Varalakshmi vratham is one important pooja performed especially by women in South India. It is celebrated on the last friday of the bright fortnight in the month of Adi. For this festival a small portion of the wall facing east will be whitewashed and a figure of gaja lakshmi will be drawn with paint or red oxide along with the kalasam with mango leaves and coconut and then a mandap is drawn around it.
A varalakshmi face tied to a silver vessel(sombu) which has 2 to 4 cups of rice,betel leaves,nuts,turmeric,plantain fruit and coins (gold/siver ornaments). A small coconut smeared with turmeric is placed on the mouth of the vessel
Rangolis (kolam) using rice soaked in water and made into a watery paste is drawn. The Kuthuvilakku(lamp) is lit and pooja is performed with flowers and akshadai(rice smeared in turmeric).
Neivedyam is performed with payasam(kheer),cooked rice,vadai, kozhukattais(modak),coconut and idlis
Then ladies singing traditional songs invoking the deity carry the plank with the kalasam carefully to the mandap and place it there for performing pooja. during the pooja ;noanbu charadu'(string) applied with turmeric paste should be tied in the hand. then mangala aarathi is taken.
In the evening sumangalis(married women) are invited and kumkum,turmeric betal leaves and nuts are offered to them.
The next day, punar pooja is performed to the deity and the kalasam is moved to the northern side and placed in a drum or vessel with raw rice .
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