Varalakshmi Vratham: The Naivedyam and What to Prepare

Varalakshmi Vratham is performed by married women on the Friday before the full moon of Sravana masam, usually in August. It is a puja to Goddess Lakshmi for the wellbeing and prosperity of the family, and in many Telugu homes it is the most elaborate puja of the year.

The puja

A kalasam, a pot decorated as the goddess, is set up with a coconut, mango leaves, a sari and jewellery. Women tie a sacred yellow thread, the thoram, on the wrist after the puja, and invite married women from the neighbourhood for thamboolam: betel leaves, turmeric, kumkum, fruit and a small sweet.

The naivedyam

The offering is generous: often nine or more items, with payasam, pulihora, poornalu and other sweets made at home. Because the day is so full, many families now cook the main dishes and buy the sweets.

Sweets to plan for

For the naivedyam, laddu and kaja are traditional. For the thamboolam you give to visiting women, small, neat sweets work best: kobbari karjikai, a laddu, or a small piece of Konaseema kova in each pack. Count the number of women you will invite and add a few extra.

Ordering

Varalakshmi Vratham falls on the same Friday for everyone, so sweet shops are busy that week. Order two or three days ahead; ghee sweets keep for about 15 days, so there is no risk in buying a little early.