Varalakshmi Vratham 2020 date, significance, puja vidhi : All you need to know about Varalaxmi Vrat
New Delhi, July 29: Varamahalakshmi festival is the most auspicious festival celebrated by a married woman to commemorate Goddess Mahalakshmi. This year Varalakshmi festival falls on 31st July 2020.
The Pooja or Vrat is done in order to receive the blessings of Maa Lakshmi. It is said that if the Goddess is pleased with her devotees and their dedication, she showers them with everything they have asked for. It can be wealth or anything apart from that too.
History
In the Magadha of yore, there lived a woman called Charumathi in a town named Kundinyapura (now in Amravati district in Maharashtra). The prosperous town was the home of Charumathi and her husband. Impressed by her devotion to her family, the Goddess Mahalakshmi appeared in her dream and asked her to worship Varalakshmi (Vara = boon, Lakshmi = goddess of wealth) and seek to fulfill her wishes. Varalakshmi is yet another form of Lord Vishnu's consort, Lakshmi, the goddess of wealth. The prayer/worship was prescribed to be offered on the Friday of Shravana month preceding the night of the full moon.
When Charumathi explained her dream to her family, they encouraged her to perform the pooja. Many other women of the village joined her in performing the pooja in a traditional way and offered many sweets to the Goddess Varalakshmi, along with sacred chants.
Here are the muhurta timings for Varalakshmi Vrata:
Varalakshmi Vratam on Friday, July 31, 2020
Simha
Lagna
Puja
Muhurat
(morning)
-
07:15
AM
to
09:18
AM
Duration
-
02
Hours
03
Mins
Vrishchika
Lagna
Puja
Muhurat
(afternoon)
-
01:26
PM
to
03:38
PM
Duration
-
02
Hours
12
Mins
Kumbha
Lagna
Puja
Muhurat
(evening)
-
07:39
PM
to
09:21
PM
Duration
-
01
Hour
42
Mins
Vrishabha
Lagna
Puja
Muhurat
(midnight)
-
12:48
AM
to
02:51
AM,
Aug
01
Duration
-
02
Hours
02
Mins
How is it celebrated:
Varamahalakshmi Vrata is performed by a married woman (sumangalis) for the well being of all their family members, especially the husband, to get progeny etc. It is believed that worshipping the Goddess Varalakshmi on this day is equivalent to worshipping Ashtalakshmi - the eight goddesses of Wealth, Earth, Wisdom, Love, Fame, Peace, Contentment, and Strength. Due to the rising popularity of this holy day in some states, it is now being declared as an optional official holiday in India.
Varalakshmi Vratam is very popular fasting and Puja day in Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu and Maharashtra.
Significance
The importance or significance of the Varalakshmi Vrata was narrated by Lord Shiva to Goddess Parvathi in Skanda Purana. Those who perform this Vratam will be blessed with Dhana (food), Dhanya (food), Aayu (Long life), Aarogya (health), Aishwarya (wealth), Santanana (progeny) and Soubhagya (long life of husband).
What do they eat on this day:
The
months
of
July
and
August
are
very
auspicious
for
the
Hindus
all
over
India,
and
while
the
Southern
part
of
India
celebrates
the
Varamahalakshmi
Festival,
the
other
parts
of
India
celebrate
other
festivals
during
this
time.
In
South
India,
savouries
like
obattu,
kosumbari,
puliyogare,
huli
anna,
hesaru
bele
payasa
are
made
on
this
festival.
In
the
evening
women
visit
other
houses
and
exchange
sweets
and
offerings.