The Vratam observed on the Friday before Shravan Purnima or Aadi Pournami (Tamil month) is called Varalakshmi Vratam. It is dedicated to the Goddess, who is believed to have the combined powers of Ashta Lakshmi (the eight forms of the Goddess Lakshmi) the consort of Lord Vishnu. Read on to know about the Vratam date, the puja samagri and the Vidhi.
The Varalakshmi Puja is usually performed by those women who have inherited the tradition from their mother-in-law. Therefore, it a custom carried forward from one generation to the other. Those who perform Varalakshmi Vratam get the face of the Goddess sculpted in silver or any other metal. This is used year after year during the puja. Check out the list of items you would need for the puja.
Varalakshmi Vratam Puja Samagri
- The face of the Goddess
- A Kalash
- Colourful fresh pieces of cloth for making the Goddess' saree
Jewellery and false hair and accessories for the Goddess A mirror meant for keeping behind the deity 3 Coconut with its husk Flowers Sharadu, also spelt as Charadu (sacred yellow threads) for tying around the wrist A Chaupayi (a square wooden raised platform) Flowers Garland made of fresh flowers Paan Supari Fruits Banana Haldi Chandan Kumkum White rangoli powder Akshat Raw rice Oil lamp Incense sticks Camphor A metal plate or tray 
Varalakshmi Vratam Puja Vidhi
- Rise early and take a bath.
Fasting starts from sunrise and continues till sunset or until the puja is finished. Then purify the puja area with Gangajal or regular water. Apply turmeric paste (turmeric powder mixed with water) to the wooden platform and then make a rangoli with rice powder. Then put some Akshat in the centre of the platform and then place a metal plate on top of it. Subsequently, spread raw rice evenly on the plate. Then smear Haldi and Kumkum on the Kalash and place it in the middle of the plate.
Add water to the Kalash and put some Akshat into it. Place a whole coconut on the neck of the Kalash. Fix the face of the Mother Goddess to the husk of the coconut. Then use the clothes to drape a saree for the Mother Goddess. Make her hair and accessorise her with jewellery and other beauty items. Put the garland of fresh flowers around the Goddess' neck. Subsequently, place the mirror behind the deity. Then light the oil lamp. Then place the Sharadu (sacred threads) near the Goddess.
After the deity is crafted, offer your prayers to Lord Ganesha. Then chant the sacred Mantras dedicated to Goddess Varalakshmi. You may also play the Mahalakshmi Saharanamam Stotram. Offer the flowers one by one and then the tamboolam (consisting of paan, supari, fruits, coconut, dakshina, flowers, haldi and kumkum). Then offer the Naiveidhyam - Sundal, Kheer, Modak, Idli, Salted Modak etc to the Goddess. Then perform the aarti. And conclude the puja by tying the sacred thread around your right wrist.