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What Is Varalakhsmi Vratham?

Source www.thetiffintimes.com

Varalakshmi Vratam is a ritualistic day of puja and fasting observed by married women in the Southern States of Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka and Telangana. It’s done to bring health and happiness to the family. The sacrifice made by the woman of the house is supposed to bring good luck to the husband and the children.

The literal meaning of Varalakhsmi is the one grants boons or wishes. Varalakhsmi is believed to be equivalent to worshiping Ashtalaksmi - a group of eight incarnations of the Goddess. They are Siri (Wealth), Bhu (Earth), Sarasvathi (Learning), Prithi (Love), Keerthi (Fame), Shanthi (Peace), Santhushti (Pleasure), and Pushti (Strength).

The day also commemorates Goddess Parvati’s devotion for her consort, Lord Shiva. The celebration takes place in the month of Shravana in the Hindu calendar, which is around the time that monsoon sets in. The Friday before the day of the full moon is when the ritual takes place. Vara Lakshmi Vratam is an ancient ritual but still given a lot of importance because it is widely observed all over the southern states.

There is a celebratory feast as well. Some of the food items associated with this festival are obattu, kosumbari, puliyogare, huli anna, hesaru bele and payasa. Sweets and food items are distributed by the women of the households all over the neighbourhood as well.

10 Return Gifts Perfect for Varalakhsmi Vratham

Lakhsmi Home Decor

Source www.amazon.in

Varalkashmi Vratham pays homage to the various avatars of Goddess Lakhsmi. Therefore gifting your Varalkashmi Vratham guests a memento of the Goddess as a take-home gift is a great idea. Get your guests this beautiful framed Print of the Goddess from Crazyink. Measuring 10 x 8 x 1.5 cms. The HD print is mounted on a decorative wooden frame. The printing has been done in layers, therefore, giving a 3D effect, this artistic showpiece is perfect for the home corner or the office. You can also place it on your car dashboard for a bit of good luck on the road. This showpiece is small and light, weighing just around 100gm. The primary material used is wood. It’s a classy gift and of course perfect for the occasion. Buy it from Amazon for Rs. 199 only.

Silver Plated Coin

Source www.amazon.in

Lord Ganesha and Goddess Lakhsmi is associated with wealth and prosperity. She is supposed to bring good fortune to people who worship her. Give your Varalkashmi Vratham guests something that is associated with the Goddess. These coins are the perfect tokens of auspiciousness that you can give to people. These kind of tokens are supposed to bring people good luck and prosperity. This German silver coin from Jewel Fuel is the perfect gift for your Varalkashmi Vratham guests. It has got the images of the god and goddess etched on it. The coins come in packs of four and are silver in colour. Buy them from Amazon for Rs. 299 a pack.

Pooja Thali

Source www.amazon.in

What is the one essential thing that you need to perform a Puja at home? A Puja thali of course! The Puja thali is the one utensil that holds all your Puja essentials so that you don’t have to go to and fro finding them. Therefore this beautiful stainless steel Puja Thali from Pranjal’s House is a great return gift for your Varalkashmi Vratham guests. This multicolour decorated thali comes with all the basic puja essentials like a steel diya, incense stick holder, a small bowl to keep sandalwood and kumkum paste, and a small container or dibbi. The thali has a diameter of 32cms. Not only will this thali help make your Puja a success, but also enhance the beauty of your Puja room. An essential Puja accessory for all, buy it for Rs. 285 from Amazon.

Indian Sweets

Source www.placeoforigin.in

Every good proceeding needs to have a sweet ending. Sweets are an inevitable part of every Indian festival and ritual. They are also given the gods as offerings and every meal has to end on a sweet note. A box of laddoos is a delicious return gift that can be enjoyed by all. Chandan Fine Boondi Laddoo from New Delhi is a scrumptious sweet that makes the perfect sweet offering to your Varalakhsmi Vratham guests. Made from tiny pieces of deep fried gram flour and sugar syrup, these are melt in the mouth, perfectly sweet and completely satisfying. Pistachios and melon seeds are added as garnishing along with other flavouring substances such as cardamom powder and ghee (clarified butter). Buy a 400gm box of these sweets from Places of Origin.

