Varalakshmi Vratham/Varamahalakshmi festival is the most auspicious festival celebrated by married woman (Hindu) to commemorate Goddess Mahalakshmi.”Vara” means “boon” and Goddess Lakshmi grants all boons to those who performs pooja with utmost devotion on this day.
This pooja is performed for the well being of family members especially for the life of Husband & to get children, wealth etc. Every year Varalakshmi Vratham is observed in Sravana (in Telugu) month (Avani in Tamil & Sawan in Hindi). It is celebrated on Friday preceeding the full moon day (Pournami). Those who cannot perform it on that day, can do it on any other Friday in that month. On this day, married woman should observe fasting till they finish the puja.
In my family, both Mom & MIL don’t have the practice of doing Varalakshmi Viratham but every Friday we used to do Vilakku poojai for Goddess Mahalakshmi. But still I am making this post as per a reader’s request. A reader from Chennai mailed me to share the details of Varalakshmi Vratham with pooja vidhanam/procedures and slokas as she is a beginner.
Shalini gave me a book titled “Aadi, Avani maadha Pooja Vidhanam” in which all the important festivals like Ganesh Chaturthi, Varalakshmi Vratham, Naga Chathurthi and Garuda Panchami were discussed in detail with slokhas in Tamil. Not just that, Shalini spent nearly 3-4 hours over phone , explained each and everything about the pooja while I was drafting the post. Without the help of Shalini, this post would not have come up in my blog. I must really thank God for giving me such a helpful friend in all aspects of my life.
If you are a beginner and looking for Varalakshmi pooja slokas in Tamil, right click on the images and click “Save as”, download and save them in your mobile or PC and chant these slokas while doing the pooja. I have also shared some audio, video links for people who look for Varalakshmi vratham pooja vidhanam and idol decoration in Telugu and Tamil .
Please visit my in-laws kolam blog “Learn Kolam” for Rangoli ideas. Lets see how to do Varamahalakshmi Pooja at home 🙂
Varalakshmi Pooja Prasadam Recipes
Let me start with the list of Neivedyam Recipes. You can make any 5, 7 or 9 dishes for count.
Check out my list of Varalakshmi vratham recipes of Tamil nadu, Andhra and Karnataka.
Items required for Varalakshmi Pooja
- Rice flour & colors – for drawing rangoli ( Please visit my in-laws kolam blog “Learn Kolam” for Rangoli ideas.)
- Thambaalam/A big plate OR A wooden plank/Peeta
- Few Banana leaves
- Raw Rice – as needed ( to spread over the peeta)
- One Kudam/Kalasha ( silver, bronze or copper)
- Water scented with Jathikai/Mace, Cardamom, Saffron threads/edible camphor, Cloves(to fill the kalasha)
- few Mango leaves ( to keep on top of kalasha)
- One coconut for kalasha and few more for thamboolam bags
- Turmeric powder ( for making gowri,if you have the practice)
- Kumkum
- Chandan( Sandal paste)
- Akshatha ( Raw rice coated with turmeric/Manjal podi)
- One lotus flower
- Face of goddess ( Available ready made in Market)
- Jewelries ( For Eyes, Nose – Available in market)
- Dress and blouse piece for Lakshmi ( Buy in market)
- Flowers and garland ( for archanai & decoration)
- Betel leaves, Betel nut, Banana ( Vetrilai, Paaku, Vazhai Pazham)
- Thoram for hands/pongu nool for neck (Thoram is nothing but a sacred thread coated with turmeric powder with 9 strings and 9 knots whereas Pongu nool is a single thread smeared with turmeric powder)
- Milk, Dry fruits & nuts ( optional)
- Fruits ( all seasonal fruits)
- Panchamirtham ( a mixture of fruits, jaggery, dry fruits, nuts and ghee)(optional)
- Neivedyam recipes ( Idli, Sweet pooran kozhukattai ( poornam borelu), ellu kozhukattai, Karjikai/fried sweet samosa, Chitranna, Payasam, sweet appam ( based on your tradition).
- Thamboolam set of kumkum,chandan,bangles, Betel leaves and nuts, Yellow rope, blouse pieces, coconut, banana along with 1 rupee coins) – Make them ready as per the number of ladies you invite.
- Ready made(plastic) cups and bowls for distributing prasadam.
- Mahalakshmi stothram book or download the images I have shared here.
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Pre preparatory works for Varalakshmi Pooja
On Thursday morning,wash all the pooja vessels and kalasha pot.Wash the lamps, keep kumkum dots and put threads. Oil the lamp and keep it ready for the next day use. Make the thoran and pongu nool and arrange the other pooja things in a plate.
You can also prepare the stuffing for sweet pooran kozhukattai, soak the pulses for sundal and grind the batter for idli.
Padi Poojai/Chukkalu pette pandaga(Telugu)on Thursday evening
On thursday evening around 5.30 pm, sweep the entrance of each room (Nilai padi/vaasal padi). Apply turmeric on the sides and draw 2 lines using kumkum. It is partitioned into three divisions. Put chandan & kumkum dots. This pooja is done to welcome Goddess Lakshmi and it shows the beginning of next day function.
You can also keep the manai/Wooden plank/Peeta and place a banana leaf over it. Spread the raw rice and keep it ready for next day’s pooja. Remember you should not keep the kalasha now. It should be kept only on Friday. Please click on the image to see the bigger sized picture.
Varalakshmi Pooja Story in English
Dasibootha samastha devavanitham lokaika deepamkuram
Sri manmanda kataksha labdhivibhat brahmendra gangadharam
Twamtrayamlokyakutumbhineem sasijavandemukunda priyam
Then Charumathi offers Tambulam to the brahmin priests and distribute the vrata prasadam to the relatives and lead a happy life. Since then, Hindu women perform this vrata with utmost faith and trust till today. With this, Lord Eswara concludes telling the story to Goddess Parvathi.
Source:http://devotionalonly.com/varalakshmi-vratam-pooja-procedure-and-story/
How to make thoram and Pongu nool
Thoram and Pongu nool are nothing but the sacred thread smeared with turmeric powder. Thoram is made by taking 9 strings of thread. Put 9 knots in equal intervals. The number of thoram depends on the number of ladies & young girls at home. Thoram has to be tied around your wrist and Pongu nool is nothing but a single thread smeared with turmeric powder.
