JOIN USThe fragrance of a tradition
It’s that time of the year when markets are teeming with colourful flowers in exotic varieties and fresh fruits and vegetables, while people are making last minute purchases.
With ‘Varamahalakshmi Vrata’ being observed today, married women are decking up goddess Lakshmi in a new sari and plenty of jewellery.
It’s a festival that most women look forward to because they believe that worshiping goddess Varamahalakshmi on this day is equivalent to worshipping ‘Ashtalakshmi’ — the eight kinds of Lakshmi depicting and representing wealth, earth, learning, love, fame, peace, pleasure, and strength. Amitha Shireesh, the principal of a school, says, “‘Varaha’ means boon and this month goddess Lakshmi is in a generous mood to bless people with the nine basic elements; health and peace of mind top the list. We believe that if one has good health, the rest will follow,” believes Amitha. She says that she has been following the tradition and has passed it on to her children as well. “My son is 28 years old and my daughter Neha is 20. They too believe in the tradition and however busy they may be, they make it a point to be home on auspicious occasions like this,” adds Amitha, who makes ‘obbattu’ and a few variations of ‘vada’ which are the special dishes for the day.
Women believe that worshipping the eight energies will endow them and their families with the qualities identified with the representations. Sukanya Raja, a housewife, says preparations for ‘Varamahalakshmi’ begin a week before the actual festival. “We place a ‘kalash’ which is decorated with a sari, flowers and gold jewellery with offerings placed in front of it,” explains Sukanya. Towards evening, Sukanya has family, friends and neighbours coming over to see the decorated goddess.
“The women who visit our home are given a blouse piece and a coconut after the puja has been performed,” she says. “It is not only a festival for thanking the goddess for all the good fortune that has been bestowed on us but also one of giving and sharing that goodness with others,” adds Sukanya.
Youngsters like Shilpa Biddappa, quality and training lead, Capital Float, say that more than adhering to tradition, she believes that if you do good, then that good will come back to you.
“We follow the tradition but I believe that if you do good and don’t harm others, either by way of thought or action, then good things will come to you. It’s not only materialistic things that are important during festivals, even non-materialistic aspects matter a great deal,” says Shilpa.
Thrupthi H S says that ‘Varamahalakshmi’ is the festival of well-being and prosperity. “I believe in goddess Lakshmi who blesses her devotees with good health and wealth. We keep a sacred ‘kalash’ filled with raw rice covered with fresh beetle leaves. Goddess Lakshmi looks resplendent in fresh flowers, gold jewellery and a silk sari,” says Thrupthi H S.
Flowers are also an integral part of the festival because the goddess is decked with flowers, especially the lotus, and people don’t wait till the last moment to buy them. Although the prices of flowers are almost double during the festival, people do not mind paying extra money just to follow the tradition.
Bhagyalakshmi Reddy, a housewife, says, “I don’t mind paying more money to get good quality flowers. We not only decorate the goddess but also the house and distribute some flowers to friends as well,” she says.