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    Varalakshmi Vratham | Varamahalakshmi poojai Procedures

    August 27, 2015 By Vidya Srinivasan 54 Comments

    2 shares

    Varalakshmi Vratham Recipes | Varalakshmi Vratam procedure | Varalakshmi pooja | naivedhyam recipes. This year varalakshmi vratham is celebrated on Friday, 20th August 2021. Subscribe to Traditionallymodernfood YouTube. Check out the Indian tiffin combo, Indian lunch combo, and festival special recipe for everyday combo cooking ideas.

    Varalakshmi Vratham

    Varalakshmi Vratham Recipes | Varalakshmi Vratam procedure | Varalakshmi pooja | naivedhyam recipes is a traditional Indian festival.  On this auspicious day, Goddess Lakshmi is worshipped. According to Hindu mythology, Goddess Lakshmi takes 8 different forms known as Ashtalakshmi. Varalakshmi vratham is “Performing poojai for Goddess Lakshmi to get her blessings/boon”.

    When is Varalaxmi Vratham performed?

    Varalakshmi Vratham | Varamahalakshmi poojai Procedures| Varalakshmi Pooja is performed by south Indian women (Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, and Karnataka - Correct me if I am wrong).   Usually, Pooja is celebrated on a Friday, before the full moon day, in the Tamil Month Aadi/Avani | Telugu month Shravana | shravana Masam. Reader Pranita says,  "Maharashtra we do Mahalaxmi puja on each Friday in shrawan month. It's slightly different" . If for some reason you are not able to perform the poojai, you can perform it next Friday.

    Who does varalaksmi poojai?

    Married elder women in the house perform the poojai. Varalakshmi virtham thread is tied to the right hand. Traditionally after the poojai husband ties the varalalshmi poojai thread to the wife. For unmarried women and girls, elder women tie the thread.

    How do we perform Varalaksmi vratham?

    For my wedding, my parents got me a Varalakshmi Amman mugham (face) and kalasam for me to do Pooja. My mother-in-law prepare poojai with Amman mugham, kalasam, and Amman photo, I follow the same. Follow your family tradition and perform Varamahalaksmi poojai.

    Every family has its way of performing poojai. I am sharing the procedure we follow in our home.  This is how I do the Pooja (Dear Readers, feel free to share your Pooja experience, I will be happy to update it in my post). Since I am in the US, based on the things I get here my procedure slightly deviates from usual

    When is Varalakshmi vratham in 2021?

    This year varalakshmi vratham is celebrated on Friday, 20th August 2021.

     

    Pooja procedure on Thursday

    • Mix water and turmeric powder in a runny consistency, Apply it  over the coconut surface, and let it dry completely

    • In my Pooja room, I put kolam on a small plate  (As we  have carpet I put kolam on the plate. For hardwood floor you can directly. put the kolam )
    •  In a small stool/palagai (wooden planks) place banana leaf/ Blouse bit 

    •  Spread little  Akshadai (Rice + turmeric powder) over it

    • Place the Sombhu.  Add sandhanam ( Sandhal Powder + little water ) and kumkum for Sombhu

    • Add rice, moong dal, coin, turmeric, lemon, jaggery, and kaathu ola karukamani (I got it from Giri traders Chennai)  inside the Sombhu

    • Keep fresh /artificial mango leaves like lotus petals in the sombhu
    • Place the coconut over the sombhu ( Make sure the turmeric powder - water is completely dry, to avoid the yellow layer around the sombhu:-)). Kalasam is ready

    • Place the Amman in the Kalasam (fix the Amman stand into the coconut) and tie the back tightly

    • In the evening do aarti and offer Manjal (Yellow) Pongal or any prasadam to god as Naivediyum

     

    Friday Morning

    They say shouldn't (Preferably) get up in the middle of pooja, so I generally keep all the things ready for Pooja.

    • Betel leaves
    • Paaku (Supari)
    • Coconut 
    • Fruits
    • Flowers (which I get here, though Arali is auspicious sometimes can't find it here)
    • Neivadiyam items (Prasadam for Amman)
    • Nombu Saradu (Holy yellow rope with a small flower tied in each rope)
    • Akshadai
    • pooja items
    • Karpuram
    • Karpura thattu
    • Pancha pathiram 

    Inviting and Decorating Amman

    • Gently take the wooden plank/stool in which Amman is there, near the house entrance (Preferably in the east direction, facing inside the home)
    • Do aarti and naivediyum with some fruits
    • Invite Amman ( we call Amman Azhaikanum). Gently bring the wooden plank/ stool (with Amman) into Pooja room or the place where you decide to keep the Amman by singing "Varalakshmi Ra Ve Ma Intiki" song (Usually I ask my husband to put this song from YouTube and sing along, as I am not fully familiar with lyrics)
    • Place the Amman in a mandapam or stool or wooden plank
    • Decorate Amman  (I got  Amman pavadai, jeedai, maalai, accessories from India which I generally Use). Use flowers for decoration