How to make the kalasha/Kalasam for Varalakshmi Pooja
For making Kalasam / Kalash, Fill the silver or bronze pot(kudum) with scented water (add cardamom, nutmeg, edible camphor etc) till its brim. Some people add kumkum, turmeric powder, dry fruits in the water. Some people have the practice of keeping raw rice, 1 lemon, 9 betel leaves(vetrilai), 9 betel nuts, 9 turmeric sticks( manjal kizhangu), 9 dry grapes, 1 moulded jaggery (Achu vellam), dry fruits & a karimani mala (black bead chain), coins inside the kalasha instead of scented water.
How To Make Kalasam For Varalakshmi Pooja
The next day i.e Friday, after taking bath, wear a silk saree and some gold ornaments ( old or new). Wash the place where the pooja is going to be held. One should observe fasting till the Pooja is finished( Elderly woman can have milk and fruits). Draw rangoli using rice flour and place the peeta/Wooden plank/Manai OR Big plate/Thambaalam.
Place the kalasha over the rice. Cover the coconut using a new blouse piece( made into cone shape by referring the video link given below).
To this coconut, an image of Goddess Lakshmi is fixed or the image of Lakshmi made using turmeric powder. My friend makes the face of Lakshmi using turmeric powder as shown in the second picture. In some areas, women place a mirror behind the kalasham. Today, there are specially made Varalakshmi pots and faces available in the market. So you can buy and fix it with the blouse piece.Now the kalasham symbolically represents Goddess Lakshmi.
Decorate the idol with dress and Jewelries and garlands. You can dress it with a tucked saree or skirt (Pavadai). Put some jewels (Preferably gold) and tie a pongu nool around the neck. It is considered to be the Mangal sutra(Thali) Keep chandan & KumKum dots. Now Goddess Lakshmi idol is ready to perform pooja. Make a cone shaped Ganesh/Pillayar using turmeric powder mixed with water and keep it near the kalasha. Light the lamps at the time of pooja and start doing it.
Please refer this video for decorating Goddess Lakshmi Idol.
How to Perform Varalakshmi Pooja
Any auspicious festival should be started with Lord Ganesh pooja. So make a small cone shaped Ganesha using turmeric powder ( Manjal pillayar). Place it near the kalasha. Read the sthothram given below and worship Lord Ganesha to do this pooja without any obstacle and after chanting the sthothram, move the Ganesh towards North direction.
शुक्लाम्बरधरं विष्णुं शशिवर्णं चतुर्भुजम् ।
प्रसन्नवदनं ध्यायेत् सर्वविघ्नोपशान्तये ॥
Shukla-Ambara-Dharam Vissnnum Shashi-Varnnam Chatur-Bhujam |
Prasanna-Vadanam Dhyaayet Sarva-Vighno[a-U]pashaantaye ||
Meaning:
1: (We Meditate on Sri Vishnu) Who is Wearing White Clothes, Who is All-Pervading, Who is Bright in Appearance like the Moon and Who is Having Four Hands,
2: Who is Having a Compassionate and Gracious Face, Let us Meditate on Him To Ward of all Obstacles.
Source : (http://www.greenmesg.org/mantras_slokas/sri_vishnu-shuklambaradharam_vishnum.php)
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Avahanam and Anga Pooja
After finishing Ganesha pooja, take some flowers and akshatha in hand and chant the Avahanam slokha. Visualise Goddess Lakshmi in mind and offer the flowers and akshatha to kalasha. Goddess Lakshmi is invited to our house.
Lakshmi Ksheera Samudra Raaja Tanaya
Sree Ranga Dhaameshvari
Daasi Bhootha Samasata Deva Vanithaam
Lokaika Deepankuraam
Sreeman Manda Kataaksha Labdha Vibhava
Brahmendra Gangaadharam
Tvaam Trailokya Kudumbineem
Sarasijam Vande Mukunda Priyaam
Meaning: Goddess Lakshmi, who is the daughter of the king of the ocean of milk, whose abode is Srirangam (with Lord Ranganatha), who is served by all the divine ladies in heaven, who is the guiding light for the world, who has obtained the sustained (continued, everlasting) glance (Grace) from Brahma, Indra and Shiva, whose abode is the three worlds (Bhu, Bhuva, Suvaha) – I offer my prostrations to Thee, the beloved of Lord Krishna (Mukunda).
Now perform Anga Pooja (Worshipping each body parts of Lakshmi). Offer flowers to Kalasha by chanting Anga pooja sthothram. Refer the picture below for Anga pooja Sthothram in Tamil. Please refer this link in Hindupad for sthothra in English.
Following this, chant Lakshmi Ashtothram(108) by offering flowers to Kalasha.
Refer the below picture for Anga Pooja slokha & Lakshmi ashtothram ( Click on the image to see the bigger sized picture).
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| Varalakshmi viratham slokhas |
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| Varalakshmi vratham slokhas |
Proceed with thoram Pooja/Nonbu Saradu poojai which is known as Thorakrandhi pooja.
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| Thorakrandhi pooja / Nonbu pooja |
Neivedyam and Mangala Aarathi
Finally, Mangala Harathi is performed for the kalasha. Different types of sweets/neivedyam are offered in front of the God. Nonbu saradu/Thoram (yellow thread) should be tied on the woman’s right hand and Pongu nool should be tied around your neck. You can ask your Husband to do this. At the end, take harathi by mixing turmeric & kumkum in water. Sing the Harathi song while taking mangala aarathi.
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| Mangala harathi song |
If you have not read the Varalakshmi Vratham story on Thursday, do it now.
Punar Puja – How To Remove Kalasha
Some people remove the kalasha on Friday night. But my friends told me to do it on Saturday. On Saturday morning, after taking bath, perform a pooja for the kalasha. Then dismantle it at auspicious time of the day. Consume little water as theertha. Sprinkle it all around in the house. Then pour the remaining water in well, trees or tulsi plant. If rice is used in Kalasha, mix it with rice in the house. If you used coins, keep in the locker safe. You can remove the nonbu saradu/Pongu nool and thoram after 3 days or on Saturday. Make some sweets with the coconut you kept in kalasam and enjoy with your family. Do not make any spicy dishes with the coconut.
