Worshipping this form of Goddess Lakshmi brings in immense prosperity

Varalakshmi, a form of Mata Lakshmi, is the Goddess who gives ‘boons’. ‘Var’, which means boon or blessing, as we can translate it, can range from wealth to long life, and Varalakshmi helps her devotees achieve it all in life. She is often shown as a graceful goddess with four arms, holding a lotus, conch, pot of wealth, and showing the Abhaya mudra, which is a symbol of protection and blessings.

In 2024, the Varalakshmi fast will be kept on August 16, Friday. In the Southern parts of India, Varalakshmi vrat is done on the Friday just before the end of Sawan. During this fasting, devotees of Mata Lakshmi, and especially women (married and unmarried) keep a fast for the good health, good finances, and long life of their husbands and even children.
It is said that worshipping Varalakshmi on this day is equal to worshipping all the forms of Lakshmi, the ‘Ashtlakshmi’.

Mata Varalakshmi is basically the giver of boons and blessings and so people worship her achieving a happy and prosperous life. They ask for her help for financial well being, good health of family and self, long life and being free from diseases, spiritual growth, and much more.
As it is said that worshipping her is equal to worshipping the Ashtalakshmi together, devotees believe they can overcome obstacles, bring harmony to their families, and connect with the divine energy of Goddess Lakshmi, leading to a peaceful life.

The Varalakshmi fast is especially important for married women. In fact, in many parts of India, it is considered a sacred duty for women to perform this vrat for the prosperity and well-being of their families. The fast is believed to bring blessings not only for the women who observe it but also for their husbands and children.

The rituals associated with Varalakshmi vrat are fairly simple. A slight difference only comes in the hours of fasting as some women prefer to abstain from food all day, while the others only abstain from food till the Puja is done and ‘bhog’ is offered to Maa Lakshmi.
For observing the fast, the day before the Varalakshmi vrat, clean the kitchen, puja room, and the home and decorate the home temple with flowers. Then on the vrat day place a Kalash near Maa Lakshmi’s picture or idol and on top of the Kalash keep a coconut.
Once you have taken a bath and are fresh and pure, begin the puja by lighting a ghee diya and chanting mantras dedicated to Maa Lakshmi.

Some mantras you can chant during the day and during the puja are - Om Shreem Maha Lakshmiyai Namah, the Mahalakshmi Ashtakam Stotra, the Lakshmi Gayatri mantra, and the likes.
The Mahalakshmi Ashtakam starts with - ‘नमस्तेस्तू महामाये श्रीपिठे सूरपुजिते । शंख चक्र गदा हस्ते महालक्ष्मी नमोस्तूते’ and Lakshmi Gayatri mantra is - ‘ॐ श्री महालक्ष्म्यै च विद्महे विष्णु पत्न्यै च धीमहि तन्नो लक्ष्मी प्रचोदयात् ॐ॥’