Varamahalakshmi festival 2018 will be celebrated on 24th of August
The image shows the Yamuna kalasam for Varamahalakshmi Pooja decorated with gejje vastra
The completed gejje vastra . Two cotton spheres are made and dipped in kumkum mixed in water. They are stuck to the vastra and and then used to stick the vastra to the Varalaxmi idol or kalash
Purchase cotton from Puja shops this is workable and easy for us to stretch. Cotton from pharmacies i.e surgical cotton is not workable as it is packed in layers
This cotton splits easily into two quite easily.
Again split it to get thin long cotton suitable for making the vastra. The idea of offering this cotton garland decoration is that we imagine that we are offering a new dress to Goddess. In some places in USA, UK we may not get flowers of our choice then we can decorate with this cotton garland.
It should be easy to carry this from the Puja shops in India . After all cotton is very light
Next roll gently so that the cotton fibres adhere to one another. The next step stretching is made easy thus
For proper grip we can use vibhuti , milk or water. However those who are orthodox do not use water.
Stretch the cotton gently so that it does not break. It comes with practice.
Form one ball after another . I make a garland with 25 spheres for Varalakshmi Vratham
Mix kumkum in water and apply between the spheres. For Naga Chaturthi , Naga Panchami and Ganesh Chaturthi we mix turmeric powder in water.
Apply between the spheres as shown.
Roll the cotton into two spheres, dip them in kumkum mixed in water.
These two are stuck to the garland and then they are stuck to the idol or kalash so that the garland stays firmly in place
