Varalakshmi is the boon-bestowing aspect of the Goddess. Devotees perform a special “Lakshmi Pooja” on this day to please Goddess Lakshmi and invoke her blessings for luck, fortune, and success.

 Varalakshmi Vrat is observed in Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Maharashtra, Telangana, and Andhra Pradesh. The festival is very important for married Hindu women. It falls on the Friday before Full Moon, or Purnima, in Shravana month (July-Aug).

 Varalakshmi Vratham 2023 is on 25 August.

 Married women observe a vrat/fast on this day and pray to Lakshmi for the welfare of their families and husbands.

 How Is Varalakshmi Vratham Celebrated?

 Married women observe a day-long fast on Thursday from sunrise to sunset and conduct the Varalakshmi Pooja. On Friday morning, devotees arise early and have a head bath just before sunrise. The women clean the house and decorate it with Kolam/rangoli and prepare the Kalasha (a silver or bronze pot).

 They coat the Kalasha with Chandan (sandalwood) paste and fill it with various items that differ from region to region. The items may include raw rice, coins, turmeric, and leaves. A 'Swastika' symbol is also drawn.

 Finally, women decorate the Kalasha with Mango leaves and cover it with a coconut smeared with turmeric. The ritual begins with Ganesh Pooja. Devotees chant Slokas, perform Aarati, and offer sweets to the deity. The women also tie yellow threads on their wrists and exchange gifts.

 The Prasad comprises Pongal, boiled legumes, and sweets made from jaggery. The rituals come to an end on Saturday, and the Kalasha is dismantled after taking a bath. Observing Varalakshmi Vratham can bring peace, prosperity, and happiness.

 Vrat Katha

 Most fasts in Hinduism have a story behind them. Likewise, Varalakshmi Vrat, too, has a story or Vrat katha behind it. It is said that Shiva recommended this Pooja to his consort Parvati when she asked him about a ritual that could bring prosperity and happiness to the entire family. Parvati herself observed the fast for Shiva and her family, and since then, Hindu women across South India have been observing the Varalakshmi Vratham.

 Varalakshmi Vratham Procedure

 Both men and women can observe the Vrata, but usually, it is the women who observe the fast. They believe that it can bring the goddess' blessings for the well-being of their families. 

1. On this day, women wake up early, observe the fast and perform the Varalakshmi Pooja. They offer sweets and flowers to the Goddess.

 2. Women who perform the Pooja avoid eating certain foods. This can vary from region to region.

 3. The devotee uses a sari to wrap and decorate a Kalash or brass pot (representing the deity). She also draws a Swastika symbol using kumkum and sandalwood paste and fills the pot with raw rice or water, coins, 5 different kinds of leaves, and betel nuts.

 4. Mango leaves are placed on the mouth of the Kalash, and a coconut smeared with turmeric is also used to close the mouth of the Kalash. A sacred thread, called Dorak, is tied during the Pooja.

 5. The sweets and offerings kept before the deity are called Vayana.

 6. In the evening, women offer Aarti to the Goddess.

 7. The next day, devotees sprinkle the water from the Kalash all around the house. If rice grains are used to fill the Kalash, the women use them to make a rice meal or Prasad for the family.

 8. In certain regions, Thamboolam is offered to the women who attend the Pooja. It comprises slaked lime, betel leaf, and areca nut.

 Mantras for Chanting

 Chant the following Mantra on the day of Varalakshmi Vrat to gain the blessings of Goddess Lakshmi:

 || Om Hreem Shreem Lakshmibhayo Namah ||