is the brahma muhurtham. Then the designated puja area and house is cleaned well and a beautiful ‘kolam’ or rangoli is drawn on the intended place of puja. Next is the preparation of the ‘kalasham or kalash.’ A bronze or silver pot is selected and is cleaned thoroughly and a swastika symbol is drawn and is smeared with sandalwood paste. The kalasham pot is filled with raw rice or water, coins, a single whole lime, five different kinds of leaves, and beetle nut. The items used to fill the kalasham vary from region to region and includes turmeric, comb, mirror, small black bangles and black beads. The kalasham up to the neck is sometimes covered with a cloth and mango leaves are placed on the mouth of the kalasham. Finally, a coconut smeared with turmeric is used to close the mouth of the kalasham. To this coconut, an image of Goddess Lakshmi is fixed or the image of Lakshmi is drawn using turmeric powder. Now the kalasham symbolically represents Goddess Lakshmi. In some areas, women place a mirror behind the kalasham. Today, there are also specially made Varalakshmi pots available in the market. The kalasham is usually placed on a bed of rice. First Lord Ganesha is worshipped. Then begins the Varalakshmi Puja. The puja consists of singing slokas dedicated to Goddess Lakshmi like the Lakshmi Sahasranamam. Arati is performed on the kalasham. Different types of sweets are offered. Some people offer pongal. In some areas women tie yellow thread on their hands. The woman who is observing the Varalakshmi Puja abstains from eating certain kind of food and this varies from region to region. In some regions, women fast till the puja period. Thamboolam – betel leaf, areca nut and slaked lime – is offered to women in the locality and in the evening an arati is offered. The next day, that is on Saturday, after taking a bath the kalasham is dismantled and the water in the kalasham is sprinkled in the house. If rice is used then it is mixed with rice in the house. There are no hard and fast rules in performing the Varalakshmi Puja and you can be flexible on the puja items. Even a simple prayer will please Goddess Lakshmi. Special Prayers or Shlokas to be chanted on Varalakshmi Vratha day Lakshmi Ashtotram and Lakshmi Sahasranamam Food That Can be eaten on Puja day Any type of Sundal is eaten on Friday and Saturday evening. In some regions, Green Bananas are not cooked. Please do not fast (Upvaas), if you are pregnant or are having any disease or are under medications. Fasting on Varalakshmi Puja day Fasting is done from morning till Varalakshmi Puja is over. You can always be flexible – fasting might not be possible if you are working etc. What if I missed the Varalakshmi Puja? If you missed the Varalakshmi Nombu day or failed to observe it, you can do it during the following Friday. Another option is to observe it during a Friday in Navratri. Varalakshmi Nombu Saradu or thread Yellow thread is prepared with nine knots and flower is placed in the center. It is tied on the right hand. Other important things to remember Do not impose the Puja. You should observe it only, if you are really interested. Also do not impose the puja on youngsters. If you are observing for the first time, learn it from an experienced woman. Unmarried women observe the puja, if their mother is observing it. Pregnant women can skip the puja. If you are so inclined you can do it but make sure fasting does not cause any harm. You can do the puja and skip fasting. If the puja falls within 22 day of the birth of child, it is considered inappropriate and should not be observed. With Prayers Sushma Shreeyan Looking for local information? Find it on Local Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You are posting as a guest. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.