    Varalaksmi Poojai

    • My Amma got me a book that has the slogans for a collection of pooja. I generally read the varalaskmi slogam from that book. Heard from friends that slogam is also available on the internet. I was told to do  pooja for Vinayagar first then for Amman and I follow that

    • After the pooja, I do neivedhyam and deepaarathanai

    Naivedhya| Neivedhya Items we prepare for Pooja

    • Paruppu Payasam or Kadala paruppu payasam
    • Vella kozhukattai
    • uppu Kozhukattai 
    • Appam
    • Ulundhu vadai/ medu vada
    • Pacha Arisi Idli
    • Kondaikadalai Sundal(Chickpeas sundal)
    • White cooked rice
    • Puliyodarai | Lemon rice
    • Paruppu
    • Coconut, broken
    • Fruits

    The meal I made for last year’s Varalakshmi poojai

    Tie Yellow Thread

    • On a plate, take coconut,  kumkum, turmeric, betel leaves, paaku, and nombu saradu. Before marriage my Mom use to tie the yellow thread in my right hand, now my husband does the honor 🙂
    • Namaskaram session for God and elders
    • Enjoy the prasadam

    Friday evening

    • Lamp deepam. invite friends to home and give tamboolam. (In India I have seen guests singing songs in praise of Laskmi and Give channa dal sundal prasadam to the guest)

    Friday night

    • Generally, ladies skip rice for dinner. They have the prasadam item for dinner (Idli, kozhukattai, Appam).  Pregnant women and new moms take exceptions.

    Punar Poojai

    • Fruit Neivedhyam for Amman and chant slogam.
    • Evening do one round of aarthi, put flowers in Amman's feet. Gently move the kalasam to the east direction (Reader Varsha suggested, Amman is also moved towards the north direction). After sometime place the kalasam with  Amman -  inside the rice container
    • The next day takes the kalasam from the rice container and keeps the  Amman and sombhu, covered for next year. Coconut is generally used for preparing payasam/ coconut burfi

    Frequently asked questions

    🌺 My Varalakshmi mandapam, kaathu ola karukamani, and artificial banana tree are from Giri trading, Chennai (#notasponsoredpost).

    Can we keep the Amman on the ground?

    No, avoid keeping the kalasam directly on the ground. You can use stool or  palagai or amazon box table or any raised surface

    How long should I dry coconut?

    After applying turmeric water, I dry it to avoid yellow traces on the sombu. I generally keep the coconut on a paper towel to dry. If you are running late, you can even pat the coconut 2 or 3 times with a kitchen towel then use it.

    I don’t get a banana leaf, what can I do?

    You, can use a new blouse bit or use any unused cloth piece (or the one you can use every year )

    What is Akshadai? How much turmeric powder should I use?

    Akshadai is a (rice and turmeric powder) combo. No proportion, I just mix a little turmeric powder into rice till rice turns yellow.

    What is kaathu ola karukamani, where to get it / can I skip?

    If you don’t have it add other items and skip them.

    Can I skip mango leaves?

    If you get it, use it as it is auspicious but skip if you can’t find it. Few years go I got artificial mango leaves (one I use for mandapam)

    Suggest some ways to put kolam on the carpet area?

    My Pooja room has carpet so generally, I use a kolam sticker (just place it during pooja). I keep  Stone rangoli set on a plate (I got it from dollar tree). I also put a small Arisi Maavu kolam on a plate

    Disclaimer: I have shared the experience based on how we do in our home. Every tradition is different so ignore if something is irrelevant to you

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    Comments

    1. Piyali Mutha

      August 27, 2015 at 12:45 am

      What a beautiful post this is Vidya. Each ritual has been explained so nicely. Gives a sense of piousness in every word. And the dishes each delicious and befitting the occasion. Very nice and thank you for this awesome post.