If you want to strictly follow all the rules and methods of Varalakshmi Puja, then it would be wise to take the advice from an elderly woman who is regularly performing the puja. What I have shared here is purely based on the procedure given in the book and pooja methods shared by my friend Shalini. It may vary from place to place and tradition. Thanks for visiting this page. Please write few words in the comment section if you find this post useful. I will be more happy to know it.
Source for Punar Puja :http://periva.proboards.com/thread/1742
Some useful Links for Slokhas & Videos for beginners
Refer THIS LINK for the detailed pooja procedure with slokhas in English
- This VIDEO will help you to decorate Lakshmi Idol & placing Kalasha.
- If you want to do the pooja by listening to slokhas chanted by a priest, please refer this AUDIO, AUDIO & VIDEO , THIS VIDEO for Telugu Version. You can just follow the instructions and perform pooja.
How to do simple Varalakshmi Pooja
NOTE from a reader Mrs. REVATI
She has been doing this Pooja since 27yrs. Thanks a lot for sharing this valuable information mam.
If any close relative from in-laws side dies, we should not perform full puja BUT on the festival day one must take out Amman moham/ face and keep in silver glass or panchatram with rice, tambulam, coin in it in silver or peetalai / brass plate with banana leaf below. Yellow thread should be kept in amman, neivedyam should be done with fruits, beetal leaf, supari, manjal. After that tie sharadu in your right hand.
Please go through the comments section for frequently asked queries and answers. As the number of comments have exceeded the limit, most of the latest comments are available in second page. So please click “LOAD MORE” BUTTON in MOBILE below the comments box to see the second page in your mobile. If you are using desktop or tablet, please click the ” 1-200 of 219 newer newest >> ” to see the second page. Experienced people, do share your pooja methods with us, it will help everyone. Thanks !
Wonderful post with such detailed instructions…appreciate your patience in posting this…Hats off to you chitra..
I need the above tamil book how do i get download link..?
Hello, The above book was given as a complimentary. I have shared the printers details. But its a very old book. I don't know whether this print is available now.
Whom to wear varalaxmi nonbu rope?
It should be tied by the person who is doing the Pooja. They should tie by themselves.
Really its awesome, I never seen this much detailed information without doing, ur posted for readers request its great. Ur information are very useful to beginners, thank you so much I am also going to do this pooja I was thinking how to start what procedure its really very useful. But I have one doubt, I have gayatri devi silver statue can I proceed this same method, r v have to do like wt ur doing in coconut.
Thanks a lot Sankar Saranya.Its not necessary that u should keep a kalasam.You can perforn pooja for the statue.Even i am going to perform this pooja with a Goddess photo frame along with a kuthuvilakku 🙂
Tats nice, thank you. Its really very clear & nice explanation.
Thank you again 🙂
Pls can u tell about coconut.what I have to do that coconut…it's my first pooja.
You have to use this coconut to prepare any sweet. Don't use it to prepare spicy dishes.
I searched many blogs I found this blog have all info for plus thanks.
My doubts are
1.when to remove nombu kayiru?
2.we don't have many neighbours so can I distribute thambulam to women in temple after doing my pooja at my home?
3 I plan my pooja in evening when is the right time to do it?
Plz do reply. Thanks in advance:-):-)
Hello Vidhya
Thanks for visiting this page.I am glad u find it useful.Regarding your doubts
1.You can nombu kayiru after 3 days of pooja
2.You can distribute the thambulam for women in temple.It is also auspicious.
3.Evening is the right time/best time to perform this pooja as mentioned in the book.But please take bath and start doing the pooja.So you have to bathe twice.To avoid this,many ladies do the pooja in the morning as soon as they take bath 🙂 Hope this helps you.Thanks!
Thank you very much for the detailed and helpful post.
Thank you 🙂
Dear,
Thanks for the post. Useful. Can you please give me the details about the book you have taken copy. Please give me the title of the book and the publisher name . You can also give a copy of the the front title page. Easy for us to buy that book.
Thanks
Hello sir,Thanks for the suggestion.I have attached a picture of the book in the post.Please have a look at it.This book was given as complimentary gift to my friend.So it was specially prepared for that.Please enquire in some popular book shops or Giri trading agency for Varalakshmi vratham book with story.I guess you will get it.Thanks.
Wonderful post..thanks for sharing…really very useful and a nice gesture from you..
Thank u 🙂
Hii mam can I do this pooja I'm not married yet but I'm engaged
Simply amazing!! Helpful information…
Thank you 🙂
hi chitra…
i am santhiya… oh my god! what a detailed post.. now only i read this and also now only i see ur blog.. its really really awesome.. very nice.. today itself am going to try ur recepies one by one…
thank u
Thanks a lot Santhiya.Hope u will like my recipes too 🙂
Thank you a million times for this wonderfully written blog! I've been married 4 years and this is my first time starting this pooja. My MIL wishes for me to do it, but she's in a different country and is unable to give me clear instructions on how to perform the full pooja ( she asked me to look it up in YouTube. I did, and ended up confused). Your blog was just the thing I needed to make my notes and feel like I know what I should be doing. I can't thank you enough Chitra. You are my god-sent for this occassion. May varalakshmi give you all the 'varams' you ask for 🙂
Thanks a bunch for your blessings. Iam so happy to read your message.Have a great celebration 🙂 My best wishes 🙂
Thank you so much for the blog. Can you clarify my doubts
1. Do we need to buy new saree for Goddess?
2. What to do with the saree after removing kalasam? Should it be given to temple?
Hi, Its good to buy a new saree. After wearing the saree, you can use it for yourself. If its a small saree or skirt, use it next year. No need to give to temple.
Thank you for the prompt reply:-)
Wat was d rules for performing fasting
One can observe fasting by taking milk & fruits alone.Some people observe fasting by having tiffin for breakfast & lunch. They avoid taking rice. For elderly people and pregnant women, fasting is not necessary.
Hi chitra I am so so glad to comment here and thanks to the core…I was searching varalakshmi viratham procedure in many sites and confused a lot…both my mom and mil doesn't know this procedure…so wanted to know this so badly and now ended with success by visiting this post….thanks again…one doubt both kalasam and goddess face should be silver or bronze that too a new one or shall I use my old kalasam?
Also should I decorate the goddess only using gold ornaments??
