Mahalakshmi Vrata for 16 days in North India

An important Vrata dedicated to Goddess Lakshmi in North India is the Mahalakshmi Vratha or Mahalaxmi Puja which begins on the Bhadrapad Shukla Ashtami Tithi (eighth day after new moon in September) and ends on Ashwin Krishna Ashtami Tithi (eighth day after full moon in September). In 2013, Mahalakshmi Vrata begins on September 13 and ends on September 27. The Mahalaxmi Vrata is observed for sixteen days and is mainly followed in Bihar, Madhya Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh.

The greatness of Mahalakshmi Vrata was explained to Yudhisthira by Lord Krishna. Yudhisthira wanted to know about a Vrata with which he can get back all that he had lost including property and wealth. The importance of the Vrata is also mentioned in the Bhavishya Purana.

The Lakshmi Vrata in North India begins on the Bhadrapad Shukla Ashtami morning with special prayers to Goddess Lakshmi. After taking bath, usual prayers are offered to Lakshmi. Some people make sixteen knots using a string and tie it on the left hand. Sixteen Dhurva grass is dipped in water and is sprinkled on the body.

The main ritual during the Vrata is abstaining from non-vegetarian food, waking up early taking bath and praying to Goddess Lakshmi for prosperity.
The Vrata ends on the Ashwina Krishna Ashtami day with evening prayers dedicated to Goddess Lakshmi. A Kalash or Purna Kumbha is worshipped as Mahalakshmi on the last day. A bronze Kalasham (pot) is filled with water, akshatas, couple of coins etc. The neck of the pot is decorated with betel leaves or mango leaves. The pot is smeared with kumkum, sandalwood and turmeric paste. A coconut is placed on the neck of the pot and is also smeared with kumkum and turmeric. A new cloth is tied to the Kalasha and it is worshipped as Goddess Lakshmi.

Normal pujas are performed on all days like lighting a lamp, incense and dhoop etc. You can also listen to Lakshmi Sahasranama or other bhajans or Mahalakshmi Vratha Katha dedicated to Goddess Mahalakshmi during the period.


44 comments:

RahulGhoshal said...

Fantastic to find this page on the net. To add to this:
Bhadrapad Shukla Ashtami Tithi (eighth day after new moon in September) is also called as "Radha-ashtami"

Ashwin Krishna Ashtami Tithi (eighth day after full moon in September)is also called as "Jita-ashtami"

jitendra said...

its really great.everybody can find a lot of wealth by this vratha.and i think every people should do this ,its really wonderful and miracle for destiny.

kanika said...

its really great thing which is being posted here.......i thought that i could never get the date of this vrata but it was fortunate to have this address to get the proper information about the vrata.........thank you.......jai mahalaxmi

Anonymous said...

please post mahalakshmi vrat katha..

Anonymous said...

what are the dates for mahalakshmi vrat in 2009? what kind of food can be eaten?

Ashwin said...

I am vary happy to visit this side. I would like to do this Vrata from Aug 27th 2009 to Sept 11th 2009. Mahalaxmi Mata gave me darshan in my dream. I will post my miracles next time.
Jai Ambe Maa!

Hetal said...

hetal pathak: there are much procedures to do this vrat like on each day u should make/purchase new sweets as a prasad,16 diya at the last day of vrat,also put 16 lady shringar samagri in a covered thali as per/u/r financial capacity then donate the same to a suhagan .for mantra and other divine procedures cnct 09821337701.

Ritusays said...

I started my fast on Aug 28 2009 instead of Aug 27- we are in USA and had some confusion on when to begin - now should I do one extra day and end on Sept 12? Has anyone else gone through this? What have you done? Thanks.

Hetal said...

Ritu , I also gne thru this prob. As initialy i didnt had tuning bet tithi &date ,no mater u may started late but u end it on the scheduled date only,fr this yr dt is 11-o9 .See basicaly this vrat cn be kept for :4,8,or 16 days .16dys vrat is the best amng all,as i said earlier on last day if u follow d procedres it will result in miracle 2 u.NO need 2 keep fast,but do daily pooja,posibly in brahmmuhrat {4am'to 6am}.do u wish 2 have knowledge abt mantra 2be spoken at d time of pooja and other/procedures?thn donot hasitate 2 call me,it will be my seva to mataji .jai mata ji.

Rakhi said...

I am so glad that i can find so much information on the net.
Also its good to do SHRI SUKHTAM 16 times a day for 16 days for 16 years.

Chitra said...

Its nice to find such good things on net. I want to know can I start this pooja in this month, i mean Sept. Please asist me. I also want to know all the procedure, prayers. I really want to do this. I am also doing Vaibhav laxmi vrath for 11 fridays and it will complete in Decemeber. Can I do this pooja with my current Pooja.

abhilash said...

@Chitra this Particular Mahalakshmi Puja is observed during this period and you will have to wait till here.

As you are already observing Vaibhav Lakshmi Vrat it would be good if you concentrate on it.

Anonymous said...

what are the dates for mahalakshmi vrat in 2010?

VISHNU SHARMA said...

please let me know when does LAKSMI VRAT is starting in 2010

Anonymous said...

Thank you for this information.

Anonymous said...

I WANT TO KNOW THE HOLE PROCEDURE OF THIS VRAT , FROM FIRST DAY TO LAST DAY

EG:- HOW TO BEGIN THE POOJA ., WAT TO EAT DURING THE VRAT

Anonymous said...

i want to know wat to eat and not to eat in dis fast.......

Priyanka said...

You can eat vegetarian food during the period. You can also opt for a fruit or milk deit.

Avoid non-veg food during the vrat.

hetal pathak said...

