How to Perform 16 Days Mahalakshmi Vrata

How to Perform 16 Days Mahalakshmi Vrata during Bhadrapad Month. The sixteen days Goddess Lakshmi vrata is an important ritual performed to obtain peace, prosperity, and get back all the lost materials and wealth. Below are the details of Mahalakshmi Vrata titual.

After taking a ritual bath in the early morning of Mahalaxmi Vrata day, women tie 16 knotted strings on their left hands. They sprinkle some water using Durva grass blades on to their body. The Durva grass blades are kept in water before sprinkling. Only vegetarian food is consumed during the day. Lord Surya is also worshipped during the day. In North India, Mahalakshmi Vrat katha is recited during the occasion.

Procedure to be followed for Mahalakshmi Vrata

1) Take a pot, fill it with water and decorate with betel leaves. Place a coconut on its top.

2) Adorn the pot with a red cloth and tie a red thread around it. Draw four lines, which denote the Chatur Vedas, with kumkum (vermillion) on the pot. A Swastik (an ancient cosmic or religious symbol) is drawn on the pot. This pot with all the decorations is referred as Kalash or Purna Kumbh and it represents the Universal power (Supreme deity).

3) Akshata (uncooked rice which is mixed with turmeric) is set aside and a few coins are placed in the water in Kalash. This Kalash is worshipped as Goddess Mahalaxmi Devi.

4) Now, as like the usual poojas, lamps are lit and the Lakshmi Gayatri, Lakshmi Ashtottara Satanamavali (108 names of Mahalakshmi), Ashtalaksmi Stotra, Lakshmi Sahasranama Stotra, and Mahalakshmi Ashtakam, are recited during Mahalakshmi Vrata Puja.