Varalakshmi Vradham/Varalakshmi Nonbu

Varalakshmi Vradham is followed by ladies in order to obtain the blessings of goddess Varalakshmi to remain as "Sumangali" for ever. So this Vradham is adopted for the wellness of the husband for the married ladies and for other girls, they pray goddess to bless them with the goodness post marriage.

This year the festival falls on 31 August 2020.

On the previous day evening of the festival, ladies invite Goddess "Ambaal" to their home. This is traditionally done by drawing the face of goddess on the Wall. In olden days, we can see this drawing in almost all houses. My grandma also does the same. Few families invite ambaal on the day of Festival in the morning.

Draw maakolam on the floor and Place a clean Banana leaf or a wide plate (thambaalam) on the top. Spread Paddy/Rice on the leaf and then place the Kalasam (prepared as explained below)
Take a clean Brass/Silver Vessel (Sombu), put raw rice, few Toor Dhall, 2 pieces of Manjal Kilangu, kadhora karugamani and Rupee coin. Apply Sandal and Kumkum on all sides of the Vessel. In few families, the vessel is filled with water instead of rice. Take a coconut, wash it in water, apply turmeric on it. On top of the vessel place the coconut upside down that don't fell into the vessel. The outer area of the coconut (between coconut and vessel) should be covered with few mango tree leaves end facing outside. On top of the coconut tuft (kudumi) Amman Mugam will be placed after decorating with jewels. A blouse bit will be fold and placed on the top of the Kalasam covering coconut. We can get a Paavadai to fold around the kalasam without covering the Mugham of Ambaal. Nowadays we get lot of decorative items in the shops. My sister's family insist karugamani as one of the jewels for Ambaal.

Ambaal will be decorated with Jadai (Flowers on the backside as decoration in the plait). Cotton wick is used to decorate Ambaal. Using Screw Pine Flower (thazhampoo) is also much encouraged for decoration. A lengthy cotton wick is prepared and apply kumkum in equal intervals of approximately 1 CM. The wick is used as garland for Ambaal. A medium size mirror will be kept on the backside of Amman enabling us to see the Plait decorated with flowers.

Now Draw kolam on the place where we are going to keep the Ambaal to invite the day before. Place a wooden stool (manai palagai) and draw Maa Kolam on that too. Place a green Banana leaf on the stool. Put Paddy/raw rice on the leaf and spread it, so that it look like a circle with approximately 10 to 15 cm diameter. Then place the Kalasam on the rice. Ambaal will be placed facing east/west and should be able to be viewed from the entrance of the house.

We should be able to see Ambaal by bending enough and not on table that stands to our height.

If there are three married ladies, each one would have one Ambaal that was gifted by her mother at the time of her first Nonbu after marriage. All Ambaal Mugham will be placed for pooja. But only one kalasam will be used for the Nonbu.

If each one does the Pooja in separate houses, then they shall use separate Kalasam for the purpose of celebrating this Nonbu.

Usually the bride's Mom gift the Silver Vessel and Ambaal to the Bride during the first Nonbu after her marriage. Along with this, the Bride is entitled for Vethalai Pakku, manjal, kumkum, flowers and dress. Every year, the bride's mom used to offer thamboolam and gift to her daughter on the occasion of this festival.

Ladies sing songs to welcome Goddess on the previous day evening. They also prepare Sakkarai pongal and perform Neivedhyam.

The song they used to sing is "Varalakshmi Raave maa intikki" meaning goddess Varalakshmi, please come to my house.

They next day morning, ladies get up early in the morning, clean the house, draw decorative kolam in the entrance and apply the red color sand (Chemmann). They take head bath (not oil bath) wear madisaar (madi dress) and apply kumkum on forehead.

Amman is then invited formally, the kalasam will be taken from the entrance and kept in the Pooja room where we are going to perform the Varalakshmi Pooja. A Mandapam will be placed where we are performing the Pooja. There should be a top where we are going to keep the Amman with Kalasam.

The decorations on this day include 2 small banana tress, Thoranam, serial lights, flowers etc;

Ladies prepare Paruppu Payasam, Kozhukattai, Ulundhu Vadai, Pacharisi Idly, sundal, Saadam and Thoor Dhal and Buy fruits to offer to goddess.

In our mother's home, priest used to come and lead us to perform the Pooja.

Nowadays, ladies follow the books available in shops to perform Pooja.

At the end of the Pooja the Saradu will be tied on the right hand. It will be tied by a senior Sumangali lady. While the Saradu is being tied the lady who is wearing the Saradu should have a Thamboolam on her hands and then allow the Sumangali to tie the Saradu.

If there are no ladies at home on that day, then husband shall tie the saradu to wife. Ladies will perform Namaskaram to god, elders at home and husband to obtain their blessings.

Ladies used to offer Thamboolam to Sumangalis on the evening. After issuing thamboolam, Aarathi will be taken to Ambal and slightly move towards North.

Next day we perform Punar poojai and prepare some sweet for neivedyam. In my sister's family they compulsorily prepare curd rice.

The next day night, take the Ambal carefully and place inside the Vessel in which we keep Rice. After performing this, we should not enter into the room throughout the night. The reason behind is allowing Ambal to take rest. Amman is again taken out on the next day morning. The rice used is mingled with the rice in the container in our house. The coconut is used to prepare some sweet preferably Arisi thengai payasam.

Celebrate this auspicious day with your family...