The auspicious festival that falls on 4th August this year in the traditional month of Sravanamasam is Varalakshmi pooja. Mainly performed by women in Southern India this pooja is believed to invoke the blessings of Goddess Lakshmi. ' Vara ' would mean ' Boon ' and this boon is to be granted by the Goddess who is pleased by her devotees on this day, which is usually a Friday before the full moon. Followed by an early morning bath the women of the household start decorating a ' Kalasham ' or pot with beetle and mango leaves and place a coconut on top. The Goddess is decorated in a red cloth and loads of jewellery to symbolise material prosperity. Lamps and flowers are also used for decoration. Lakshmi Ashtottara , Satanamavali and Lakshmi Sahasranama stotra are chanted during the pooja. A legend associated behind this story is that of a devotee called Charumathi . Pleased with Charumati's devotion, Goddess Lakshmi appeared in her dreams and asked he