Varalakshmi Vrat 2027 — Friday, 13 August 2027

Varalakshmi Vrat is one of the most loved household festivals of Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana and Tamil Nadu. It is kept by married women on a Friday in the bright half of Shravana, the Friday just before the full Moon. Friday is the day of Lakshmi, and Shravana is a month of many vratas in the south. Vara means a boon, and Varalakshmi is Lakshmi as the giver of boons; worshipping her is said to be equal to worshipping all eight forms of Lakshmi, the Ashtalakshmi, who stand for wealth, grain, courage, children, knowledge, success and other blessings of a good life.

The vrata has its own katha, which tradition attributes to the Skanda Purana, told by Shiva to Parvati. It speaks of Charumati, a devoted and kind woman who lived in the city of Kundina and cared for her husband and his parents. Lakshmi appeared to her in a dream and told her to worship her on the Friday before the Shravana full Moon. Charumati told the other women of the town, and they kept the vrata together; the story says the whole town prospered. The story is read aloud at the end of the puja.

The centre of the worship is a kalasha, a pot of water or rice, crowned with mango leaves and a coconut, which is dressed as the goddess. Many families attach a silver or brass face of Lakshmi to the coconut and dress the kalasha in a sari with jewellery and flowers, so that the goddess seems to be sitting in the home as a guest. The puja includes the tying of a sacred yellow thread, called dora or thoram, on the right wrist of each woman, as a sign of the vow.

The day has a strong social side. Women invite relatives and neighbours to their homes and give them tambulam or vayana, a small plate of betel leaves, turmeric, kumkum, bangles, fruit and sometimes a blouse piece, in honour of the goddess who is present in every married woman. Sweets such as payasam and festive dishes are offered and shared, and in many homes the kalasha is honoured again the next day before it is taken apart.