Hi Sindhuraj, Kalasam should be in bronze or silver but God's face can be with anything. Even you can make your own with turmeric powder. There are many youtube videos to help you make God's face. You can use old kalasam. No need to buy new ones. Its not necesaary to decorate the goddess with gold ornaments. You can decorate it just with flowers.Goddess Mahalakshmi would be please with it 🙂
In fact my friends use all designer, covering jewelleries that looks attractive 🙂 Refer the above pictures.
Hello Chitra. I am Mounika. Thanks for your valuable information. I got married in February 2015. I didn't perform my first year varalaxmivrath after my marriage. Can I start vratham in this year that is second year of my marriage. Please reply.
Hi, I asked my friend about this. She told you can start pooja either by first or third year and not in second year. Sorry..
Thank you Chitra garu
Again one doubt if me and my mil were in same home then we should make two idols like your friend archana??
Hi,Not necessary. Actually one is yamuna and other one is lakshmi in the picture. If you wish, you can keep two as well.
Dear Mrs. Chitra Ganapathy.
Im glad to intro myself Divya. we, that in my family my mom was doing this from past 15 yrs. im also continue doing it after marriage. your blog about this varalakshmi viradham was very nice and useful too. i have one doubt, – we are in share accommodation, it is impossible for me to invite them to home. so im from past 6 years. i will prepare as you said, i will distribute the thambulam with persatham by taking it to their houses – Is it fine. or should i call them here. i will continue fasting till distribution was finished. after finishing pooja i will start doing this distribution. im not doing distribution in evening.
If you do pooja by keeping idol at home, its auspicious to invite married ladies to your house and give thamboolam. If you are just doing a simple pooja, then you can distribute prasadam and thamboolam by going to their houses OR you can take everything to a nearby temple and distribute there too. Once you finish the pooja, you can have the food. No need to wait until prasadam distribution.
Hi chitra ,
Should I do anything special for amman's hand because in above pics I couldn't see any hands and what to put for mangalyam(thali) for Amman just yellow rope or I have to put any gold coins in thali kayiru?? Plz could you help me please
For amman's hands, you can put bangles either gold or glass. Here readymade small sized mangalyam is available in pooja stores. You can buy and wear that. If its not available in your place, you can put a gold coin in yellow rope as u said.
Dear Mrs Chitra Ganapathy,
Very detailed explanation . I have been celebrating this pooja for the last 10 years with my mother-in-law, but we used to do the pooja with my lakshmi muham and kalasam as she had not brought her muham and kalasam with her when she visited us. Recently my mother-in-law has got her own kalash and muham as well. Do we keep both the muhams in 1 kalash ? Also, maybe I would not be able to do the pooja this friday, is it alright for me to do the pooja with my kalasam and muham next friday . My mother-in-law will do the pooja this friday with her muham and kalsam. Please advise. Very confused here. My mother does not have this pooja and hence can't help me out here.
Hi, I have mailed the details to you. Thanks.
Shouls i need to tie the nombu rope the poojs day ?
Yes, you should tie the rope after finishing the pooja and before taking harathi.
Hello chitra
Very nice and detailed explanation for beginners like me. Thanks a lot. But I am married for less than a year and some death has happened in family. So we have been instructed not to do any abhishekam or keep kalasha in any festival for a year. Now only myself and my husband stay in home. I don't know how to do pooja without kalasha. Can I just take bath, clean house, prepare naivaidya and do pooja..
Yes as told by your family, you should not celebrate any festivals at home. But just do a simple pooja by keeping some neivedyam just like your daily pooja. No issues.
Hi mam im married its my second pooja in my first just am doing simple pooja somebody invite me to her home for pooja am in rental home may i do this kalasa pooja in my home.if i consider this as first yr or second yr
Hi, For the first year you din't keep kalasha and did the pooja. So this year, make a simple pooja.Next year,i.e 3rd year, keep the kalasha and start it.
Hi Chitra, thanks for sharing very useful information. It is very helpful, what should I do with 9 leaves that we put on rice near the kalasa after the pooja, I saw one video in you tube, they dint mention anything about it. I think these leaves are different from thambulam leaves which we give for 9 married women.Please reply. The information you gave us clears lot of my doubts. God bless you!!
Hello mam, please mention which leaves it is.Can you share the youtube video link ? If its banana leaves, you can use them for serving food after the pooja. If there are excess leaves, you can leave them in river water.Thanks for your blessings 🙂
Hi Chitra, thanks for ur reply. Those are beetle leaves( thamala pakulu) , they put it on rice near the kalasa. Please find the link below. So I need to put them in the river right the next day? And one more question, in thambulam do I need to put one beetle leave or two for giving to other women? Can I take tho ram off on the same day from my hand since I am breast feeding 1 month old baby? http://youtu.be/R6zqqXmGvLk
You can put them in water or in thulasi pot.Usually thoram has to be removed after the pooja set up is removed.Its done on saturday.So remove the thoram the next day. Its just a turmeric thread. So it doesn't affect the baby i guess.
hi I am south African. and have never missed a prayer for the last 23 years. I lost my father in law in July and would like to know if there is a problem doing the prayer
Sorry to say. You should not do the pooja this year.
Thank u fr the info….i have velli mugam…should i decorate the kalasam also??
Just decorate it with flowers.
Hi Chitra, Very useful post. How long should we keep the decorated amman?
You can keep it till saturday morning. Do pooja with simple neivedyam in the morning and then remove it.
thank you 🙂
Hi Chitra; what time we need perform the pooja; only in the morning is recommended ; can we do this in evening
Morning or Evening – Both would do. Actually evening 6pm is considered auspicious.
thanks a lot chitra..!!
Thank you 🙂
Thank you !! Happy vara Laxmi vratham tomorrow!
Thank you.Wish you the same 🙂
Hi Chitra , one quick question, since my marriage I am doing this pooja in the morning but tomorrow grocers shops getting betel leaves around 10 am., can I perform pooja in the eveng this time ?
Sure, you can do. Evening 6pm is auspicious for Laskhmi Pooja 🙂
Hi chitra, im invited to varalakshmi vratam, do i need to fast to take tambulam? Can i have nonveg and do headbath before i go? Please help
Hi, No need to fast.But its better if you avoid eating non-veg food 🙂
If you consume non-veg food, u can take head bath and go to their house as you said 🙂
Hi.. A quick ques.. Shall we do pooja with only kalasham as I don't have face..
