How is the Vaibhava Lakṣmī vrat done, and why are vrata books given at the end?

it is kept for 11 or 21 Fridays with an evening Lakṣmī pūjā, and the udyāpana includes gifting copies of the vrata book to spread the practice.

Vaibhava Lakṣmī vrat is a fairly recent but very widely loved Friday observance, especially in Gujarat, Maharashtra and North India. A saṅkalpa is made for 11 or 21 Fridays. In the evening, a kalaśa with water and a bowl of rice is set up, gold or a coin is placed on it, and Lakṣmī is worshipped with red flowers, kumkum and a kheer or sweet offering, followed by the kathā and āratī. The day’s single meal is taken after the pūjā.

At the udyāpana, women are invited, given kumkum, a small gift and a copy of the vrata book, usually 7, 11, 21 or more. The idea is that the blessing is shared, not kept to oneself.

If a Friday is missed because of travel or periods, it is simply not counted and an extra Friday is added later.

Usual count: 11 or 21 Fridays · Source: Vaibhava Lakṣmī vrata-kathā, common practice

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