Varalakshmi Vratam 2023 • Varalakshmi Pooja

Varalakshmi vratam (Telugu: వరలక్ష్మి వ్రతం, Tamil: வரலட்சுமி விரதம், Kannada: ವರಮಹಾಲಕ್ಷ್ಮಿ ವ್ರತ), also known as Varalakshmi Pooja & Varalakshmi Nombu is an important Hindu festival celebrated in the honour of Goddess Lakshmi. Varalakshmi vratam or fast is primarily observed by married women to receive blessings from Varalakshmi, a manifestation of Goddess Lakshmi. Varalakshmi is the bestower of 'Var' or 'Varam' meaning boons.

Varalakshmi Vratam 2023 is on August 25, Friday

2 months and 13 days to go for the event → View pooja muhurat

When is Varamahalakshmi Vratham celeberated?

Varalakshmi vratam, also called Varamahalakshmi vratham is observed on the second Friday or on the Friday just before Poornima (full moon) of Shravan month (Aadi month in the Tamil calendar). It corresponds to the months of July or August on the English calendar. This year it falls on August 25, Friday.

Varalakshmi vratham 2023 pooja timings

Knowing when to perform Varalakshmi pooja is important as offering puja at the right muhurat ensures everlasting prosperity. Given below is the Lakshmi Puja muhurat for August 12 (for Ujjain, India):
Simha Lagna Puja Muhurat = 06:14 AM to 08:32 AM
Vrishchika Lagna Puja Muhurat = 01:07 PM to 03:26 PM
Kumbha Lagna Puja Muhurat = 07:12 PM to 08:40 PM
Vrishabha Lagna Puja Muhurat = 11:40 PM to 01:35 AM, August 13

Married women keep this sacred Varalakshmi vratam to seek blessings for the entire family, especially their husband and children. As per the Hindu scriptures it is a strong belief that worshipping Goddess Lakshmi on this auspicious day is equivalent to offering prayers to Ashtalakshmi - the eight Goddesses of Love, Wealth, Strength, Peace, Fame, Pleasure, Earth and Learning. This vratam can be observed by everyone, irrespective of the caste and creed discriminations.

The Varalakshmi vratam is commemorated with full enthusiasm and faith in the Indian states of Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, north Tamil Nadu and Telangana. The celebrations can also be witnessed in the state of Maharashtra. Owing to the popularity of this vratham in most parts of the country, the Varalakshmi Vrat is an optional holiday in some states.

Rituals of the Varalakshmi Vratam:

The preparation for the Varalakshmi vratam starts from the day prior to observing the vrat that is a Thursday. All the essentials required for the puja are assembled a day before.

On the day of Varalakshmi vratam, Friday, the devotees rise early in the morning and get ready after taking the bath. The favourable time for getting up in the morning for the puja is ‘Brahma Muhurtham’, the time just prior to sunrise.

After finishing the morning rituals, the devotees clean the house and the surrounding area and beautiful ‘kolam’ (rangoli) is decorated at the site of puja.

The next step is the preparation of the ‘Kalasha’. You can either select a silver or bronze pot. It is meticulously cleaned and smeared with sandalwood paste. A ‘swastika’ symbol is then drawn on the Kalasha. The Kalasha is then filled with water or raw rice, one lime, coins, beetle nut and five different kinds of leaves. The choice of items used for filling inside the 'Kalasham' pot varies from region to region. In some places even turmeric, black beads, mirror, small black bangles or comb is used for filling the pot.

The neck of the Kalasha is then covered with a clean cloth and the mouth is covered with mango leaves. in the end, a coconut daubed with turmeric is used to cover the mouth of the Kalasha. On the coconut, a picture of Goddess Lakshmi is sticked or drawn with turmeric powder. The Kalasha is now symbolic of Goddess Varalakshmi and worshipped with full devotion.

This Kalasha is placed on the heap of rice. The devotees start the puja by first worshipping Lord Ganesha. The puja starts by chanting the slokas like ‘Lakshmi Sahasranamam’ in the praise of Goddess Lakshmi. Special sweets are made at home as offerings. In the southern states, Pongal is also offered as Prasad. Finally aarti is performed on the Kalasha. During the puja, the women must also tie a yellow thread around their hands.

In some places, a mirror is also placed behind the Kalasham. Readymade Kalasha pots are also available in the markets for use during the Varalakshmi Vrat.

The women observing Varalakshmi Vrat must abstain from eating specific kinds of foods. This however varies from region to region. In some places, the observer of this vrat must fast until the end of the puja ceremony.

On Saturday, the day after puja, the devotees take a bath and then dismantle the Kalasha used for puja. The water inside the Kalasha is sprinkled all over the house and the rice, if used is mixed with the rice stored in the house.

Important Timings On Varalakshmi Vrat 2023

Significance of the Varalakshmi Vratham:

The main objective of Varalaksmi Vratam is to offer genuine prayers to Goddess Lakshmi to seek divine blessings. There are no strict rules for observing this vrat. The rituals are not rigid and even a simple prayer is enough to appease Goddess Varalakshmi.

As mentioned in the Hindu mythology, Goddess Lakshmi is the presiding deity of prosperity, wealth, fortune, wisdom, light, generosity, courage and fertility. The women, particularly married ones, perform this vrat to please Goddess Lakshmi and receive Her divine grace. the women pray to the Goddess for the long life of their respective husbands and also seek blessings for a good progeny. Varalakshmi vratam is primarily a festival for women and is celebrated by women only. The importance of Varalakshmi vratam is explained in the 'Skanda Purana'.