Yes, you can do it. If possible, make a small face using turmeric powder.
Successfully completed the pooja. Thanks Chitra.
Great ! Happy to know 🙂
Thank u so much for sharing such useful information ☺…..really nice ……
Welcome 🙂
hi chitra,I bought a small skirt for Amman last year to tie around the kalasam .can I use the same skirt this year also
Hi Pavani, If you have not used the skirt for regular use other than wearing for amman, you can use the same skirt this year too else its better to buy an new one.
Hi Chitra, very useful post. I have a doubt. I usually perform this Pooja in mil's place.(we both stay separately). I want to perform it in my house from this year. Mil perform it in her house. Is it okay if we both perform it seperately.no.2 my mil is not having a practice of keeping kalasam. So is it okay if I keep a Kalasam or should I follow her practice?
Hi Kavitha, Thanks.1. Yes you can start to do separately. As you are staying in a different place, you can do it.
2. Usually people follow their elders pratice. If you wish to keep kalasham, then no harm in it. You can keep it 🙂 All the best !
Thanks for the prompt reply Chitra.
Hello ,very useful blog .i cleared lots of doubt but few doubts left.
1.as u said we should do pooja on 1st or 3rd odd no of marriage year.but i did 4th yr of my marriage is there any prob? This is my second puja.
2.After puja nxt day i kept that kalash with coconut in my puja room and keep doing puja with other goddess.this yr what i will do?will i place new coconut and do bisarjan of old one?
3.As am frm odisha i dont knw any mantra is it k to do pooja without mantra .i knw only few sloka.
Hi Prangya,
1. As you had started unkowingly, its fine. You can proceed this year.
2. You can remove the kalash next day. Do a simple pooja in an auspicious time with some simple prasad. Then remove the kalash. Use the coconut for cooking and pour the water in tulsi or any tree. No need to keep the kalash.
3. No worries. You can chant whatever you know and do the pooja.If you want to read more slokhas, you can read it from online or you can just playback the slokhas in a player. Doing the pooja whole heartedly matters the most 🙂 All the best !
Thank you very much Chitra for the detailed procedure.
We dont have varalakshmi pooja at my mom's place. Last year was the first year I learnt how to do the pooja. My mother in law guided me. This year I've to do it myself and I'm little scared. Your blog has got me confidence.
Thank you once again.
Thank you 🙂
Hi very nice explanation chitra ji.
Is it like we should use or tie a new saree or dress.or can I use a silk saree that is worn before.
Thank you. Yes, people here buy new dress for this festival. But no problem, you can wear old silk saree too.Silk saree is auspicious. Already worn ones are also fine 🙂
What should we do with the water in the kalash
I have given in the post. Consume little water as theertha and pour the remaining in well, tree or tulsi plant.
Thank you very much Chitra for the detailed and useful information i need a clarification whether i should remove the kalasha on the same day or next day since it will be second day , and can i start my pooja in brahmi muhurtha on friday
Some people remove the Kalasha on Friday night. But you can do it Saturday morning as well. Yes, you can do the pooja in Brahma muhurtham 🙂 Happy Varamahalakshmi 🙂
Ms.chitra, excellent post.
I just want to clarify you with one post, if any close relative from in-laws side dies we should not perform full puja BUT on the festival day one must take out Amman moham and keep in silver glass or panchatram with rice, tamulam, coin in it in silver or peetalai plate with banana leaf below. Yellow thread should be kept in amman, nevedyam should be done with fruits, beetal leaf, supari, manjal. After that tie sharadu in ur right hand. I am doing this puja since last 27 years. My mom n in laws told me all this. This yr though i dont hv this.hope this will be useful.
Hello madam,
Thanks a lot for sharing with us. I am sure this information will be useful to all.I will try to add these points in my post as well. Thanks again 🙂
Hi Chitra,
Very informative for beginners like me. Thanks a ton.
Can you be little more brief on " Thoram and Pongu Nool", please? I couldn't relate it clear.
Hello Akira,
Thoram is made with muppirinool, 3 stringed threads. You should take 3 muppirinool and join together to make it 9.if you don't have muppirinool you can use any thin thread and make 9 strands . you should put 9 knots. Poongu nool can be made with single thread. Just apply turmeric and keep it.
Hello Chitra…. Please give me another day or date to perform this varalakshmipooja.
Hello Chitra…. Please give me another day or date to perform this varalakshmipooja.
Hello, You can perform this pooja on 3rd friday of this month.
Hi mam! I have one big doubt that my mom & mil didnt perform any rituals of varalakshmi pooja till now! Iam very much interested to perform this pooja eagerly? is it ok? It willn't affect my family? Plz reply me mam asap
Hi, As you are interested in doing this pooja, you can surely do it. If you wish, you can do it with kalasha or in a simple way without kalasha.All the best:)
Thankyou very much for ur kind response mam! This is my first year married life but i didn't perform this pooja due to my periods today? Will i perform this on next friday? Or next year?
Yes, u can do it next week.
Thanks mam😊
Hi Ma'am,
Firstly very nice post and easy to follow specially for beginners and people who are not South Indians but wants to do pooja as in law's house they do it every year. 1st year my mother in law kept the idol and I kept the fast and did the aarti.. This year m staying away from family, so I kept the kalasam. Did I make any mistake by keeping the kalasam on my 2nd year? And after pooja when do we remove the idol?
Hi, Thanks. Generally people keep it on first, third like odd number years. But if its done with devotion, don't worry about it 🙂 Its not a harm. You can remove the idol on Saturday morning.If not, remove on Sunday morning. ie. the third day.
Hi Thank u very much for posting the detailed procedure.I got a clear picture now.I have few doubts.If I am planning to give tambulam for 9 ladies.Will it includes me ?
Hi, Thanks. It is not including you. You can give to 9 or 11 ladies other than you.
Hi Chitra. I am from Karnataka and my question is whether the number of women offered tambulam after Pooja should be 5 or any fixed number and if I can also take the same from my sister if I got only 2 or 4 sumanalis? Is it right if I am doing Pooja and offered tambulam of the same Pooja?
