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Vara Mahalakshmi Festival

Vara Mahalakshmi-:Karnataka

About:

Vara Mahalakshmi Festival, also known as Varalakshmi Vratham, is a significant Hindu festival dedicated to Goddess Lakshmi, the deity of wealth, prosperity, and fertility. It is celebrated primarily in the southern states of India, including Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, and Telangana. The festival is observed on the second Friday of the Hindu month of Shravana (July-August). Married women perform special prayers and rituals for the well-being and prosperity of their families, and the festival is marked by elaborate decorations, offerings, and traditional customs.

Vara Mahalakshmi In Karnataka, one of the most popular shrines .the winding steps take one-to-one manifestation of Lakshmi. It is said that Lakshmi will enter the house of anyone who thinks of her and bless them. There are many festivals in the year dedicated to Goddess Lakshmi. Among them, Varalakshmi Vratham is unique because it is marked by strict observance of certain practices and austerities. It is also called Varalakshmi Nonbu. The puja falls on Friday before the full moon in the Tamil month of Aadi. This year, it occurs on August 8th.

Location info:
The festival is celebrated in homes, temples, and community halls across South India, particularly in Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, and Telangana. Popular temples dedicated to Goddess Lakshmi, such as Sri Lakshmi Narayani Temple in Vellore and Kanaka Durga Temple in Vijayawada, witness large gatherings.

Climate/Weather:
The festival takes place during the monsoon season, with moderate to heavy rainfall in most areas. Temperatures in southern India typically range from 20°C to 30°C during this time, providing a pleasant climate for celebrations.

History:
The festival of Vara Mahalakshmi is rooted in ancient Hindu mythology and traditions. It is believed that the festival was first celebrated by Goddess Parvati, who observed the ritual for the well-being of her husband, Lord Shiva. The legend says that Goddess Lakshmi herself appeared to grant blessings. Since then, the festival has been observed by Hindu women for marital harmony, family prosperity, and happiness.

Importance:
Varalakshmi Nombu, or Vara Mahalakshmi Puja, is a popular Hindu ritual observed by married women in Karnataka . Married women worship Goddess Lakshmi on this day. In Tamil Nadu the festival takes place in the Aadi month of r and in Karnataka in the Shravan month of Kannada.It is believed that worshipping Goddess Lakshmi on this day gives the benefits of worshipping Ashta Lakshmi - the eight goddesses of Earth, Learning, Wealth, Love, Fame, Strength, Peace and Pleasure.Legend has it that Lord Shiva explained about the importance of Varalakshmi Nombu to Goddess Parvati, when the Goddess wanted to know about the most beneficial nombu or Vratam that married women should observe.

Method of Celebration:

Preparation and Cleaning of the Home: In the days leading up to the festival, devotees thoroughly clean their homes to create a pure, welcoming space for Goddess Lakshmi. The entire house, especially the area where the puja will be performed, is decorated with flowers, mango leaves, and traditional rangolis (decorative floor patterns).

The pooja room is cleaned the previous day (Thursday) and floral decorations and kolam with rice flour should be done. After cleaning the sombu (kalasam), put some coins, betel, betel nut, turmeric, lemon, comb, mirror, black bangles (very small), black beads, raw rice, kunguma chimizh (very small one) inside it. Arrange the mango leaves over this and keep a coconut on top. Fix the amman face on the coconut, then decorate the kalasam with flowers. Place some flowers. Keep the sombu in the pooja, prepare ven pongal for neivedhyam. Have faith that Goddess Lakshmi Herself is residing in that Kalssam. Perform karpoora aarathi.

This pooja must be done with utmost dedication.To start the pooja, keep the goddess near the entrance of the house on the kolam (inside the house). Keep flowers. Then take karpoora aarathi. Then bring the deity to the pooja place singing the song "Lakshmi Raave maa inti ki" which means "Lakshmi please come to our house". In the mandha haasam, place a plaintain leaf and spread raw rice. Keep the kalasam on this and decorate the deity. Keep the nombu saradu (yellow thread) also.

Culture of Festivities:

Celebration of Divine Feminine Power: Vara Mahalakshmi Festival honors Goddess Lakshmi, representing the divine feminine power of abundance, prosperity, and fertility. Women, particularly married women, play a central role in the festival, embodying Lakshmi’s blessings for their households. The festival celebrates womanhood, motherhood, and the strength of women, reinforcing the role of women as nurturers and protectors within the family.

Elaborate Decorations and Rangoli Art: One of the beautiful aspects of the festival is the decoration of homes and puja spaces. Rangoli designs, often made with rice flour, colored powders, or flowers, are created at the entrance of homes as an invitation to the goddess. Homes are adorned with mango leaves, marigold garlands, and lamps, creating a festive ambiance that represents a warm welcome to prosperity.

Exchange of Sweets and Gifts: The Vara Mahalakshmi Festival is also a time for exchanging sweets, gifts, and good wishes. Women often prepare traditional sweets such as payasam, laddus, and vadas, sharing them with neighbors, friends, and family. This exchange symbolizes goodwill, community bonding, and the joy of shared blessings. Married women may also receive gifts from their families, including saris and jewelry.

Traditional Attire and Jewelry: Women dress in traditional South Indian attire, such as saris in bright colors, and often adorn themselves with jewelry, especially gold. The sari, jewelry, and flowers are considered auspicious and add to the festive spirit. Married women traditionally wear the kumkum (vermillion) and turmeric on their foreheads as a symbol of their marital status, prosperity, and devotion.