Santoshi Mata / Goddess Lakshmi
Every Friday (commonly 16 Fridays)
Significance
Friday (Shukravar) is devoted to Santoshi Mata, the goddess of contentment, and to Goddess Lakshmi. The sixteen-Friday vrat is kept for peace, prosperity and the fulfilment of heartfelt wishes. Its best-known rule is to avoid all sour (khatta) food on the fasting day.
Vrat Vidhi (How to Observe)
- 1Bathe early and set up the image of Santoshi Mata.
- 2Offer gud (jaggery) and roasted chana, a kalash of water and a ghee diya.
- 3Keep a fast through the day eating only once, strictly avoiding sour food.
- 4Read the Santoshi Mata vrat katha and perform aarti.
- 5Conclude the vrat after sixteen Fridays with udyapan, feeding eight boys.
Benefits
- Sought for contentment, peace and family harmony
- Believed to fulfil sincere wishes and bring prosperity
- Encourages gratitude and simplicity
What you can eat
- Jaggery and roasted chana
- Sweet kheer
- Fruits
- Milk
What to avoid
- Sour/khatta food
- Lemon, tamarind, curd
- Non-vegetarian food
- Onion and garlic
Frequently Asked Questions
Shukravar vrat mein khatta kyun nahi khate?
Avoiding sour food is the central rule of the Santoshi Mata vrat — including not eating it yourself and not serving it to others on that day.
Santoshi Mata vrat ka udyapan kaise kare?
After completing sixteen Fridays, perform udyapan by offering kheer-puri and feeding eight young boys, then conclude the vrat with gratitude.