Hi, I asked my friends regarding your query. They said, there is no hard and fast rule of giving thamboolam to ladies in odd or even count. So you can give for people who visit your place. Usually people don't take thaamboolam from their own home after doing pooja by themselves. So I am not sure about this.
Is it compulsory to place goddess Lakshmi idol only at East face?
East is the best if not North is fine.
Hi, my mother wants to start varallakshmi vratham at home. There is no practice in both my grandmother's house. Can she start it this year on her own and will it have any impact?
Hi, She can start. No problem. If you know anyone already doing this pooja (May be your neighbor or friends), ask them to help you with procedures and tell her to give the kalasha to your moms hand and start it. If its not possible, no issues. She can do it on her own. Anything done whole heartedly to God have a good impact 🙂 All the best !
Good post. Where can we get that “Aadi, Avani maadha Pooja Vidhanam” book?
Once I saw that book in book exhibition. But I missed it. Pls help us if you know?
Hi, Sorry. I am not sure about it. you can try in Giri.
Thank you
Hi,
I am doing this puma from 9 years but now not able to do it from now due to my health issues. Can I stop it for few years. If yes then what can I do with lakshmi face. Pls suggest
If you are not able to do this Pooja in an elaborate way, just do in a simple way. On the festival day, take out Amman moham and keep in silver glass or panchatram with rice, tambulam, coin in it in silver or peetalai / brass plate with banana leaf below. Yellow thread should be kept in amman, neivedyam should be done with fruits, beetal leaf, supari, manjal. After that tie sharadu in your right hand. As you are doing it for 9 years, please don't stop it. If you are not able to do this simple Pooja too, then keep the Amman face in kalasam filled with rice in the Pooja room itself. Just do a simple neivedyam like every other day.
Unmarried girl should perform this pooja?
Yes you can if you like
Hello mam,
I want to do varalakshmi pooja starting this year but few people are saying not to do if don’t have the practice of doing it on husband side . So I am confused now whether to do it or not ? I already brought the Amman face – What should I do on this Friday? Can I just decorate the Amman face with new blouse without kalasam and nonbu Saradu and give thambulam to ladies .please help me on this .
Thanks
.
No problem. I have seen many of my friends doing it on their own interest even if its not a family practice. If you are really worried about your friends opnion, just ask your nieghbor or any relatives who is doing this pooja to start it by giving amman face to your hands or keep it in kalasam. i.e Avangala eduthu kuduka sollunga. Its like you are taking the pooja from them so that you can continue every year. Hope I have cleared your doubts.
Period time 4 days shall do the poojai
Period time 4 th day shall I do the poojai
No Please don't do it. You can do it next Friday
I going to perform puja friday but mother nor inlaws not have the practice of varalakshmi puja..i seached many sites and youtube channel then i decide but i seen tody one video that without prevoius family deity one cant perform nombu ..pls help me . Or perform without nombu saradu is it ok im totally confuse now..pls help me
Saradu ellame pujai seilayama ore confusing ha iruku.neighbours yarum ille inde pujai follow panaravange so na pujai fridy saradu illame seiyutuma.oru youtube video le sonnage family practice illame nombu pujai seiye kudadunu but i really wanted to i already brought everything for friday pujai pls help me mam
just oru manjal kayiru vachu pooja pannitu atha kaluthula kattokonga. Poeple have different opinions. just carry on without any doubts and hesitation. Think positively and go ahead. Its finally our bhakthi matters the most. Nallethe nadakkum. All the best 🙂
Thank u so much
Thank you so much Chitra! Very nicely explained in patient and detailed way.
Thanks a lot
Mam what I have to do that coconut after pooja…when I have to dismantle kalasa.this is my first year of pooja.
It's mentioned in the end of the post. You can use the coconut in your cooking. Make some sweets or use in regular cooking.
Thank you so much mam…
hi Chitra nice post.. What should we do with the coconut?
You can use it in your cooking or make sweets with it.
Really want to appreciate you mam…
Nicely said all the pooja procedure..
Great…
The way you explained itself shows, how goddess lakshmi is within you…
God bless you always…
Thank you so much for your blessings. I must thank my friends for teaching me 😊
I recently got married and I am excited to start varalakshmi vratham this year. My Father in law passed away long back. To start the pooja, do I need to join with someone who is already doing it? Or should I invite priest to initiate? We don’t have the tradition in my moms side, so my mom doesn’t do this festival – kindly help
Hi Sangeetha, you can do it alone. But it's better to get the help and advice from any elderly person who is doing the pooja regularly. It may be your relative, friend or neighbor too. Ask them to take the kalasam and give you. You can also ask the priest to do the pooja or guide you. Hope it helps.
Hi Chitra, we don't have family practice on both sides of my families. I have been doing this for 17 years now I want to stop doing this puja. Is it ok ?
Hi, On the festival day, take out Amman moham and keep in silver glass or panchapatram with rice, tambulam, coin in it in silver or peetalai / brass plate with banana leaf below. Yellow thread should be kept in amman, neivedyam should be done with fruits, beetal leaf, supari, manjal. After that tie sharadu in your right hand. As you are doing it for 17 years, please don't stop it. If you are not able to do this simple Pooja too, then keep the Amman face in kalasam filled with rice in the Pooja room itself. Just do a simple neivedyam like every other day.
Hi, I liked your post. It is very useful. Can you please tell what to do with mangalasutra done in yellow thread,tied to kalasha after pooja?
Hi you can remove and tie to a Lakshmi photo if you have. Once its worn out or after 3 days, remove and tie to a plant or tulsi
Hi,please tell me about what to do with the yellow thread tied to kalasha?
I have replied above. Please check it.
Hai. My daughter is going to do her first pooja after marriage. Can she do it with a seperate kalasam and Amman mugam in my house . Pl reply. Thanks.
Hi, Yes your daughter can perform the pooja along with you with a new kalasam and amman mugam in your house. Its called as pandigai eduthu kudukurathu. From next year, she can do in her mil's house or her own house. Hope its clear.
Thank u so much for your early reply. I had a doubt whether we can have two kalasams at a same house. Pl reply. Thanks
Hai. Think you for your early reply. I am doing this pooja since years. I just had doubt on keeping a two kalasams at the same house. OK reply thanks
Hi I asked my friends now. They told to keep only one kalasam and amman face for two of you to do the pooja. For one house, only one kalasha should be kept.
