Know All About The Mahalaxmi Vrat 2024

The Mahalaxmi Vrat is a Hindu festival dedicated in reverence to Goddess Laxmi and is observed with great religious fervor in the state of Maharashtra . During this 16-day period, people worship the Lordess of wealth in her varying avatars. The popular belief pertaining to Mahalaxmi Vrat is that the ones that dedicate times for this puja and blessed financially, as all financial hurdles are removed.

Mahalaxmi Vrat 2024: Dates and significance

In 2024, Mahalaxmi Vrat begins on September 11 and concludes on September 24. This festival starts five days after Ganesh Chaturthi , commencing on the Ashtami Tithi of the Shukla Paksha in Bhadrapada and ending on the Ashtami Tithi of the Krishna Paksha in Ashwin. The onset of the vrat this year coincides with auspicious Ayushman and Preeti Yogas, making it a particularly favorable time for worship.

Mahalaxmi Vrat Katha, rituals and practices

Devotees typically rise early on the first day of the vrat, taking a ceremonial bath before donning clean attire. A sacred space is prepared by laying a red or yellow cloth on a puja platform, where a statue or image of Goddess Lakshmi is placed. Essential offerings include a ghee lamp, red flowers, rice, vermilion, and cosmetic items. Following these offerings, the Mahalaxmi Vrat Katha is recited, concluding the puja with an aarti.

The traditional story associated with the vrat narrates the tale of a poor Brahmin woman devoted to Lord Vishnu. Pleased by her devotion, he instructed her to invite a woman, who was actually Goddess Lakshmi in disguise, to her home. After worshiping for 16 days as instructed, the goddess blessed her with wealth and prosperity, establishing the tradition of Mahalaxmi Vrat.

Dietary guidelines during the Mahalaxmi vrat

Though Mahalaxmi Vrat is not a Nirjala (waterless) fast, devotees abstain from consuming grains, allowing only fruits during the period. The vrat culminates on the 16th day with an Udyapan ceremony, celebrating the completion of the observance. For those unable to commit to the full 16 days, an option exists to observe the fast for just the first three or the final three days.

Participating in the Mahalaxmi Vrat offers devotees a chance to connect deeply with their faith, seeking the blessings of Goddess Lakshmi for a prosperous future. By embracing this tradition, many find not just spiritual fulfillment but also a renewed sense of hope and financial well-being.