Celebrating Varalakshmi Vratham in USA has been a special journey for me, and I’m excited to show you how to make this tradition your own, no matter where you are. If you’re in the USA and want to bring the essence of Varalakshmi Vratham into your home, you’re in the right place. In this post, I’ll guide you through simple decor ideas that you can shop online, a puja shopping checklist, and the puja process I follow. Whether you’re new to this celebration or seeking fresh inspiration, I hope these tips help you create a meaningful and joyous Varalakshmi Vratham experience.
Varalakshmi Vratam is a prominent Hindu festival observed by married women in several Indian states, including Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, and Maharashtra. It is typically celebrated on the second Friday of the auspicious month of Shravana or can be celebrated on the last Friday. This sacred day is dedicated to Goddess Varalakshmi, a benevolent form of Goddess Lakshmi, and is believed to bring to bring wealth, health, and prosperity to her devotees.
By worshiping Varalakshmi on this day, devotees invoke the blessings of Ashtalakshmi—the eight divine manifestations of Lakshmi. These manifestations are Sri (Goddess of Wealth), Bhu (Goddess of Earth), Saraswati (Goddess of Learning), Priti (Goddess of Love), Kirti (Goddess of Fame), Shanti (Goddess of Peace), Tushti (Goddess of Pleasure), and Pushti (Goddess of Strength).
Varalakshmi Vratam is celebrated in different ways. Some women celebrate it by creating the idol of the Ammavaru (Goddess), adding a face to it, and adorning the deity with a saree, flowers, and jewelry. Others worship the Ashta Lakshmi Kalasham, decorating it with a blouse piece and jewelry, with a coconut placed on top as a symbol of the goddess. In both my family and my in-laws’ family, we follow the tradition of worshiping the Kalasham, and I continue the same practice. I
If you follow the same process, here is an easy way to decorate the Kalasham, puja essentials you need, Vratham procedure, and much more, let’s get into the post-
Easy Varalakshmi Vratham Decor
Let’s start with the décor. I typically do all the decorations (except for placing the Kalasham), gather everything needed for the puja and prasadham, and clean the silver and brass items I use the night before. After finishing work on Thursday evening, I take a quick shower and prepare everything for the Friday morning puja. I also take a couple of hours off on Friday morning so I can perform the puja peacefully, without interruptions from meetings or messages.
Varalakhsmi Ammavaru Decoration
First, I hung some garlands (use SURI10 for 10% off) using push pins as a backdrop for Ammavaru. I recommend choosing the color of garlands that complements the blouse piece or saree you’re using for the deity.
I bought a cake stand from Amazon specifically to hold the Kalasham (you can also use this decor idea for Ganesh Puja). My original plan was to adorn the stand with betel leaves, but unfortunately, they turned brown after just two days in the fridge. I used mango leaves instead, which stayed fresh and served as Toranam. I carefully arranged the leaves around the stand and used small pieces of tape to keep them securely in place.
I used a Kolam backdrop (use SURI10 for 10% off) as a mat to place Ammavaru and all the puja essentials. I highly recommend placing a mat or cloth underneath, as it makes cleaning easier and also enhances the overall decor.
These banana placemats are my favorite purchase from a few years ago; they come in handy for every pooja. I use them to place naivedyam, diyas, or any offerings to the deity. I originally got them from Wayfair, but they are no longer available. However, I found the same ones on this website and a similar option on Etsy. This large banana leaf is also a great choice for arranging all the prasadham in one place.
The large brass diyas are another favorite purchase of mine that I use almost every time for puja, either as decor or for lighting. You can see how I used them as decor pieces in this Diwali post. I bought mine from India, you buy similar ones from Shagun Artifacts, they sell them in a couple of sizes.
That covers the simple decor setup you can complete in about 30 minutes. Now, let’s go over the puja checklist and the process.
Varalakshmi Varartham Puja Shopping Checklist
- Blouse piece / kalasam vastram
- Rice – 1 cup
- Coconut -2 (one for Kalasham and another one for Puja)
- Pasupu / Tumeric powder
- Akshatalu (rice mixed with turmeric and a drop of ghee or water)
- Kumkuma / Vermilion
- Chandanam / Sandalwood Powder
- Flowers
- Tamalapakulu / Betel Leaves -15-20 leaves (to offer tambulam and decorate the Kalasham). In my family, we use 3 betel leaves for Taambulam)
- Vakkalu / Betelnut
- Mango Leaves
- Banana – 1 dozen
- Other Fruits for Naivedyam
- Agarbatti / Incense Sticks
- Karpuram / Camphor
- Cow Ghee for Diya
- Cotton wicks for Diya
- Panchamrutam (Cow milk, Cow ghee, Yogurt, Honey, Jaggery)
- white thread for kankanam
- Bangles and Jewelry to decorate Ammavaru
- Currency coins
- matchbox
- Saree to offer Ammavaru
- Prasadham (I make Tamarind rice, Garrelu (vada), Paravanam, and Poornalu)
- Some cotton for Vinayakudu Vastram
- Bellam / Jaggery (for Vinayakudu Naivedyam)
Plates and Utensils you need for the Puja
- Astha Lakshmi Kalasam or any Kalasam
- Udharini (i.e small tumbler and spoon preferably silver or copper)
- Panchapatra (vessel filled with water used to perform puja)
- Bowl or a glass for Panchamrutham
- Deepalu / Diya
- Harathi plate
- Agarbatti stand
- Ganta / Puja Bell
- Pooja mat
- Plates or bowls to put flowers, fruits, and Naivedyam
- Big bowl or a glass for Coconut water- 1
- Bowls for Pasupu, Kumkuma, Chandanam and Akshatalu-3
- A napkin or kitchen cloth to wipe hands during puja- one for everyone performing the puja
- Scissors to open the packets or cut flowers
Varalakshmi Varartham Puja Vidhanam / Process I Follow
Every family has their way of performing this Vratam, and I’m sharing my method. You don’t have to follow the same, do what you believe in or what works for you. It took me a few years to develop a process that felt right for me. My mom and MIL each have their unique ways, and my approach is a simpler version of both of their traditions.
