With the advent of the festival season after the month long ashada, it is time for many different communities in the city to observe festivities marking the beginning of Shravan masa. It is time to celebrate the Varamahalakshmi festival after Bhimnavase and Nagarpanchami that was observed with gaiety and fervour.
The aroma of home-cooked delicacies and the heavenly fragrance of incense wafting in many households, the beautiful rangolis, the decorations with mango leaves, lamps, bells, verdant flowers, and the holy hymns praising goddess Lakshmi marks the Varalakshmivrata festival.
Varalakshmivrata is celebrated with a spirit of reverence and devotion to Mother Varalakshmi. It is believed that worshipping Goddess Varalakshmi on this day is equivalent to worshipping Ashtalaksmi — the eight goddesses of Wealth, Earth, Learning, Love, Fame, Peace, Pleasure, and Strength.
The name Varalakshmi itself can be interpreted in two ways. In one sense, Varalakshmi is the one who grants boons. In another, she is the Goddess who is invited home and honoured.
Varamahalakshmi pooja involves a lot of preparation before starting the rituals. The traditional decorations for the goddess as well as the puja preparations are done in advance. Every year, a family that observes this festival sees to it that Lakshmi’s idol is made all the more special and unique in her appearance and grandeur. Checklist for the ritual:
* The traditional AshtalakshmiKalasa (big size) in pure silver.
* One day before the pooja, shop for torans and rangolis to decorate the house in the front yard. Fruits, betel leaves, vermilion, turmeric footprints of Lakshmi on the thresholds symbolically represent welcoming of goddess Lakshmi.
* Holige,Kadabus,Kajayya are the most famous sweets prepared as offerings.
* Mango leaves or betel leaves are placed in the kalasa. This is placed before the deity of Varalakshmi.
* After completing the pooja,in the evening, five married women are invited and presented tamboola which is an offering as well as blessing consisting of fruits, betel leaves, vermilion, turmeric and a blouse piece.
