Margashirsh Lakshmi Puja

Margashirsha Lakshmi Puja is observed on Thursdays in the month of Margashirsh (November – December). This puja is dedicated to Goddess Laxmi, the Hindu Goddess of fortune and prosperity.

The Lakshmi puja and fasting (Vrat) is performed by both men and women. The most important aspect on the day is cleanliness. Home and premises should be kept neat and clean.The fast begins after morning bath. Prayers are offered to Ganesha and Lakshmi in the morning hours after bath.Fasting is from Sunrise to sunset.People eat fruits, banana and milk while observing the fast on the day.Those observing the Margashirsh Lakshmi puja invite either seven married or seven young girls on the last day of the puja and then offer them fruits, haldi kumkum and a book containing the Mahalakshmi Vrat Katha.Mahalakshmi puja is observed in the evening on the day. Devotees read the Mahalakshmi Vrat Katha and Mahalakshmi Mahatmya.Sri Mahalakshmi Aarti and Mahalakshmi Naman Ashtak are chanted on the day.In the evening, after Lakshmi puja vegetarian food is eaten, usually the Prasad offered to Goddess Lakshmi.

I started doing this vrat around 12 years ago. I love the rituals associated with this fast. Getting five types of leaves, five fruits, dry fruits, decorating the coconut with bangles,earrings, necklace and mangalsutra and even putting the goddess's face on the coconut is a very fulfilling task for me. Of course..it's mom who does most of the tasks for me since it may be a working day and i wouldn't find the time to make the prasad etc. But Mom's always been around to help me with all of that. Dad would buy me all the items that i would need to start off with the rituals. So overall, it's a family activity time during this Vrat period. To be honest, I don't really fast the whole day. I do eat some fast related food as i find it difficult to concentrate on work with an empty stomach coupled with the fact that acidity comes to haunt me during that time itself. So why keep thinking of food and not god! Hence i believe in eating something light during the day. Asking for forgiveness from the goddess for this.

During the last day, mom would make some special prasad. I would then invite 7 married women to come home.I would then give them the prasad, the holy book and the gift that i would get for them. It's mostly either a lamp or a steel plate/vati or a colored blouse piece.

Poojas are always fun. This is one Vrat that i enjoy to do apart from the Vaibhav Lakshmi Vrat.