Sudasha brata book

 The most important aspect of the brata is the sacred thread that women tie on their right hand after the ritual of immersion in turmeric water. Ten knots are made in the thread, chanting 10 different names of Maa Lakshmi. The woman holds the thread by hand until the next Sudasha brata when it is replaced with a new one.

The 10 knots are given uttering these names of Maa Lakshmi: First knot – Lakhmi Narayani, Second knot – Kaman’ Third knot -Srihari Priyaa, Fourth knot – Padmalayaa, Fifth knot – Kamalaa, Sixth knot-Chanchalaa,Seventh knot – Bighnaseni, Eighth knot – Sindhura Dulani, Nineth knot – Durgati Naashini and Tenth knot -Vishnu Paataraani

Ten seems to be the magical mantra of this festival as the goddess is offered 10 flowers, 10 manda pithas (cakes made out of rice powder), 10 chhena bhog (bhog made out of cheese), 10 oak grass and as many gooseberry leaves and grains of rice.

Legend has it that Goddess Lakshmi lives in houses where cleanliness prevails. So on the night before the puja the whole house is properly cleaned After drying, the mothers paint the Chita and jhoti (a mixture of water from rice grains) at the entrance of the house.

The next morning the ritual begins before sunrise. The idol of Goddess Lakshmi stands on a small wooden pedestal. Kalash (clay pot), filled with water, is kept on top of rice grains. A mango branch with ten leaves, thoroughly cleaned, is placed on the kalash.