Hai Chitra. So nice of you. That's what even I thought. I think we can keep the new Amman mugam beside mine and ask her to do the pooja so that she can continue at her house from next year.
Oh this is new to me. Thanks for sharing this point. It will be useful to all.
Mam last year I started puja with kalasham dis year I m pregnant I saw one video they telling that pregnant lady cannot do puja with kalasham. They should do puja without kalasham. After delivery do with kalasham… Like that I'm very confused mam pls do rply me ma…
Hi, You can do a simple pooja without kalasham if you are 7 months or more. If less than 6 months, you can do with kalasham. If you really want to do with kalasam, ask your mil or mom to do the pooja . You can do with them. If you are alone, better to avoid kalasam after 7 months. Elders says this because its very difficult to sit on the floor and do the pooja after 6 months. This is the reason. Hope I have cleared your doubt.
Thank u ma i only 4 month pregnant ma
Can I do myself right with kalasham is it ok. Vare yedhu reason ille le ma to perform puja with kalasham
Yes neenga panlam. But irundhalum oru periyavanga support kelunga to help you for pooja activities. Do not strain much.
Hi mam,
Very useful and thanks for your post.
I got married this year last June month. . And this is the first vara Lakshmi nombu I considered to do my home.
Shall I do now? And also my sister in law is pregnant and going to give birth in 2months.. So can I do this year nombu? Pls advice.
Hi,
Yes you can do the pooja this year with fasting. Yous sis-in-law can join you but no need to observe fasting. Also get the advice from your elders for doing the pooja as per your tradition.
Hi mam , my father passed away, shall I tie saradu to my mother's hand
Hi, No. You shouldn't tie the sharadu.
Hai chitra thank you so much for your post It was really very helpful Can I do this pooja in the evening ?
Yes ofcourse. You can do around 6pm.
Hi Chitra,
Thank you for this post. I have been doing this puja for the last 10 years but had to miss this year because I was travelling. When is the next possible day to do this pooja? It has to be Valar pirai and a Friday rite? Can we do the Puja on Saturday or Sunday?
Friday is auspicious. Please do on the same day 🙂
Hello mam…i have doubt regarding yellow thread which tied as tahli to kalasha…should o throw it or can i use it for next year?please answer
Hi you can tie the rope to a Lakshmi photo frame for few days until its dry and worn out. Then remove and tie to a tulsi plant or any plants.
Ok…thank you mam
Very nice and clear explanations, thank you so much!
Can i celebrate lakshmi pooja without giving tamboolam to outsiders? I am away from Relatives and newly shifted to an apartment where all are new and also due to corona its difficult to find one and give them
Yes, you can celebrate it. No problem. If you wish, you can keep one thaamboolam set near Goddess.
Hi sis due to lockdown am in my mom's house. Shall I do this varalakshmi pooja in my mom's house? My mom does not do this pooja in her home yet now. What should I do
Hi, yes you can do it if your mom agrees 😊
When we give Thamboolam, some of them are saying to give 1rupee or 5 rupee coin. Others telling v shouldn't give money to any one on that day. Which is correct sis?
Yes you can give. No issues. It's actually dhakshina. So whatever we give to sumangali is considered as giving to Goddess mahalakshmi. So you can give 1 rs or 5 rs coin.
Hi mam,
I m in kerala, nobody wont come bcoz of covid so we can make simple pooja and a set of thamboolam to god
Hi, Yes you can do like this.
Hello Chitra.This year i am starting with Varalaxmi vradham and i have bought a yellow amman face. Now onwards , i should do the poojai with the same face or later i can purchase another face(like silver) for the poojai?
Hi, yes you can use new one after you buy
Hi sis last week my hubby's grandpa died. They are going to perform kaariyam after 3months only. In that case how can I perform pooja? some of them are telling u should not perform pooja? What should I do? Plz help me
Hi, Please do not do the pooja this year. Sorry !
I am From Indore ,Madhya Pradesh. I loved this festival, and wanted to know the procedure and how it is performed .Thanks for sharing . 😀
Welcome !Glad to know your interest towards this festival 🙂
Hello Chaitra.
Thanks for the information
In the first year of marriage I did Pooja to devi photo placing gold, coins and nivedhya without kalasam in a simpler way. Can I start Pooja in this year (2and year of marriage) with kalasam in a proper way???
Sure, you can do with kalasam this year
Thank you so much
We have been doing this Pooja for 28 years,since our first year of marriage. The silver mugam now is somewhat dented.. My question is whether we can change the silver mugam.
Yes, you can change the Mugam.
Hi chitra,
I am really very glad that I came across this article after a long search for the real story of varalakshmi vratam, which is not there in any of giri,sakuntala or kalaimagal books. Please consider my request in posting the pdf format of the book. Please please
Sure, I will try to share in PDF format. Thanks
Hi Chitra,
I have been doing Varalakshmi vratam from last 15 years.But this year because of covid i am asked not to invite anyone.Is there any way to give pasupu bottu.
Hello, I would suggest not to take risk at this time. You can keep a thamboolam set near the God. Finally the pooja is for Goddess. So don't worry about giving to others 🙂
Very good article detailed explanation. hatts off to ur efforts.
Hi..thank you for valuable information…..can you pls let me know he fasting procedure…at what time can we break d fast..what all is allowed to eat during the fast….also what sweets that is Neivedyam shud be offered to goddess…what all shud we offer…
Hi, you should fast till you finish the pooja. You can have fruits, milk, buttermilk during fasting. For prasadam, sweet pongal, vada, tamarind rice, curd rice, sundal, payasam can be offered. Other than this, people also make kozhukattai, raw rice idli, rava ladoo, lemon rice, kesari, obbattu, sweet samosa based on their family practice and region. Please check with your elders for your tradition. Hope this helps.
Hi mam, my father pass in law passed away last year August 18 2019, can we perform this vratham.
Hi, you should not do pooja with kalasam this year. You can just do a simple regular pooja instead.
