Varalakshmi Vratam is a very auspicious festival observed by Hindu Women during the month of Aadi. And, today Varalakshmi Vratam was celebrated with religious fervour in many houses in the city.
Here's a special feature of this traditional Pooja and how it was celebrated by families of this city.
Varalakshmi Vratam is being celebrated for the last 47 years at the residence of Shanthi and Venkatachalam. "Earlier me along with my mother-in-law, Savithri Arunachalam Chettiar used to participate in this pooja at the residence of my grand father-in-law T.S.Sivasubramania Chettiar. It was after those times, we began to observe Varalakshmi Vratam at our residence at Trichy road", shares Shanthi Venkatachalam.
"We still carry the pooja in a very traditional way and are fortunate to carry it forward along with our near and dear," stated Shanthi Venkatachalam whose father S.Ramaswamy Pillai was referred as 'noble people's representative' all his life.
The household of Shanthi Venkatachalam was brimming with relatives and friends throughout the hours of the morning. The pooja room and the sacred altar wore a special look which was decorated with a pair of silver Kumbakonam lamps and idol of Vara Mahalakshmi. Aromatic flowers, fruits, sweets and bangles added to the divine lustre of the old pooja room which is home to a number of old and rare pictures of a number of Indian deities.
"Everything that you find here is at least 50 years old and we have left most of the things undisturbed. The altar, the pictures , the mandapams and the picture frames are all very old. We wanted to keep it that way and remember not just our elders but also our ancient tradition, " added Prof T.A.Venkatachalam, a management expert who has guided thousands of students pursuing their management education.
A lovely icon of Varalakshmi added to the beauty of their living room and her glass bangle garland looked splendid. The corner of the room was graced by Lord Narasimha and his consort Goddess Lakshmi. All the guests were treated with vadai, payasam and were given return gifts in a eco-friendly jute bag.
Rajalakshmi Srikanth, the daughter of Shanthi and T.A.Venkatachalam , the propreitrix of Jute Emporium at Chennai has specially designed and produced the jute bags for the occasion. In addition, she also manages a jute outlet just outside the residence of her parents in Coimbatore.
The guests visiting the household were seen offering flowers and prayers who also sung nice musical compositions hailing Goddess Lakshmi. "Initially we began this Pooja in a small way and it was just the family who participated. But later on, we improvised the whole thing from decoration to Kolams (rangoli). We maintained our tradition but also assimilated a lot from the people who had invited us to their households on such occasions. At one time everyone was invited to participate in the Pooja but due to parking issues and traffic we altered the timing flexible between 11 AM and 7 PM" they shared.
" This being the golden year of our marriage our daughter has made the food and snacks, a little more elaborate. We only wish to continue this tradition happily and do not seek anything else for everything is contained in this itself", stated Shanthi Venkatachalam amidst her tight schedule.
"The Varalakshmi Vratam is celebrated to add to our prosperity and well being. It also is a celebration of our contentment. We beleive after attaining 50 years of age, our skill, time and wealth should be shared for social causes too which will accomplish our life. Much of our tradition is carried forward in a simple manner and that's the reason that it has continued for time immemorial. I have tried my best to take all of this forward and it is due to the elders of our family who were role models for the whole city those days, " smiled Shanthi Venkatachalam who happens to be the grand daughter of K.S. Thirugnanasambandam Chettiar and grand niece of the great educationist T.S.Avinashilingam Chettiar.
The entire household brims with positive energy at the time of the pooja and the ladies of the family use the oppourtunity to recite a number of prayers and songs in order to celebrate the occasion. The magical song " Hiranmayim Lakshmim Sadham Bhajami " composed by Muthuswami Dikshithar is the composition that was sung this year.
"This song is in ragam Lalitha and the thalam is Roopakam. The great composer Muthuswami Dikshithar felt that real wealth was the grace of the Goddess Lakshmi and remembering her at all times. Ultimately Goddess Lakshmi blessed the composer with all forms of wealth. When we seek divine grace and wisdom everything else follows", shared Shanthi Venkatachalam while continuing to attend to the guests arriving at her household to offer their prayers to Goddess Varalakshmi.