      Reply
      • Vidya Srinivasan

        August 27, 2015 at 10:36 pm

        Thanku dear:-)

        Reply
    2. srividhya

      August 27, 2015 at 12:47 am

      Great share.. We keep the amman inside a mandapam basically I keep it inside the small ikea table.. Also I got DVDs for all these poojas. Varalakshmi Vratham, Sarawathy Pooja and Ganesh Chathurthi.That helps a lot with slokam and the pronunciations..
      This time its going to very hectic for me. I flying to East Coast that evening. So will be missing the elaborate pooja. 🙁

      Reply
      • Vidya Srinivasan

        August 27, 2015 at 10:37 pm

        I miss IKeA.. Should buy table type.. also artificial vazha kannu from India.. Travel plan oh man its must b hectic for u da

        Reply
    3. Suzanne

      August 27, 2015 at 6:27 am

      I love seeing all of these delicious festival foods, I am not that familiar with the Indian holidays and love learning about them and the foods that are served.

      Reply
      • Vidya Srinivasan

        August 27, 2015 at 10:37 pm

        Thanku Suzanne:-)

        Reply
    4. Bilna

      August 27, 2015 at 9:21 am

      It's nice to know about various traditions and rituals...

      We Keralites don't celebrate Varalakshmi pooja tomorrow.. We celebrate Onam tomorrow ☺

      Reply
      • Vidya Srinivasan

        August 27, 2015 at 10:36 pm

        Thanku Bilna:-) Happy Onam to you.. I have updated in my post

        Reply
    5. Gayathri Ramanan

      August 27, 2015 at 10:31 am

      Nicely written...wonderful post

      Reply
      • Vidya Srinivasan

        August 27, 2015 at 10:38 pm

        Thanku Gayathri:-)

        Reply
    6. Varsharajeswaran

      August 27, 2015 at 12:00 pm

      Hi Vidya.. Nice and timely post.. I just want to add one thing.. After punar pooja Ambal is moved a but to the north side 🙂

      Reply
      • Vidya Srinivasan

        August 27, 2015 at 10:35 pm

        Thanku Varsha for the suggestion I will update in my post:-)

        Reply
    7. Shyama

      August 27, 2015 at 5:17 pm

      Very timely post! Wonderfully written...

      Reply
      • Vidya Srinivasan

        August 27, 2015 at 10:34 pm

        Thanku Shyama:-)

        Reply
    8. Pranita

      August 27, 2015 at 5:34 pm

      Hey,
      Good job 😊 Its helpful for everyone.In maharashtra we do mahalaxmi puja on each friday in shrawan month.Its slightly different. Where did you find coconut for puja.Beacause its banned in US.I am unable to find it..So last friday I did photo puja.
      TIA

      Reply
      • Vidya Srinivasan

        August 27, 2015 at 10:33 pm

        Thanku Pranita for sharing information:-) I will update in my post. I live in AR and we get in out Indian Stores

        Reply
        • Aarthi

          December 01, 2017 at 5:07 pm

          Hi...here in US I can’t find coconut with top(kudumi in Tamil).Is it okay to make kalasam with that coconut?

          Reply
          • Vidya Srinivasan

            January 17, 2018 at 4:50 pm

            Sorry for late reply Aarthi, I took a break from blogging.
            I also live in US and thats how i do it every year

            Reply
    9. kushi

      August 27, 2015 at 5:45 pm

      Wow.. such informative and useful post. Happy varamahalakshmi vratha dear 🙂

      Reply
      • Vidya Srinivasan

        August 27, 2015 at 10:32 pm

        Thanku Kushi:-)

        Reply
    10. Julie is Hostess At Heart

      August 27, 2015 at 5:47 pm

      I just love hearing about the different cultures and their traditions. I enjoyed all of the steps that one has to go through. Too often we just take the easy route and out tradition is lost.

      Reply
      • Vidya Srinivasan

        August 27, 2015 at 10:32 pm

        Totally agree with you Julie:-) thanku

        Reply
    11. Bharani

      August 27, 2015 at 7:45 pm

      vow so nice and informative and specifically for newbies 🙂

      Reply
      • Vidya Srinivasan

        August 27, 2015 at 10:31 pm

        Thanku Bharani:-)

        Reply
    12. Anne Murphy

      August 27, 2015 at 11:47 pm

      Fascinating. I did not know about this - so thank you for the link, and your description! It sounds like a lovely ritual.

      Reply
      • Vidya Srinivasan

        August 30, 2015 at 10:03 pm

        Thanku Anne:-)

        Reply
    13. chcooks

      August 27, 2015 at 11:53 pm

      Wow.. superb post Vidya detailing on the pooja procedures 🙂 I do it in a much similar way except that I set up the Kalasam in the pooja room and I dont do the Amman Azhaithal. Also, as I know Lalitha Sahasranam by heart I just chant it along with the pooja slokams 🙂 Amma does 5 or 7 varieties of neiveidhyams - I stick to only a couple.