Superb explanation mam awesome same for me mom n mil not done but I'm interested to do pooja . I have doubt that what s thoram n poongu nool mam cant understand please tell me mam
Hi Tusha,
You cannot do the pooja with kalasam this year instead you can do a simple pooja by lighting the lamp and offering some neivedyam like your regular pooja. If you have silver face, you can keep that in the pooja and do it. Please consult your family elders once before doing this. Thanks
Hi, Thank you. Happy to know your interest in this pooja. Please watch some youtube videos for making thoram and poongu nool. Its made with the mupirinool.
Hi Chitra,
This year i want to do pooja with kalasam but i dont know the mantras or sholkas . SO can i just place the kalasam and do simple pooja by reading all the contents which i know like lalitha sahashranam ,lakshmi ashtothram etc . kindly rply asap.
Hi Pinky,
Yes you can do it 🙂
Hi,
Where does one do the rangoli for this pooja ? Near the temple at home or near the house main door?
Hi, you can put at both the places.
Thanks a lot Mam….No words to explain how I'm feeling relieved you know becoz my FIL brother expired and we don't have Nombu some of them said that you can keep the Amman mugam in others kalasa who do the pooja but due to this covid situation no one is ready to invite as well,😌 and more over I had 2 house's as option but unfortunately they too don't have nombu I'm totally worried by luck last night I came to your blog and found my answer 🙏🙏🙏🙏I did simple pooja with Amman face as Revathi Mam and you mentioned Thank you so much Chitra and Revathi Mam….
Happy to know that. Thank you so much for taking time to write here😊
Hi Madam,
wonderful post with proper explanation
I have two faces of Amman, one of mine and other of my MIL. How to keep both in pooja.
Can I keep both on same Kalasha.
Regards,
Subhalakshmi Ramanan
Hello Subhalakshmi,
If you are keeping one Kalasam, keep one face only. Either yours or your MIL's one, anything is fine. Alternatively , you can keep one as Yamuna kalasam with one face and another one as Lakshmi kalasam with anothet face. So you have to keep two kalasam in this case.
Hello Bhuvanesh,
You can sit with your mom or some elders who do this pooja at home and accompany them while doing the pooja. You cannot do it alone. If you wish, you can make a simple Lakshmi pooja without keeping Kalasam.
Several decades ago there was a practice and continues even now so as a tradition that if
golu padi keeping was in practice Varalakshmi pooja was not conducted in that home and so also vice versa. If a girl is married and went to her in law's house she had to follow the tradition in her "puhundha veedu", I follow this practice more than 65 years and do not want to break the tradition without sufficient explanation. This tradition is followed in many homes even now. What was the basic explanation for this tradition? I am 86 years old. I failed to ask my mother the reason.
Hello Balakrishnan sir,
Even I don't know the answer. But If we have a tradition, its better to follow it. Our ancestores and parents are our Guru in this 🙂 If possible, I will check with my Guru and update here 🙂 Thanks.
Very detailed information. Actually I am doing this pooja since 40 years. My doubt is, can we keep Lakshmi moham in our regular pooja in all other days. Recently some of my friends started doing that. Please clarify.
Hello Rama mam,thanks for visiting my page. I will clarify this from my friends and comment again.
Very detailed information. Actually I am doing this pooja since 40 years. My doubt is, can we keep Lakshmi moham in our regular pooja in all other days. Recently some of my friends started doing that. Please clarify.
Hello Rama mam, I enquired my friend about this. Yes you can keep in your pooja room and do the simple pooja everyday. Thanks
I'm married for 13years. In my family we dont have practice of doing varalakshmi vratham (this elaborately). we do fasting and small pooja. Can I start this pooja,as my family doesnt have this practice? If so, how to start. Thanks.
Hi Priti,
Yes you can do in a simple way without keeping kalasam. You can fast, Chant slokhas, offer prasadam and do the pooja. Give thamboolam to friends. Hope it is clear.
Hi Priti,
If you want to do an elaborate pooja,you can follow the above procedure or consult your temple priest for your family's practice. Thanks
Thanks Ruttira 🙂
I have been following your recipes since long for all my festivals. I should say that they are coming out extremely good and tasty. Only a few have got that hand and you are one with a golden hand.
Also, thanks for letting us know about this book. I was having one earlier, gifted by one of my relatives, but in due course I lot that book when shifted multiple homes. Thanks for sharing the details. I contacted the printers, but unable to reach out. If you could just take pictures of this book and make a post, I am pretty sure almost thousands of PPL will be benefited because we, wo many PPL are searching for these kind of books. The one in giri is different with our customs. It is more like wgenralised one
Hi Krithika,
Thanks a lot for your sweet words. Yes, I really wanted to make a post with the pages of that book but I am worried about copyright issues. So I am unable to do it. Sorry.
Hi ma'am thank you so much for your information regarding varalakhsmi viradham u have explained this as neat and more easy to understand for all thank u ma'am .
Good explanation, I have been doing varalakshmi vritham for past 10 yrs. I have one doubt, can we do full alangaram on Thursday itself or we have have to keep only rice above the banana leaf. I won't do anything on Thursday.Thurs I used to make start only on Friday. So I will take on 3rd day ie Sunday. So which is correct procedure. Can u answer me soon if possible
Good explanation, I have been doing varalakshmi vritham for past 10 yrs. I have one doubt, can we do full alangaram on Thursday itself or we have have to keep only rice above the banana leaf. I won't do anything on Thursday.Thurs I used to make start only on Friday. So I will take on 3rd day ie Sunday. So which is correct procedure. Can u answer me soon if possible
Really helpful ,stepwise and detailed blog!!
Hello mam, as you are doing for 10 years, you can follow the same practice. You can remove on 3rd day too. Finally, it depends on our elders's practice. Thank you 🙂
Thank you 🙂
Hi Chitra,
I am in the 4th year of my marriage, Can I perform Varalakshmi Pooja in my 4th year or should I wait and perform next year, Please reply at the earliest.
-Anusha
Hi Chitra,
I am in the 4th year of my marriage , Can I perform Varalakshmi Pooja in 4th year or should I have to wait and perform next year , Please revet
Hello Anusha ponnam, If you are going to do the pooja for first time, please do it next year. Ie. 5th year. If you have already done once in the first year or so, then you can do in this year. Hope iam clear.
Full book epadi download pannanm nu sollunga akka pls
Hello Shiva, Full book is not yet uploaded. You can download the pages shared in this post. I will try to do it soon. Thanks