TO START WITH U TAK A PICTURE OF MATA LAXMI,(THE ONE B/H HER 2 ELEPHANTS SPRKLING WATER,ALONG SIDE GANESH G AND MATA SARSWATI SEATED.9ONLY THIS PICTURE IS TO BE PURCHASED FOR STHAPNA).
Now on da 1stday of vrat..morng tym..ghat sthapna(a brasswater container (kumbh)full of fresh water and afresh coconut on it to b established on awooden pallet..wooden pallet to be covered wid red cloth..and rice..(the proc is same as ganesh sthapna)

HETAL PATHAK said...

AUM SHRI HRI SHRI KAMLE KAMAL...AUM SHRI HRI SHRI KAMLE KAMLAAY....PRASID PRASID SHREE MAHALAXMEEY NAMAH
THIS IS THE MANTRA TO BE CHRNED AS MANY AS TIME U CAN WHILE PERFRMING POOJA....REMEMBER...MAA MAHALAXMI POOJA CANT BE PERFORMED WITHOUT LIGHTNING DIYA.(ALSO PUT FLOWERS...LOTUS..ATTAR....DHUPS..16 BEAUTYFICATION PRODUCTS ETC.)SMS ME IF WANT TO KNW MORE =08879007111./09821337701

Anonymous said...

I need sum help....
can i use any 16 grass from garden, i live in germany & we dnt hav any mango leves so wht to do ???
can we also eat salt in vart & hw oft we can eat in a day any time to eat???
16 not on roli do we need any mantra or pandit for tht or i can do this myself??
what to do with tht kalash after 16day , do we need to change the water from kalash everyday ??

sushma said...

Yes you can use 16 grass from the garden

eating etc you can decide. Keep a vegetarian diet. if possible avoid salt.

There is no need of pandit. you should perform it yourself the best way you can. you can always be flexible.

Kalash water should be changed every day. The eater should be offered to plants.

Anonymous said...

To remember it easily this vrata we can remember that this vrata starts when Ganesha chaturthi utsava starts . After chaturthi when ashtami came this vrata starts on this ashtami. This puja is for daily sixteen days. Vrata is only first and last day. If you wants you can do vrata for sixteen days. But perform puja every day. First day do kalash sthapana this kalash is the form of laxmi ,perform puja every day(16 days) on this kalash do japs of laxmi mantra or 108 names of Godess laxmi. Fold 16times one White thried and make 16 knot on this third. Worship this third for 16days. On last day tie this third on your arm. Or any were you like on your body for the whole year. Next year change this blessed third with new one after performing vrat puja for sixteen days. By vatsala.

Anonymous said...

Can sumone plz tell Me vart katha in hindi...
I Could't found in hindi....:(((

Deepa said...

16 day Mahalakshmi vrat katha in Hindi is available only in book form and you can buy it in all puja stores.

Rekha punjab 10.09.2011 said...

i observe these vrat from last three yrs bt this time i didnt cm to know when it startd...cn i observe other vrat nd how cn i start from???????????????? plzzz help me outi observe these vrat from last three yrs bt this time i didnt cm to know when it startd...cn i observe other vrat nd how cn i start from???????????????? plzzz help me out

Sonia said...

Sorry Rekha you can only observe it next year or you can observe it on the first thursday of Shukla Paksha in Margshirsh month

Anonymous said...

What happens if during vrat days I undergo MC periods. shall i have to discontinue the vrat for 4 days?????

Kokila said...

You can continue with the vrat during MC periods it is counted. Only avoid pujas.

Anonymous said...

If one observe four vrat rather than 16 then besides vrat days on other days cn one eat food used with garlic nd onion plzzzzz tell...If one observe four vrat rather than 16 then besides vrat days on other days cn one eat food used with garlic nd onion plzzzzz tell...

Kunika said...

Yes you can eat garlic onion etc.

Anonymous said...

kindly write about the katha which has to be read on the last day for untying the sagfra

Anonymous said...

last day of the vrat we have to offer 16beautification things or 16 each things nd to Godess or to any married lady...plz telllast day of the vrat we have to offer 16beautification things or 16 each things nd to Godess or to any married lady...plz tell

Shreya said...

The beautification things is to be offered to a married lady.

Anonymous said...

we have to offer 16 beautification things only or 16 of each 16things plzzzzz solve d confusion,if anyone cn name which 16 things.......

Anonymous said...

hi pls help me i want to do this vrata but i dont know how many vrat must i have to do can i onlya first and last ?

Anonymous said...

Hello, guys Can anyone tell me plz What To do on last day of vart?? & What to do wid tht Orangen flag ???

Anonymous said...

does some one has the vrata katha in hinsi

Anonymous said...

JAI LAKSMI MAA . I LIKE THESE VART.I WILL KEEP IN FIRST TIME WHOLE VART.MAA PLEASE MUZHE SHAKTI DENA TAAKI MAI YE VART EASILY RAKH SAKU.JAI VISHNULAKSMI.

SEPT22,2012 8:30P.M

Anonymous said...

I am also doing this vrat for the first time.I dont know the exact procedures but what ever I have got from the internet I am doing it accordingly.i am doing it for 16 days all falaahar and milk products.i hope I will be able to do it.on last day I will donate some food items to 16 brahmans if I get them or to some Mahalakshmi temple.And the 16 suhaag items also to a brahman of that temple as its written in the sites.

my husband is also keeping the fast for three days only 23rd, 29th and the last day. i want to know whether we need to donate these items separately ,16 *16 items each one of us.? can anyone answer?

Anonymous said...

This is a good vrat.

Anonymous said...

pls if someone can let me know do we have to worship a horse and then pravaha it in running water
thanks sonia

Anonymous said...

pls. let me know how the hindu-punjabis observe this fast.

Neha said...

Please let me know the vart katha which punjabi's do on this day ......
I remember a little but in which punjabi hindu worship berry tree

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