Why Varalakshmi Vratam Is Celebrated – Story & Significance
Ever wondered why on that "one Friday" of Shravan, your mom or grandma prepares for this day by waking up early, wearing a silk saree, setting up a kalash with a coconut on top, and chanting mantras throughout the morning?
Yup, that's Varalakshmi Vratam.
For most of us growing up, it looked like just another puja day. But there's a meaningful story behind Varalakshmi Puja behind those flowers, sweets, and rituals. A story of divine blessings, of feminine energy, of not just praying for wealth but also praying for peace, health, and happiness in families.
In this blog, we will cover everything from the actual reasons we celebrate Varalakshmi Vratam to its significance and the step-by-step rituals involved.
Whether you are celebrating the South Indian festivals for Goddess Lakshmi for the first time or just curious about what this day means, stick around.
Mythological Story Behind Varalakshmi Vratam
Like so many Hindu festivals, the Varalakshmi puja story has a wonderful association with Charumati.
The Varalakshmi puja tale from the Skanda Purana tells the following:
Charumati was a religious lady from the district of Magadha, looking after her family, guests, and needy people with absolute devotion and no expectation or greed.
Goddess Varalakshmi, pleased with Charumati's devotion, appeared to her in a dream.
The goddess had told her to do a special upavasa (fast), only once, on a Friday, the prior full moon of the month of Shravan, which is today being celebrated as Varalakhsmi Vratam.
Charumati did exactly as told and completed the Lakshmi pooja during Varalakshmi vrat and as a result was blessed with all kinds of wealth, happiness, harmony, and a healthy life.
Today, married women perform this vrat and pass along the Varalakshmi Vratam traditional customs to the next generation.
Spiritual Meaning of Observing the Varalakshmi Vrat
The Varalakshmi Vratam spiritual meaning is way more than prosperity.
It symbolizes:
- Thankfulness for abundance in any form- material or wealth-based, emotional, and spiritual
- Encouragement to honour the feminine divine energy and the importance of Lakshmi worship.
- Harmony between dharma, duty or work, and desire, for example. It reminds us of shared prosperity, as it is what we share with others, not just what we gain.
It is also stated that following this vrat blesses one with a long-lived and prosperous husband. The Vratam creates a spiritual protective shield around the home and family.
When and How Varalakshmi Vratam Is Celebrated
Varalakshmi Vratam 2025 date is on Friday, the 8th of August.
Varalakshmi Vratam comes on the second Friday of Shravan month, which is considered the most important month for Hindus, or on the preceding Friday of Shravan Purnima. Lord Shiva and Goddess Lakshmi are endowed with good fortune on this particular day.
Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, and Kerala are the southern Indian states in which the recitation of the Varalakshmi Vratam is most common.
Let us guide you through a Varalakshmi Vratam Pooja Vidhi step-by-step at home.
Step-by-Step Varalakshmi Vratam Puja Vidhi (Procedure)
Below is a simplified version of how to perform Varalakshmi Vrat:
You need to make Preparations like:
- Wake early and take a bath.
- Do shringar and wear a silk saree or dress.
- Decorate your home with flowers, rangoli, and diyas.
These are Puja essentials you might keep in mind:
- Kalasham (pot decorated as representational images of the Goddess)
- Coconut, mango leaves, to decorate the kalasham
- Kumkum, turmeric, and sandalwood paste
- Lakshmi Ganesha idol
- Betel leaves, nuts, fruits, sweets
- Flowers and a saree as offerings to the Goddess
Simple Puja Steps to perform at home:
- Keep the Kalasham with rice, coin, and water in the middle.
- Decorate the Kalasham with mango leaves and coconut covered with turmeric and/or kumkum.
- Dress the Kalasham with a saree and jewellery to represent Devi Lakshmi.
- Earth is personified as Lord Ganesha as the representative of/over the obstacles to worship.
- Perform the pooja by offering kumkum, turmeric, flowers, and prasadam.
- Recite the Lakshmi Ashtothram and other shlokas of Varalakshmi Vratam.
