Varalakshmi Vratham
Varalakshmi Vratam or Varalakshmi vratham or Varalakshmi vrat
Varalakshmi vratam is performed on a friday just before the Full moon day in Sravana Month. It is the friday just before the Sravana Poornima. The name in the vrat is Varalakshmi that is Goddess Lakshmi who gives boon as vara means boon.
It is a big festival in south India and celebrated with lots of devotion. This vrat was narrated to goddess Parvati by Lord Shiva on her request for a vrat that would help the women on Earth to be able to attain prosperity in family and wealth.
On this day a replica of the Goddess is made and worshipped. Women of all age group get up early in the morning take a head bath, prepare the idol and worship with great devotion. Women normally fast the whole day and would call ladies in the neighbouring houses which is called as perantam(gathering). Women normally distribute bengal gram along with sweets to the ladies.
