India is a country of rich culture and traditions, where Indians believe in the divine power of worship and devotion. Because of this, to receive blessings from their favorite gods and goddesses, they follow different rituals and observe fasts. One such fortunate ritual is the Shukravar Vrat, or Friday Fast, which is primarily performed by Hindu women in order to appease Goddess Santoshi and obtain her blessings. According to the Puranas, Maa Santoshi is frequently referred to as the goddess of contentment and happiness. 

She is regarded as Goddess Durga's gentlest and least aggressive incarnation. She is the daughter of Riddhi-Siddhi Devi and Lord Ganesha. During the Shukravar Vrat, or Friday Fast, Venus, the brightest planet in the solar system, is also honored. Due to this, the Santoshi Maa Friday Fast is highly popular in India. It is said that a devotee who observes this vrat for 16 Fridays in a row will receive the blessings of the Goddess Santoshi. 

Maa Santoshi showers the blessings of wealth and happiness upon her followers while also protecting them from evil forces with a sword in her left hand and Trisula in her right. On this day, worshiping the goddess Lakshmi and observing a fast with all the customs fulfills the desires of the believer, and there is plenty of money in the family and at home. To further understand everything about the Friday Vrat, this article will discuss the Friday fasting benefits, the story behind the Friday fasting ritual, and the proper method to observe the Friday fast vidhi.

Before we delve into the Friday fast Katha, let us have a look at all the days of the week and know related deities as well as their associated colors:

Shukravar Vrat Katha

In ancient times, there was an elderly lady with seven sons. Out of these seven sons, six had a job, and the other one did not. The old lady fed her six other sons delicious food, and her seventh son got the leftovers. On the other hand, the seventh son had a very pure heart. However, he never held grudges against anyone. The elderly woman always prepares a variety of dishes for her six sons but always serves the leftovers to her seventh son. One day, he observed that his mother served his six brothers a variety of dishes and made sure they were all comfortably seated in the house when they arrived. 

After they had finished eating, the elderly woman took the leftovers from each person's plate to make a laddoo (sweet) and told the seventh boy, "Now you also eat the food." His wife, Gita, saw this and was very disappointed with this behavior. She informed her husband of this and requested that he work and earn some money in order to gain his mother's respect. When the son realized this, he felt sorry for himself and his wife and spent the night leaving the house in hopes of finding employment and good fortune. He walked away, entered a merchant's shop, and requested a job. 

The young man began working from 7 a.m. until 12 a.m. When the store owner saw this, he gave the boy half of the profits, and the boy quickly rose to prominence as a merchant. He became extremely wealthy after a few months of hard work, but he forgot about his wife and never visited her. Gita had a difficult life, and her in-laws mistreated her frequently. After learning about the advantages of the 16 Shukravar Vrat, she made a commitment to keep Friday fast. 

With great devotion, she successfully completed the Friday fasting ritual. Satisfied by her commitment, Mata Santoshi informed her husband about Gita's hardships and suffering through appearing in dreams. After realizing his mistake, the husband went back to his native country and joined his wealthy and prosperous new life with his wife. As soon as the people in his village and the surrounding villages learned the full story of Friday Vrat and Friday fasting benefits, they began to fast passionately in order to appease Mata Santoshi.

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Significance of Friday Fast 

Anybody who fasts or worships Maa Santoshi on Friday is said to be blessed with Maa Lakshmi and Maa Santoshi's blessings for the rest of their lives. Furthermore, these people who observe this fast and recite Friday Vrat Aarti never experience a financial crisis. 

• For those who observe the Friday fasting ritual, chanting "Jai Maa Santoshi" 108 times can bring them happiness and tranquility. It also provides the confidence to battle life's negative forces and aids in warding off evil eyes.
• Reading the Shukravar Vrat Katha and keeping the fast, according to Hindu Puranas, is said to bring wealth, prosperity, and good fortune. Devotees who practice Friday Vrat also have an easier time finding a fulfilling life partner.
• It is believed that keeping the Friday fast for 16 straight Fridays results in the destruction of all forms of grief, suffering, and challenges in life. Devotees are also bestowed with a happy life and healthy offspring.
• The malevolent effects of Venus on the horoscope are banished for devotees who worship the planet Venus on Friday and follow the Friday Fast Vidhi. 

