Divine blessings

Triplets Sachin and Saihil Iyappa look on while their mother Jasantha ties a red string on their brother Savar’s wrist. Varalaksmi Viratha, an auspicious Hindu celebration to propitiate Goddess Lakshmi, the consort of Lord Vishnu, one of the Hindu Trinity, will be observed on Friday. Lakshmi is the Hindu goddess, who governs all forms of wealth and success and the paths, means and results of spiritual and material prosperity. The prayer is usually observed in the morning with an offering of fruit, coconut, milk, sweet rice, gram and other baked goods to the deity to invoke her divine blessings. Devotees will tie a red string on their wrists on this day, which is symbolic of warding off negative energies. The red string has profound religious significance.