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Mahalakshmi Vrat begins

Lakshmi ji

  • Puja vidhi
  • 6 Wishes to send
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Mahalakshmi Vrat begins

Why it is celebrated

The sixteen-day Mahalakshmi vrat begins on Bhadrapad Shukla Ashtami and ends on Ashwin Krishna Ashtami. Maa Lakshmi is worshipped in her Gajalakshmi form, seated with elephants. It is kept with special devotion in North and Central India and in many Sindhi families.

The story

There is a folk story from the time of the Mahabharata. In Hastinapur, Gandhari ji kept the Mahalakshmi vrat. For the puja on the last day, her sons made a huge elephant out of clay. Gandhari ji invited all the women of the city to the puja, but she did not invite Kunti ji.

Kunti ji sat alone, feeling sad. When Arjun saw his mother's sad face, he asked her why. Hearing everything, he said, 'Maa, you get the puja ready. I will bring the elephant.'

Arjun went to his father, Indra dev, and made a humble request. Indra dev sent his white elephant, Airavat, down to the earth. When Airavat arrived in Kunti ji's courtyard, the whole city rushed to see him, and everyone worshipped Gajalakshmi together.

Gandhari ji and her sons understood their mistake. They asked Kunti ji for forgiveness, and everyone joined the puja together.

The story teaches that no one should be treated as small or as an outsider in worship. It is said that Maa Lakshmi truly lives where there is love and togetherness.

Puja vidhi

  1. On the first day, bathe and take a sankalp for the sixteen-day vrat.
  2. Tie sixteen knots in a thread dyed with haldi, offer it to Maa Lakshmi, and then tie it on your wrist.
  3. Place a kalash of water and a picture or idol of Gajalakshmi with her elephants on a chowki.
  4. For sixteen days, light a lamp, worship Maa Lakshmi and listen to the vrat katha every day.
  5. On the last day, do a special puja of Gajalakshmi with a clay or silver elephant and offer sixteen kinds of dishes as bhog.
  6. After the puja, offer the thread to Maa, do the aarti and share prasad.

Food

Sattvic food for sixteen days; puri, kheer and sweets as bhog on the last day.

Wishes to send

  • Warm wishes as the Mahalakshmi vrat begins! By Maa Lakshmi's grace, may your home be filled with happiness and peace.

  • Sixteen days, sixteen knots and unshakeable faith. May your vrat be blessed.

  • Jai Gajalakshmi Maa! May love, togetherness and contentment always fill your family.

  • Where there is love, Maa Lakshmi lives. On the Mahalakshmi vrat, may your home stay full of sweetness.

  • Faith like Kunti Maa's and love like Arjun's: that is the lesson of this vrat. Best wishes!

  • Pranam to Maa Mahalakshmi. May every corner of your home be filled with light and joy.

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