This fast should commence on a Friday and subsequently, one should follow it for 11 or 21 Fridays excluding any breaks. If for some reason, it cannot be followed on consecutive Fridays, the follower can observe the fast for a total number of 11 or 21 Fridays. Devotees usually abstain from food during the entire day. If one does not have the stamina to do so, eating fruits and milk is permitted. Alternately, one can either eat a meal after the puja during the night or any offerings made to the Goddess. The devotee starts the day by waking up early, concentrating on the Goddess by reciting ‘Jai Maha Lakshmi’ with deep faith and clear heart.

The puja is performed in the evening when the sun sets. After cleaning the puja altar, make a rangoli and place uncooked rice on it to form a square. Before starting the puja, establish a kalasham with water, cardomam, edible camphor and saffron. Close it with a lid containing coins. The Vaibhava Lakshmi yantram or Ashtalakshmi picture can be placed nearby for worship. The yantram, picture and the kalasham can be decorated with sandalwood paste, kumkum and flowers.

Make a thick paste of turmeric powder (around 1 tsp full) with few drops of water to form a small cone. This will be used for the Ganesh puja.

The Vaibhava Lakshmi puja commences with the Ganesh puja, followed by the Vaibhava Lakshmi worship, listening or reading the Vaibhava Lakshmi legend and bhajans, ending with an aarti. A sweet dish, usually a milk-rice pudding is offered to the Goddess after that. The water in the Kalasham and the offering can be consumed and later distributed to others. The rice could be used for cooking and the coins can be utilized for other worship. On the concluding Friday, Vaibhava Lakshmi books are to be distributed to 11, 21, 51, or 101 people.

Materials required for the Puja

1. Betel Leaves
2. Bananas
3. Flowers
4. Honey
5. MangalSutra or yellow thread
6. Naivedya – sarkara pongal or milk pudding
7. Sankalp – details from panchangam on paksha,nakshatra,maasam etc
8. Panchamrutam
9. 108 coins for archana
10. SIlver/gold coins or gold ornament to be placed in cup on top of kalasham
11. silver/steel cup to be placed on top of kalasham
12. copper/silver kalasham
13. Turmeric powder for Manjal PIllayar

Vaibhava Lakshmi Puja

• The puja is performed in the following sequence:
• Shri Ganesh puja
• Vaibhava Lakshmi puja
• Lakshmi Bhajans
• Vaibhava Lakshmi Legend
• Aarti