If this is your first Varalakshmi Vratam, don’t worry if it feels overwhelming at first (It still feels overwhelming after doing it for 4 years). You’ll find a rhythm after a few times. What’s most important is that you feel good and content. You can follow a YouTube video for guidance, as I did and still do, or have your mom on Facetime video to help you complete your Vratam with confidence.
Setting up the Kalasam
Pour water into the Kalasam and add turmeric, kumkuma, akshatalu, and a few flower petals. Arrange the betel leaves around the Kalasam with their bases dipped into the water and the tips facing outward. Wash the coconut and put it on the kalasam, with the pointed edge facing the ceiling.
Fold the blouse piece into a cone shape and secure the ends with a safety pin. Place it over the coconut. Apply tikka on the Varalakshmi Ammavaru and decorate her to your heart’s content. Adding a bangle on top helps to tuck the necklaces in neatly. I offer any new gold jewelry I’ve purchased that year to the Ammavaru before wearing it myself.
Draw a single muggu (rangoli) and pour some rice on it. Then, place the Kalasam on top of the rice. Your Varalakshmi Ammavaru is now ready to be celebrated.
I follow portions of this YouTube video to perform the puja and listen to the Vratam story. It’s an hour-long video, so I am including the timelines for each section of the video, you can forward to the part you want to follow:
- 7:35- 12:50- Achamanam + Sankalpam
- 12:51 to 15:13- Kalasharadhana
- 15:15 to 25:00- Ganesh Puja (I either follow this or read Vinayaka Ashtostram)
- 25:08 to 35:49- Varalakshmi Puja
- 36:43 to 40:48- Lakshmi Ashtotram + kumkuma puja
- 42:00 to 46:21- Naivedyam, Taambulam and Aarti
- 46:32 to 57:22- Varalakshmi Kadha (story)
Pooja Process
- Light the Diya. Put tikka on the diya and offer akshatalu and flowers to the deepam. Also, light the incense sticks
- Prepare the Kankanam- Take 9 strings of white thread. In a bowl, mix turmeric with water and use this mixture to color the thread. Next, take a betel leaf, roll and fold it, then tie it in the middle of the colored thread. You can also add a flower along with the betel leaf for an extra touch.
- Achamanam + Sankalpam– For this part, I follow the video from 7:35 to 12:50.
- Ganesh Puja– Make Pasupu Ganapathi and place it on a betel leaf. Offer flowers and Vastram to the Ganapathi. I chant Vinayaka Ashtottara while offering akshatalu and flowers to the pasupu Ganapati. Offer jaggery as Naivedyam, followed by Aarti.
- Varalakshmi Puja- I follow the video (25:08 to 35:49) for Varalakshmi Puja.
- Lakshmi Ashtothram- I chant Lakshmi Ashtottara while offering flowers and kumkuma to the Kalasam.
- Naivedyam and Aarti– Break the coconut and present it to Ammavaru along with the naivedyam and taambulam you’ve prepared. I listen to the video in the background from 42:00 to 46:21.
- Varalakshmi Kadha (story)- I follow the story in the video from 46:32 to 57:22.
- Tie the Kankanam you prepared on your right hand to complete the puja.
- Offer Taambulam and Prasadam to other married women you know.
Varalakshmi Vratham Saree, I offered Ammavaru
This Banarasi saree holds a special place in my heart—I waited nearly a year to splurge on it. It’s a pure Katan silk saree with intricate kadhuwa meenakari weaving all over the saree, border, and palla, featuring a lahariya jaal pattern. This saree is truly a labor of love, taking 150 days to weave.
The kadhuwa / kadwa weave and meenakari work is exceptionally labor-intensive. It involves weaving each motif separately as opposed to other Banarasi handloom sarees (also known as “phekwa” or cutwork sarees). Meenakari work, known for its intricate and colorful designs, involves embedding fine threads of zari and silk into the fabric, adding another layer of complexity. Both techniques demand a high level of craftsmanship, making the saree a true masterpiece.
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