Varalakshmi Vratham Pooja Vidhanam: Step-by-Step Procedure
Varalakshmi Vratham Pooja Vidhanam
A detailed, follow-along procedure for performing Varalakshmi Vratham at home — from sankalpa to udvasana, in the Telugu tradition.
Preparing for the vratam
Set aside a clean north-east corner of your home and gather all the samagri the previous evening. On the morning of the vratam, the women of the house rise early, bathe, wear traditional attire, and take a sankalpa — a vow stating the intention of the puja and the family's gotra and names.
Varalakshmi Vratham pooja vidhanam, step by step
Kolam & mandapam
Draw a muggu (kolam) and place a wooden plank; spread a new blouse piece and a layer of raw rice as the seat for the Goddess.
Kalasha Sthapana
Place a kalasham filled with rice or holy water, coins and a betel nut; ring it with mango leaves and crown it with a turmeric-smeared coconut. Adorn it as Lakshmi with a saree, jewellery and flowers.
Ganapati Puja
Invoke Lord Ganapati first with turmeric and flowers to remove obstacles from the ceremony.
Avahanam
Invite Varalakshmi into the kalasham with dhyana and avahana mantras, requesting her to be seated.
Shodashopachara
Offer the sixteen honours in order: asana, padya, arghya, achamana, snana, vastra, abharana, gandha, pushpa, dhupa, deepa, naivedya, tambula, and neerajana — each with its mantra.
Ashtottara archana
Recite the Sri Lakshmi Ashtottara Shatanamavali (108 names), offering kumkum or flowers at each name; many add the Kanakadhara Stotram.
Tie the thoram
Tie the nine-knotted thoram on the right wrist with the prescribed mantra; married women also wear the pongu nool.
Vayana danam & katha
Exchange vayanam (gift of the vratam) with married women, then read or listen to the Varalakshmi Vratha Katha.
Mangala harati & udvasana
Conclude with deeparadhana and mangala harati, distribute prasadam and tambulam, and perform a gentle udvasana the same evening or next day.
A few gentle tips
You do not need to be a Sanskrit scholar — sincerity matters most. Keep a simple printed procedure or a knowledgeable elder at hand, perform each step unhurried, and if you would like a pujari to guide the family through it, Karishye arranges a verified Telugu pujari with all samagri included.
Book Varalakshmi Vratham with Karishye
A verified Telugu pujari, complete eco-friendly samagri and free muhurtham guidance — across Telangana & Andhra Pradesh. Prefer to do it yourself? Order the ready samagri kit.
Frequently asked questions
Q.Can I perform the vratam without a pujari?
Yes — many families perform it themselves with a simple guide. Sincerity and a clean, devotional setup matter most; a pujari is optional.
Q.How long does the puja take?
Performed devotionally, the vratam takes about 1–2 hours, plus time for naivedyam and the katha.
Q.In what order are the upacharas offered?
The sixteen upacharas follow the order asana, padya, arghya, achamana, snana, vastra, abharana, gandha, pushpa, dhupa, deepa, naivedya, tambula and neerajana.