How to perform Varalakshmi Vratham

Varalakshmi vratham is performed by married women in south india on second friday of sravana masam. It can be performed on any friday of sravana masam according to their convenience.

Vratha Vidhanam:

Necessary Items to perform pooja:

• Goddess Lakshmi Murthi for kalasham or use photo for performing pooja
• Peeta (Wooden Plank) or plate for placing Kalasham
• Pasupu (Turmeric Powder)
• Kumkum
• Gandham (Sandle Wood Powder)
• Rice
• Akshinthulu (Rice mixed with water and turmeric powder)
• Povvulu (Flowers)
• Tamalapaakulu (Beetle Leaves)
• Vakkalu (Beetle Nuts)
• Tenkayalu (Coconuts - 2)
• Panchamritham (Milk, Honey, Sugar, Yoghurt, Ghee)
• Karjuralu (Dry Dates)
• Silver Coins for kalasham
• Fruits (5 kinds)
• Bananas
• Prasadam (5 kinds)
• Thoram - 3 (Thread covered with turmeric powder made of 9 strings with flowers )
• Maamidi Thoranam (Garland made with mango leaves)
• Blouse Pieces - 2 (one for kalasham and one for goddess vayanam)
• Sanagalu (Black Chick Peas)
• Pot made of steel or silver to hold Kalasham

How to Perform Pooja:

1. Clean wooden plank and put chandanam and kumkum around the corners and spread rice on plank for placing kalasham and make sure it is facing East.
2. Take washed pot and put rice,dry dates, beetle nuts, leaves and coins inside pot and apply chandanam and kumkum in a swastika shape.
3. Apply turmeric and kumkum to coconut and place on top of kalasham surrounded by mango leaves and place blouse on top of it.
4. Fix lakshmi idol to coconut using thread.
5. Decorate it with jewelry, flowers and saree and keep a new blouse piece.
6. Make a cone shaped turmeric vinakaya and placed it on beetle leaf for performing ganesh pooja.
7. Light lamps before starting vratham and make sure you have glass with water and spoon for Avahanam, incense sticks, karpuram and match boxes.
8. Worship lord ganesha and start Varalakshmi vratham according to instructions in vratha book
9. After finishing vratham, invite married women to home and offer vayanam (blouse piece, kumkum, turmeric powder, beetle nuts, flower, senagalu)

Next Day after pooja:

Perform pooja for kalasham and slightly move kalasham to north side and rice used in kalasham can be cooked on next friday and offer coconut used in kalasham next friday.

Happy Varalakshmi Vratham to everyone and I hope everyone will get their wishes fulfilled in your life.

Home Improvement Tips/Solutions

Bleach Sanitizes pool toys :

Dip a sponge into a mixture of two cups of bleach and one gallon of water, then wipe down pool noodles and beach balls. Scrub off grime with a brush, and rinse with water.

Vinegar Brightens Patio Furniture: 

Fill a Spray Bottle with white vinegar and spritz over chairs and tables to remove mildew stains and prevent mold from forming.

Coffee Grounds Banish Ants: 

Sprinkle some grounds near doorways. Coffee's high nitrogen content burns bugs, so they won't walk across it and into your home.

Flip-Flops become doorstops: 

cut a wedge of rubber from an old thong and use it to prop open a door and let the summer breeze in.

Dryer Sheets repel Bugs: 

Keep sheets of this laundry staple in a cup outdoors - they make the humen scent that attracts mosquitoes.

Foil cleans the grill: 

while the coals are still red-hot, lay a sheet of aluminum foil over the grates and close the grill's lid. the next time you grill, crumple up the foil and use it scrub off the burned residue before you start cooking.

Surreal Places to Visit in United States

Alaska: 
Mendenhall Glacier Caves
Northern Lights
Arizona: 
Antelope Canyon
Horse Shoe Bend
The Wave
Oregon: 
Oneonta Gorge
Thor's Well

Washington: 
Skagit Valley Tulip Fields
Palouse Falls

Colorado : 
Maroon Bells-Snowmass Wilderness
Florida :  
Dry Tortugas National Park
Utah : 
Zion National Park
Bryce Canyon
Newyork:
Watkins Glen State Park
Niagara Falls
California:
Yosemite Valley 
Lake Tahoe
Sequioa National Park
Wyoming:
Devils Tower
Yellow State National Park - Grand Prismatic Spring, Morning Glory Pool, Old Faithful, Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone
Hawaii:
Haiku Stairs of Oahu
Na Pali Coast State Park
New Mexico:
Carlsband Caverns
Arkansas:
Whitaker Point
Texas:
Hamilton Pool
Tennessee:
Great Smoky Mountains
South Dakota:
Badlands National Park
Georgia:
Savannah
Montana:
Glacier National Park

DIY Home Decor Ideas

Stool with old magazines, two belts and a pillow

Mason Jar with lights

Fireflies Night Lantern

Coffee Beans and Tea Lights

Shoe Hangers

Custom Sharpie Mug

Floating Bookshelves

Wooden Photo

DIY Projects 2

Fireflies Night Lantern:

Coffe Beans and Tea Lights:

Shoe Hangers:

DIY Projects 1

Cherry Blossom Lights:

http://www.instructables.com/id/How-to-Make-Cherry-Blossom-Lights/

Led Lights: http://www.dx.com/p/30-led-3m-battery-powered-christmas-light-white-led-3xaa-6483

Wooden Box Shelves:

http://livethemma.ikea.se/node/22090

Custom Sharpie Mug: 

Floating Bookshelves:

Wooden Photo:

Banana Bread Recipe

Ingredients:

• 1 1/2 cups mashed ripe banana
• 1/3 cup plain fat-free yogurt
• 5 tablespoons butter, melted 
• 2 large eggs
• 1/2 cup granulated sugar
• 1/2 cup packed brown sugar
• 6.75 ounces all-purpose flour (about 1 1/2 cups)
• 1/4 cup ground flaxseed
• 3/4 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1/8 teaspoon ground allspice
• Cooking spray
• 1/3 cup powdered sugar
• 1 1/2 teaspoons 1% low-fat milk

Preparation:

1. Preheat oven to 350°.

2. Combine first 4 ingredients in a large bowl; beat with a mixer at medium speed. Add granulated and brown sugars; beat until combined.

3. Weigh or lightly spoon flour into dry measuring cups; level with a knife. Combine flour and next 5 ingredients (through ground allspice). Add flour mixture to banana mixture; beat just until blended. Pour batter into a 9 x 5-inch loaf pan coated with cooking spray. Bake at 350° for 55 minutes or until a wooden pick inserted in center comes out clean. Remove from oven; cool 10 minutes in pan on a wire rack. Remove bread from pan; cool completely. Combine powdered sugar and milk, stirring until smooth; drizzle over bread.