VARA LAKSHMI SUKRAVARAM
Falling on the second Friday in the sukla paksha of Sravana
month of the lunar calendar is Varalakshmi sukravaram. The day is held
auspicious to render prayers to Goddess Vara Lakshmi.
Vara Lakshmi
Vratam :
The day begins with rangoli and sacred head baths just as any other festival and is marked
by the performance of "Varalakshmi Vratam" by the women
folk of the house. Worshipping Vara Lakshmi is rendered equivalent to Ashta Lakshmi puja.
It is thus held that the Goddess of wealth would bless those who perform the vratam on
this particular day of the year with Dhana (Money), Dhanya (food), Aayu (long
life), Aarogya (health), Aishwarya (wealth), Satsantana (good
offsprings) and Soubhagya (long life of husband).
 The
preparation for the festival begins the prior evening, when a stage for the puja is set
after having cleaned the entire area. On the day, A bronze or silver kalasam,
with water, akshatas and a couple of coins, is taken and five betel leaves are
placed on to it. The kalasam is smeared with sandal paste and kum-kum is
applied at five places. On this is placed a round coconut smeared with turmeric to which kum-kum
is applied. A new cloth or saree is tied to the Kalasam and is worshipped as
Vara Lakshmi. Some people even adore this with the face of the Vara Lakshmi decked with
jewels.
Women folk of the house traditionally
worship this Vara Lakshmi the next day, with Ashtottaram and Sahsranamavali,
along with some new gold bought each year. The legend of the vratam is once again
memorised in devotion and a "toram" of Nine threads and
nine knots is tied to the Goddess first and then to the right wrist of the worshippers. Prasadams
are offered in the numbers of either three or five or nine to the Goddess. And the
puja is concluded with the distribution of this prasadam and Tamboolam to
the married women in neighbourhood.
It also is customary for these women folk
to visit the temples of the Goddess towards the evening.
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