Varalakshmi Doll | Varalakshmi Bommai

The Varalakshmi bommai is the form of Goddess Vara Maha Lakshmi kept at the centre of the puja during Varalakshmi Viratham. It is made of fabric and comes in three sizes, so you can match it to your puja shelf or mandapam, and dress and decorate it each year.

What you receive

• 1 x Varalakshmi doll (1 pack)
• Material: fabric
• Size: small, medium or big, as selected
• Colour: varies according to availability

How it is used

Varalakshmi Viratham falls on the Friday before the full moon in Aadi and is kept in Tamil Nadu, Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh. The goddess is set up in the north-east of the house facing east or west, so that the person performing the puja faces east or west. Practice varies: some families place a Lakshmi face on a decorated kalasam, others set up a full doll like this one. Jewellery, flowers, saree draping and the kalasam are arranged by the household according to custom.

About the material

The doll is fabric and finished by hand, so cloth colour, print and small details of the face and stitching vary between pieces. The colour you receive depends on what is available at dispatch. This is part of a handmade item, not a fault.

Delivery and payment

Free delivery across India. Cash on Delivery is available. Orders are dispatched in 1-2 working days and usually arrive in 4-8 days. If your order reaches you damaged or is not what you ordered, we will replace it within 7 days of delivery.

Questions

Which size should I choose?
Pick against the height of your puja shelf and the decoration you plan to add. Small suits an apartment shelf, big a floor-level mandapam.

How do I store it after the nombu?
Remove the garlands, let the fabric air out, and wrap it in cotton cloth in a dry box with a few dried neem leaves. Avoid plastic bags, which trap moisture.

Can I use it again next year?
Yes. Many families keep the same bommai for years and redress it each Aadi.

Who can perform this puja?
It is traditionally kept by women of the household, often with the whole family joining the evening puja. Customs differ by region.

Will it arrive before the festival?
Delivery usually takes 4-8 days, so please order a fortnight ahead of Aadi. Cash on Delivery is available.