- Tie the sacred yellow thread (Swarna thread or Charadu) on your wrist as a sign of the prayer.
- Offer Naivedyam (cooked prasad) and close worship with aarti.
Importance of Friday and the Month of Shravan in the Vrat
Hindus do many prayers and ceremonies for Goddess Lakshmi, the Goddess of wealth, grace, and harmony, on Fridays. Fridays are considered the most sacred day to conduct the prayers as these days are associated with the feminine divine energy, and many women will fast and pray on Fridays for their families.
The month of Shravan is considered one of the holiest months when people are in a state of devotion and positive energies are available, and it is also the month for vigorous clearing of karmic debts. People believe that the divine feminine energy is at its heaviest this month, which actually is the most cosmically sacred time to pray to Goddess Varalakshmi.
Symbolism of Kalasam, Mangalsutra, and Other Ritual Items
Each of the items present in the Varalakshmi Vrat rituals has a deep meaning:
- Kalasam represents the Divine womb of creation, and in many ways, the essence of the Goddess.
- Coconut symbolizes purity and sacrifice.
- Mangalsutra represents longevity of marriage and its meaning, and is then offered during puja for the husband’s welfare.
- Yellow thread (Charadu) is tied by women to indicate a blessing of protection.
Regional Traditions of Varalakshmi Vratam in South India
Even as the vast majority of the traditions remain the same, there is also variety in state-specific traditions.
- Tamil Nadu: Kolams or rangoli are decorated beautifully at home, and the women sing Lakshmi songs during puja. The women exchange gifts with each other in the form of turmeric, bangles, and betel nuts.
- Karnataka: The Kalash is covered with a silk saree to offer to the Goddess Varalakshmi, and the flowers are offered on the ground while invoking Lord Ganesha.
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Andhra Pradesh & Telangana: The women gather to offer group puja and also exchange tamboolam gift packets with one another as per tradition.
Benefits of Observing Varalakshmi Vrat for Women and Families
The benefits of Varalakshmi Vratam go beyond just performing the pooja, but a spiritual path of devotion that shall bring spiritual blessings and the power of God into your life. The women perform this vrat with the selfless intention of bringing health, peace, and divine blessings to the household.
Varalakshmi Vratam provides the following advantages:
- Performing prayers to Goddess Varalakshmi leads to good health and prosperity.
- Married women especially perform this vrat for the long life of their husband and peace and happiness in their relationship.
- Varalakshmi Vratam creates discipline and mindfulness practices to promote personal development. Women take this opportunity to reconnect with their spiritual self.
- The Goddess protects her devotees from negative energy and barriers.
- The rituals and chants help the atmosphere stay pure, peaceful, and holy.
This vrat holds significant value whether you are praying for your family’s health or harmony in your own life. It is a wonderful reminder of devotion, intentions, and divinity.
Mantras and Slokas to Chant During Varalakshmi Puja
To bring divine energy at home, you can chant these mantras during Varalakshmi Vratam:
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Lakshmi Ashtottara Shatanamavali:
Chant the 108 names of Lakshmi for divine blessings.
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Varalakshmi Vratam Sloka:
"Padmaasane Padmakare sarva lokaika poojithe
Narayana priyadevi supreetha bhava sarvada." Which means Oh Goddess, who is seated on the lotus and who holds a lotus, who is worshipped by all worlds, and who is the beloved of Narayana, may you always be pleased with me.
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Om Shreem Maha Lakshmyai Namah: Even simple chants from the heart have strength when said with faith in Goddess Varalaxmi.
Final Take
Varalakshmi Vratam is not just a pooja but also a reminder of the fact that as mothers and daughters, women have transferred kindness, strength, beauty, and devotion over the generations. The vrat being performed as a pooja is a way to invoke the blessings of Goddess Lakshmi for wealth, health, peace, and harmony in the family and goodwill of devotion and affection. Check out the Lakshmi Ganesha idol and pooja essentials from our collection, and let’s pray to the Goddess Lakshmi and Ganesha at home this Varalakshmi Vratam and seek divine abundance, peace of mind, and joy in our lives.
