Varamahalakshmi Festival 2009 ! Varalakshmi Vratam

Varamahalakhsmi festival as the name suggests, is the worship of Goddess Lakshmi in Bangalore. It takes place throughout the state of Karnataka occurring annually in the month of August.

The root of Varamahalakshmi, Bangalore lies in the Vedic Age. In the Vedic Age the Gods were supposed to communicate with the humans. This day is considered to be extremely auspicious. Married women pray to Mother Lakshmi for her blessings through a whole lot of rituals. Offering garlands of cash, jewellery and other costly items, they pray to the Mother for the prosperity of their household and success of their husbands. As a custom, they also offer vermilion to five married women.

Like almost every other festivals in our country, the Varamahalakshmi, Bangalore is also associated with myths. According to a legend, once an old lady was much troubled with life. She was so poor that she could not even live properly. One day, in her dreams, Goddess Lakshmi instructed her to perform certain rituals in order to bring prosperity to her family and relatives. Since then, it has become a practice with almost every married woman.

On this day, families visit their relatives to exchange wishes and gifts. The unity of community and fellow feeling is seen at its best here. The Varamahalakshmi, Bangalore is performed when members of the same family assemble together. People believe that on this auspicious day if one prays to the Goddess Lakshmi with a clear conscience, the Mother would bestow great blessings on him. This is why the Varamahalakshmi festival is very important among businessmen and traders although people from all classes perform the rituals according to their limits.

The Varamahalakshmi festival in Bangalore is just a reflection of the entire festival actually taking place throughout the country. Every place has its own regional flavor attached to the festival.