Dry Fruit

Source www.dryfruitbasket.in

Apart from sweets, dry fruits are another popular festival favour in India. Dry fruits are popular gifts because they don’t perish easily, can be carried around easily, are easy to package and are a healthy snack. Dry fruits are also offered to Gods sometimes. A box of delicious dry fruits and nuts is, therefore, a sensible gift choice for your Varalakhsmi Vratham return gift. This 200gm cashew and almond gift hamper from dryfruitbasket.in will cost you Rs. 499. There are various websites like dryfruitbazaar.com and nutraj.com that sells dry fruits at discounted prices. You can get a variety of dry fruits and nuts from these places and make little hampers for your guests.

Source www.amazon.in

You can buy your gift bags or pouches from Amazon a pack of 20 pouches cost around Rs. 280.

Terracotta Candle Stand

Small home décor items make great return gifts and this terracotta candle stand from boontoon.com is just perfect for your Varalakhsmi Vratham guests. Made in the image of Lord Ganesha, this blue elephant candle stand is an artistic piece that will stand out wherever you may place it. Featuring beautiful designs in a variety of colours, the head of the elephant is where you can place your t-light in. place it in the living room corner, the night stand or even in the Puja room. You have the option to customize this gift by getting the name of the receiver printed on the box or in the form of transparent stickers. You can attach a thank you card also in the case of bulk orders. Buy it for Rs. 190 only.

Decorative Containers

Source www.boontoon.com

Our next gift is also a pretty artistic one. We have for you these beautiful Flower shaped Shubh Labh Chopras or containers which can be used to store Puja essentials like vermillion, turmeric, sandalwood powder etc. The containers have mesmerizing minakari and beadwork on them. These are made from superior quality marble stone. The perfect gift for traditional celebrations. The containers come with imprints of auspicious symbols like the holi kalash or pot. These are measure around 3.5 inches and therefore can be used to store a variety of items, including jewellery. These are made for the Puja room, but can also be kept elsewhere in the home. Customise the gifts boxes with the name of the recipient and a personalised thank you cart. Get them on boontoon.com for Rs.390.

Notebooks

Source www.giveter.com

Notebooks are the perfect gifts as they can be used by practically anyone. If you want your Varalkhsmi Vratham return gift to be practical and useful then go for notebooks. This one from giveter.com has a hard bound cover with rainbow stripes. Made by Designwallas, this comes in a set of two. The notebooks contain 144 pages with a GSM of 80. The pages are unlined; therefore they can be used for writing and/or sketching. These notebooks are pretty as well useful. The perfect companion for writers, artists and people who like journaling their life. Buy the set of two notebooks for Rs. 440.

Essential Oils

Source www.flipkart.com

Building an atmosphere of serenity and peacefulness at home is the way to spirituality. Essential oils not only smell great when burned in a diffuser, but also calm the senses. Lavender oil has calming properties which soothe the senses and relieve problems like anxiety and sleeplessness. When mixed with a carrier oil it can calm sunburnt skin, is anti-inflammatory, great for the hair and skin. You can add a few drops to your bath water as well, to make the most of it’s wonderful benefits and of course for it’s heady perfume. Lavender oil can be added to massage oils as well. it calms tired muscles and reduces inflammation. Get the lavender essential oil from Speaking Tree for your Varalakhsmi Vratham guests. It comes in a 15ml bottle. Buy it from Flipkart for Rs. 246 a bottle.

