VARAMAHALAKSHMI VRATHAM

This festival is observed with great fervor and devotion in the three South Indian states- Karnataka, Tamilnadu and Andhrapradesh. Lakshmi is considered to be the Goddess of wealth. Vara Lakshmi means Giver of boons (Vara means boon) Who doesn't want wealth? It is believed that Varalakshmi brings wealth and prosperity to the person who observes this vrath

This is a major festival in the month of Shravana. It falls on a Friday which precedes the full moon day. The famous composer Muthuswamy Dikshithar puts it very beautifully in a song on Varalakshmi "Shri Varalakshmi namahsthubyam".

In this song he says "Shravana Pournami poorvastha shukra varey" which means The Friday which precedes the full moon day in the month of Shravan.

Days prior to the festival, the markets are teeming with women followed by their menfolk making purchases - fruits, flowers, banana plants, mango leaves , sandal sticks, camphor , sandal powder, turmeric powder, kunkum (vermillion powder) cotton garlands smeared with turmeric and sindhur and the most important purchase being coconuts. It is one of these coconuts which is decorated to resemble the face of the deity. (see picture) There are several ways to do it. Some people just draw a face on the coconut. Some affix eyes and nose made of silver on the coconut and still others affix a face made of silver to the coconut and decorate it with jewellery. The decorated coconut is placed on a round vessel ( Kalash) which is either made of silver or bronze. The vessel is either filled with water or just five different kinds of fruits(according to the family tradtion) and then five betel leaves or mango leaves are placed at the rim of the vessel. The coconut is smeared with turmeric paste and the face is affixed on this keeping the tuft at the top. This cocnut is then placed on the kalash. The kalash is also smeared with sandal paste and a silk cloth or saree is draped on the kalash. Then the idol is decked with jewels. These preparations are done on the previous day itself.

The entire house is cleaned and the doorstep is decorated with Haldi and kunkum. A beautiful rangoli is drawn in front of the main entrance and small footprints are drawn to show that Lakshmi is entering the house. A row of fresh mango leaves is tied across the door at the top. A prominent place either in the pooja room or the mailn hall is selected and here too a rangoli is drawn and a decorated mantap is placed on this. Then a sumptuous meal with atleast five sweets, payasam(kheer), rice, and other side dishes is prepared in keeping with tradition. Some of the favored sweets are obbattu or poli, rava laddu, mysorepak, hyagreeva and kharjikayi. The womenfolk then bedeck themselves with beautiful sarees and jewellery. The pooja is normally conducted by a poojary(priest). The women perform the pooja while the priest recites the mantras. Before invoking the main deity, that is, Lakshmi, it is custormary to worship Lord Vigneshwara. It is believed that Vigneshwara(Lord Ganesha), helps in performing the pooja without any Vignas(hurdles). After this, Goddess Varalakshmi is invoked into the Kalasham and the pooja is performed with utmost devotion and fervor. Those who are not able to get a priest , perform the pooja with the help of a recorded audio tape which gives full instructions and the chantings. After performing the pooja, they offer the goddess the delicacies prepared by them, and seek her blessings. Then they tie a thread smeared with turmeric and decorated with flowers on the wrist of their right hand. The women who are invited to attend the pooja are then offered sweets, coconuts, betel leaves flowers and blouse pieces along with haldi kunkum. The food which follows this pooja is lavish and sumptuous.

The kalasham is kept for atleast three days or a week or a month according to the family tradition. After that,the coconut on the kalasham is used to make some sweet and distributed among family members and relatives.