Friday Fast Vidhi

Hindu devotees who honor Santoshi Mata observe this Friday vrat; most of these devotees are female. They fulfill their vow by observing a Friday fasting ritual for sixteen Fridays in a row by following the Friday fast vidhi and protocols (Sankalp). This Shukravar Vrat can be started by anybody on any Friday during the Shukla Paksha in any lunar month.

• The most important rule of Friday Vrat is that on this day, no one in the house should eat or come into contact with anything sour. On this day, eating meat, onions, and garlic is also forbidden.
• Get up early, take a bath, and change into fresh clothes.
• Wash your home and then sprinkle water, or Ganga Jal, around the temple. 
• After that, set up an image or idol of Santoshi Mata and light an incense stick and lamp.
• Then, arrange a bowl of roasted chickpeas (black chana) and raw jaggery (gud) in front of the idol. Top the bowl with a coconut and a Kalash filled with water.
• Present flowers, coconuts, bananas, chunri (a piece of red cloth), kumkum, and haldi.
• Chant several Santoshi Mata names and recite Her Vrat Katha to start the puja.
• Finally, do the Friday Vrat Aarti and present flowers to the goddess's lotus feet.
• After the puja, serve the prasad (gud and chana) to every member of the family.
• On this day, the person following the Friday Fast Vidhi is allowed to eat one meal, which is kheer, a sweet porridge made of milk and rice.
• A ceremonial pooja is performed to Goddess Lakshmi and Lord Shukra with the chanting of mantras and Friday Vrat Aarti by devotees dressed in white and red, the colors of the day. 
• Offer the goddess flowers, fruits, and sweets while lighting incense. White flowers, such as jasmine and white lotus, are used to worship Shukra. Additionally, field beans or leema beans (mochai) are provided as offerings.
• Stay away from anything sour throughout the day. Make sure that nothing sour is cooked or consumed in any way.

Follow the strict guidelines of not eating anything sour during your 16 consecutive Shukravar Vrat. On the sixteenth Friday of the fasting month, Udyapan Day, offer the god Kheer, jaggery, puri, and chickpeas as Prasad. After the Friday Vrat puja concludes, give this prasad along with some cash as Dakshina to eight children.

Friday Fasting Benefits

Getting the blessings of planetary Lord Shukra and goddess Lakshmi can be achieved very successfully by offering prayers to them on Fridays. According to popular belief, Sukra is most auspicious and productive for a person if it is well-positioned and advantageous in their astrological chart. The following Friday fasting benefits can be obtained by fasting and offering prayers to Goddess Lakshmi.

• Those who fast on Fridays get salvation from all kinds of marriage-related problems.
• Santoshi Mata Vrat is regarded as being extremely fortunate for success in life. Students who observe a fast on Friday will undoubtedly succeed in all exams they take.
• In addition, a person ought to fast on Friday if they are engaged in legal proceedings. By doing this, such an individual can win the battle.
• Aside from this, Friday fasting is believed to be a highly effective way to improve one's business or job.
• It is recommended that you keep the Friday vrat in order to be happy and prosperous in life. Those who sincerely observe Shukravar Vrat are surrounded by happy and prosperous people.
• Maa Santoshi's fast is believed to be extremely unique for a child's attainment. On Friday, unmarried girls can also get a desirable groom by fasting.
• Aside from this, if a fast is kept on Friday, there is no financial crisis because Friday is associated with Maa Lakshmi. 

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Do's and Don'ts of Shukravar Vrat

Apart from various Friday fasting benefits, there are some other things that you need to avoid while observing the Friday fasting ritual. So, here are some do’s and don'ts of Shukravar Vrat

Do’s 

• On Fridays, pay respect to Maa Lakshmi at her temple by wearing red clothing. Furthermore, you have the option to present Maa Lakshmi with cosmetics. The natives are said to receive the blessings of Goddess Lakshmi by observing the Friday fast vidhi.
• Pay tribute to Lakshmi on Friday by holding five red flowers in your hand. After that, make a bow before the goddess while folding your hands, and ask her to continue blessing your home. Keep these flowers in your locker at all times. In addition, it is very beneficial to recite the Sri Lakshmi Narayan stuti every Friday. 
• Store 1.5 kg of rice in a red cloth for Friday. Remember that there should not be any broken rice grains. Create a bundle out of the rice now, hold it in your hands, and recite the mantra "Mahalakshmi Namah" five times. Following that, store this bundle in your wallet or another location where you keep cash. Individuals who take this action greatly increase their chances of becoming wealthy in their lifetime.
• Aside from this, wearing red clothing is the easiest way to attract or receive Maa Lakshmi's blessings on Fridays.