Insense Stick Stand

Source www.flipkart.com

Our final gift is one of the most basic Puja accessories and something that is also super useful around the home. This pure brass Agarbatti stand from Beadworks is classic piece which is soaked in Indian-ness. Used for holding and burning incense sticks, you can find it in any Indian home. This golden coloured incense stand measures 5 x3 cm and weighs just 18 gm. The stand has a wide brim; therefore ashes from the burning incense is caught on it, keeping the surface on which it is kept clean. The stand has been made with thick brass with a long-lasting finish. To maintain shine clean regularly with appropriate cleaning liquid or tamarind paste. Buy it from Flipkart for Rs. 179.

Keep the Traditions Alive with a Small Celebration at Home

Source en.wikipedia.org

Varalakhsmi Vratha is an ancient tradition. For the modern woman, the concept of keeping a fast for the family may seem a tad too archaic. But keeping old traditions alive is something that one can do to protect their cultural heritage. To make it a bit easier you can turn the whole occasion into a social gathering by inviting friends and family. Keeping fast alone is not fun. But paying homage to an age-old ritual can become an enjoyable activity when you do it with people you love. Bond with your circle of women by sharing stories and maybe have a session of the head to toe pampering. Do something to keep your attention away from the hunger pangs. A small party with your close ones is a great idea. You could play games and watch movies. Decorate the house together. Get everything ready for the Puja ceremony. Involve your husband and children as well. In fact, they could help with the preparation of meals as well.

Varalakhasmi Vratham: Rituals and Rites

The Fast

Source www.india.com

On the day of the Puja women wake up early. After that, they take a bath to purify themselves. You cannot perform the rituals without cleaning yourself first. Then a rangoli is made where the Puja is to be done and the sacred brass pot or Kalash is placed inside it. A Mandala is made with the Rangoli, which is a circular design meant to represent the universe. It is believed that Goddess Parvati performed this fast for her beloved consort Lord Parameshwara or Lord Shiva.

This ritual commemorates that sacrifice. Although the fast can be observed by anyone, it’s generally done by married women. The women are supposed to abstain from consuming certain foods throughout the day. This tradition varies from region to region. In certain states, they are offered Thamboolam, which is a combination of slaked lime, betel leaf and areca nut. The fast is broken after the performance of the puja, wherein fresh flowers and sweets are offered to the Goddess.

The Puja

Source anudinam.org

Varalakshmi Vratam is a ritualistic day of fasting observed by married women in the Southern States of Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka and Telangana. It’s done to bring health and happiness to the family. The sacrifice made by the woman of the house is supposed to bring good luck to the husband and the children. The literal meaning of Varalakhsmi is the one grants boons or wishes. Varalakhsmi is believed to be equivalent to worshiping Ashtalaksmi - a group of eight incarnations of the Goddess. They are Siri (Wealth), Bhu (Earth), Sarasvathi (Learning), Prithi (Love), Keerthi (Fame), Shanthi (Peace), Santhushti (Pleasure), and Pushti (Strength). The day also commemorates Goddess Parvati’s devotion for her consort, Lord Shiva.

The celebration takes place in the month of Shravana in the Hindu calendar, which is around the time that monsoon sets in. The Friday before the day of the full moon is when the ritual takes place. Varalakhsmi Vratam is an ancient ritual but still given a lot of importance because it is widely observed all over the southern states. There is a celebratory feast as well. Some of the food items associated with this festival are obattu, kosumbari, puliyogare, huli anna, hesaru bele and payasa. Sweets and food items are distributed by the women of the households all over the neighbourhood as well.

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Gift Something That Brings a Smile on Recipient Face

There are the usual sweet boxes, chocolate boxes and dry-fruit hampers that people gift each other to easily tide over the ‘what to gift for Varalakshmi ’ predicament. It is convenient, but it certainly lacks a personal touch. We believe that gifting is a process that does not end at just giving away the gift but ends when the receiver puts it to use with a smile. So take cues from the ideas we’ve laid out in front of you before buying your Varalakshmi Vratham return gifts and make them truly memorable.