Margashirsha Mahalakshmi Vrat... Brings Prosperity

     Margashirsha is the ninth month in the Hindu calendar. Hindu people consider this month as sacred and auspicious month. The Hindu culture is full of rich history, festivals and traditions that has great significance. Each festival has a beautiful story behind it. 

    In the month of Margashirsha, on every Thursday Lakshmi puja is done and fast is observed by devotees. It is believed that, one who observes \"Lakshmi Vrat\" is blessed with spiritual growth and stability in life. This Puja is performed either at home or at Lakshmi Maa temple. The Lakshmi vrat and puja can be performed by both men and women. People who perform this puja have to observe fast for whole day on every Thursday.

Mahalakshmi Vrat Vidhi:

• To perform puja, Keep a wooden chowky adjacent to the  temple and cover it with red colored cloth. Draw a Swastik below chowky with rangoli. 
• Draw a Rangoli in front of the house with beautiful colors.
• Place a photo of Goddess Mahalakshmi on the chowky. 
• Spread some Rice (Akshada) in front of photo of Goddess Lakshmi. 
  
  
  
• Take the Kalash and draw a Swastik on it with kumkum. Fill it with water. Put five or seven mango leaves inside the kalash. Put a one rupee coin and a Betel (supari) in the kalash. 
  
  
  
• Dress the kalash with red colored cloth. 
• Now place a coconut on the top of the Kalash. The coconut is considered as a Goddess.
  
  
  
• Decorate a chowky with flowers and Diya. Many people put a Mahalakshmi Mukhavta (Face masks) on Coconut which is easily available in any pooja store during this month. 
• Offer five fruits to Goddess as Prashad. Put it in front of Kalash. one can also offer some dry fruits to Goddess. 
• To begin puja, All the offerings first made to the Lord Ganesha. 
• Now, offer Haldi, Kumkum, akshada and flower to the Goddess Lakshmi idol and kalash.
• Once this is done, Read "Mahalakshmi Vrat katha" with focused mind. (Book is easily available in any puja store or book store)  
• Finally perform Aarti of Goddess Lakshmi with offering prayers to Goddess.
• After the morning puja, the puja and aarti are performed again in the evening and lamps are lit in the courtyard.

    People perfrom this Vrat with the intention of giving wealth, food and prosperity to their family and good health to their family members. In the villages and cities of Maharashtra, this 'vrat' is prepared with enthusiasm. Women go to the market to buy masks, costumes, ornaments and worship materials of the goddess.

    It is believed that those who perform this Vrat with faith and spirit, Goddess Lakshmi will be pleased and will have a grace on them.