Vaibhav Lakshmi Puja Samagriवैभव लक्ष्मी पूजा सामग्री

The puja samagri for the Vaibhav Lakshmi Vrat is simple and mostly found in any home. Nothing costly is required: the booklet tradition stresses faith, cleanliness and regularity over expensive items. Use this checklist to prepare before your first Friday, then follow the vrat vidhi for the steps of the puja.

Items vary a little between families. Where a substitute is common, it is mentioned below.

For the altar

• A low wooden stool (chowki) or a clean raised place, set so that you face east
• A red cloth to cover the chowki
• A picture of Maa Vaibhav Lakshmi, ideally one showing the Shri Yantra and the eight forms of Lakshmi, as printed in the vrat booklet
• A clean asan (mat) to sit on

For the kalash

• A copper or brass kalash (a steel pot is used by some if no other is available)
• Clean water to fill it
• Rice (akshat) for the small heap on which the kalash stands, plus a little extra for offering
• A small bowl (katori) to place on the mouth of the kalash
• A gold or silver ornament for the bowl; if none is available, a coin or a currency note

For worship

• A diya (lamp) with ghee and a cotton wick
• Incense sticks (agarbatti) or dhoop, with a holder
• Matchbox
• Kumkum or roli
• Haldi (turmeric powder)
• Sandal paste (chandan)
• Red flowers, such as red roses or hibiscus; any fresh flowers if red ones are not available
• A puja thali (plate) and a small spoon or lota of water

For the prasad

• Kheer (rice cooked in milk and sugar), the most common offering
• Or any white or sweet offering: sugar, mishri, batasha or sweets
• Fruit, if you wish

The prasad is shared with the family after the puja, and the devotee breaks the fast with it.

Books and texts

• The Vaibhav Lakshmi Vrat Katha booklet, or the katha on this site
• The vrat mantra and the aarti "Om Jai Lakshmi Mata" (both are in most booklets; see the aarti page)

Extra items for the udyapan

On the last Friday of the sankalp, a few more items are needed:

• A coconut
• Kheer for the offering
• Copies of the Vaibhav Lakshmi Vrat Katha book to gift to 7, 11, 21, 51 or 101 women, as you are able
• Kumkum and a small gift (such as bangles, a sweet or fruit) to give with each book

The method is on the udyapan vidhi page.

Preparing in advance

It helps to set aside a small box or shelf for the vrat items so that everything is ready each Friday. Wash and dry the kalash and bowl after each puja, keep the picture covered or in a clean place, and buy fresh flowers and milk for the kheer on the day. Ghee, incense, kumkum, haldi and rice can be kept in stock for the whole sankalp. Before the udyapan, order the katha books a week or two early, since you may need several copies.

Quick checklist

Frequently asked questions