The mass ‘Varalakshmi Vratham’, held on August 23rd (a Friday), is a ritual to please Goddess Lakshmi that takes place during the Telugu month of Sravanam at Sri Durga Malleswara Swamyvarla Devasthanam, Indrakeeladri hills, Vijayawada.
A considerable number of devotees joined in the Varalakshmi Vratham which was conducted in the temple under two categories – Arjitha and free. Arjitha Varalakshmi Vratam was done between 7 am and 9 am while the mass Vratham was completed after ten o’clock.
Females who attended Arjitha Varalakshmi Vratam paid ₹1,500. After performing ‘Vratham’ they were allowed darshan through the ₹300 queue line for about an hour. The women took away kumkum of 150 grams weight, sesha vastram, a blouse piece, laddu prasadam, poornalu and six bangles.
Devotees attending free varalakshmi vratham also received laddu prasadam, kumkum, poornalu and bangles.
The priests dressed up the goddess as Sri Varalakshmi with different types of flowers and ornaments; this was done every Friday during the second week of Shravana maasam. There was a special Kumkumarchana ritual organized by temple management on this occasion. Some of them include Nitya Arjitha Sevas like Khadga Mala Archana, Laksha Kumkumarchana, Sri Chakra Navavarna Archana, Chandi Homam and Santhi Kalyanam.