      Reply
      • Vidya Srinivasan

        August 30, 2015 at 10:02 pm

        Thanks for sharing your Pooja information dear:-) I know we can't compete with mothers they r best

        Reply
    14. shobha

      August 28, 2015 at 4:09 am

      Lovely post .. Thanks for sharing about all the rituals of Varalakshmi Vratham along with the recipes..

      Reply
      • Vidya Srinivasan

        August 30, 2015 at 10:03 pm

        Thanku Shoba:-)

        Reply
    15. Spiceindiaonline

      August 28, 2015 at 7:12 am

      What a beautiful post Vidhya, it shows your dedication and patience! Neatly written with detailed puja procedures... will be useful to all who follow this viratham. Thank you for sharing!

      Reply
      • Vidya Srinivasan

        August 30, 2015 at 10:03 pm

        Thanku Mullai:-)

        Reply
    16. Dedy@Dentist Chef

      August 28, 2015 at 7:14 am

      nice to know about this rituals, thx for sharing it my friend!!!

      Reply
      • Vidya Srinivasan

        August 30, 2015 at 10:04 pm

        Glad you enjoyed it .. Thanku Dedy

        Reply
    17. Radha

      August 28, 2015 at 7:25 am

      Great and wonderful

      Reply
      • Vidya Srinivasan

        August 30, 2015 at 10:00 pm

        Thanku Amma:-)

        Reply
    18. Choclette

      August 28, 2015 at 7:47 am

      I knew nothing about Varalakshmi Pooja at all, so I am now slightly less ignorant. This is a really interesting post, thank you.

      Reply
      • Vidya Srinivasan

        August 30, 2015 at 10:05 pm

        It's south Indian festival:-) thanks for stopping by

        Reply
    19. Levan @ Crazy Vegan Kitchen

      August 28, 2015 at 9:32 am

      A ridiculously tempting bunch of ingredients and seasoning! YUMMY!

      Reply
      • Vidya Srinivasan

        August 30, 2015 at 10:05 pm

        Thanku Levan:-)

        Reply
    20. Madiha Nawaz

      August 28, 2015 at 1:26 pm

      This was very interesting for me to read and liked reading about this Hindu ritual. Sounds very festive! 🙂
      Thanks for sharing 🙂

      Reply
      • Vidya Srinivasan

        August 30, 2015 at 10:07 pm

        Thanku Madiyha:-)

        Reply
    21. swapna

      August 29, 2015 at 1:44 am

      Well written beautiful post ,Vidya...

      Reply
      • Vidya Srinivasan

        August 30, 2015 at 10:00 pm

        Thanku Swapna:-)

        Reply
    22. Nish Kitchen

      August 29, 2015 at 5:23 am

      Oh wow... what a wonderful post ! Highly informative!

      Reply
      • Vidya Srinivasan

        August 30, 2015 at 9:58 pm

        Thanku Rose:-)

        Reply
    23. apsara

      August 31, 2015 at 9:41 am

      Love the exhaustive notes that you have provided! You're so thorough, dear.

      Reply
      • Vidya Srinivasan

        August 31, 2015 at 4:08 pm

        Thanku Apsara:-) I called both mothers n times to confirm everything..

        Reply
    24. jayashree

      September 08, 2015 at 5:13 am

      Nice share Vidya..good idea of writing it here

      Reply
    25. Sravanthi

      August 10, 2016 at 12:00 pm

      Hi ..Vidya ..wonderfull post..
      I have a doubt ?..I didn't get Amman face in US....so I want to made Amman face with coconut and turmaric..what we do that coconut after the Pooja. ..
      I will not use kalasam in the Pooja ..bcz I didn't get kalasam Chembur here..Please let me know ...

      Reply
      • Vidya Srinivasan

        March 09, 2017 at 9:17 am

        We usually make some sweet with coconut or use it for cooking.
        Extremely sorry Shravnthi.. I was inactive for an year and missed ur post. Hope u had a nice pooja

        Reply
    26. Vandana

      August 11, 2016 at 12:45 pm

      Such a nice post and very useful for me. Since I also live in US this would be very helpful for me. One doubt which I have is, at what time we tie the thread? According to India time or US time? Eg. if aug 12th this year in IST if they tie at 9.30 am, same way we should also tie on August 12tb 9.30 am in US or is there any different time?

      Reply
      • Vidya Srinivasan

        March 09, 2017 at 9:16 am

        Extremely sorry Vandhana.. Iw as inactive for an year and missed ur post. Hope u had a nice pooja

        Reply
    27. Gayatri

      August 19, 2021 at 2:55 pm

      Hello Vidhya, This is the exact way my family also sets up kalasam..

      Thank you for this post! It’s a ready reckoner 😊

      Reply

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