Don'ts 

• Do not take out loans or borrow money on Fridays. Furthermore, do not lend money to anyone today. Otherwise, you could be facing the anger of Goddess Lakshmi.
• It is especially forbidden to mistakenly offend any woman, girl, or other female member of the house, especially on Friday.
• Avoid overindulging in rich food on Friday.
• Avoid drinking alcohol and meat on this day.
• On Fridays, do not give sugar to anyone. Sugar has been connected to both Venus and the Moon in astrological terms. This makes Venus' position weak in such a scenario. Do not talk negatively or loudly to anyone on Friday. If not, the goddess Mahalakshmi becomes enraged, which causes people to become ill and lose their jobs and businesses.
• Avoid spending the night in the kitchen with unclean and unwashed utensils. It is believed that this makes Mother Lakshmi unhappy.

Santoshi Mata Friday Vrat Aarti:

Jai Santoshi Mata, Maiya Jai Santoshi Mata।

Apane Sewak Jana Ko, Sukha Sampatti Data॥

Jai Santoshi Mata॥

Sundar Cheer Sunahari Maa Dharan Kinho।

Heera Panna Damake, Tana Shringara Kinho॥

Jai Santoshi Mata॥

Geru Laala Chhata Chhavi, Badana Kamal Sohe।

Manda Hansata Karunamayi, Tribhuvana Man Mohe॥

Jai Santoshi Mata॥

Swarna Sinhasana Baithi, Chanvar Dhure Pyare।

Dhoop Deep Madhumeva, Bhoga Dhare Nyare॥

Jai Santoshi Mata॥

Gud Aru Chana Paramapriya, Tame Santosh Kiyo।

Santoshi Kahalai, Bhaktana Vaibhav Diyo॥

Jai Santoshi Mata॥

Shukrawar Priya Manat, Aaja Diwas Sohi

Bhakta Mandali Chhai, Katha Sunat Mohi॥

Jai Santoshi Mata॥

Mandir Jagamaga Jyoti, Mangal Dhwani Chhai।

Vinaya Kare Hama Balaka, Charanan Sira Nai॥

Jai Santoshi Mata॥

Bhakti Bhavamaya Puja, Angikrita Kijai।

Jo Man Basai Hamare, Ichchha Phala Dijai॥

Jai Santoshi Mata॥

Dukhi Daridri, Roga, Sankat Mukta Kiye।

Bahu Dhana-Dhanya Bhare Ghara, Sukha Saubhagya Diye॥

Jai Santoshi Mata॥

Dhyana Dharyo Jisa Jana Ne, Manavanchhita Phala Payo।

Puja Katha Shrawan Kar, Ghara Ananda Ayo॥

Jai Santoshi Mata॥

Sharan Gahe Ki Lajja, Rakhiyo Jagadambe।

Sankat Tu Hi Niware, Dayamayi Ambe॥

Jai Santoshi Mata॥

Santoshi Maa Ki Aarti, Jo Koi Jana Gave

Riddhi-Siddhi, Sukha-Sampatti, Ji Bharakara Pave॥

Jai Santoshi Mata॥

Final Takeaway

In Hinduism, Shukravar Vrat is extremely important because it gives the followers of Maa Santoshi a chance to commune with the divine feminine energy and ask for blessings related to wealth, joy, and spiritual fulfillment. Devotees show their respect and fondness for Goddess Durga and Mata Santoshi on Fridays by requesting their grace and protection, whether through fasting, puja, or reciting the Friday Vrat Aarti. The Friday fast is not just a ritual; it's a method for practicing discipline and self-control while reaping numerous benefits for both body and mind. By incorporating this Friday Fast Vidhi into our lives, we can experience increased mindfulness, spiritual growth, and physical well-being.