Vara Mahalaxmi Vrita observed across twin districts today

Vara Mahalaxmi Vrita observed across twin districts today

Mangalore Today News Network

Mangalore, August 12: Vara Mahalaxmi Vrita, which comes on the Friday before the full moon day of Shravan, is celebrated by women to appease Goddess Mahalaxmi, the goddess of wealth and consort of Lord Vishnu. The festival was celebrated in temples all over the twin districts on Aug 12 Friday.

According to the legend, Mahalaxmi, who was born as the daughter of sage Bhrigu and his wife Khyati, emerged from the ocean when it was being churned by the gods and the demons. Whenever Lord Vishnu incarnates, Goddess Mahalaxmi also incarnates and marries him. She is believed to be the goddess of luck and wealth, bestowing long life on the husbands of the women who worship her. 

Women who practice the vrita wake up at dawn and clean their homes. They then decorate their yards with rangolis, take head bath, and worship Vara Mahalaxmi. Devotees believe that the goddess is in a very good mood on this day and blesses devotees with health, wealth, harvest, long life, and so on. 

A small copper pot, also known as kalasha, is decorated with betel leaves and ornaments are worshipped as representative of Goddess Mahalaxmi. Women invite other women of the neighborhood for the puja and offer prasadam. They also visit temples and offer prayers.