I stay in Seattle, USA and this is my way of staying connected to my roots and in fact I enjoy, celebrating these festivals. It brings memories untold from your motherland.:) I am making a record of these, for people who wish to celebrate and stay connected with their roots.
Mangala Gowri Vratha is performed by newly wed girls for the first five years of their married life.This pooja is performed on Tuesdays of the Hindu month of Shravana, july-august according to Gregorian calendar.This year shravana masa is from 3rd August to 1st September, Tuesdays of this month are 9th August, 16th August, 23 August and 30th August. this festival is celebrated in Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh and Maharashtra. the method of performing this vratha varies in different regions.
By observing this vratha women believe that they will be blessed with long-lasting and successful married life.
Requirements:
Two blouse pieces folded to a triangle shape
1 set of kalash set( Mirror,kajal,bangles,comb,harshina kumkum/ turmeric and vermillion)
1 cup of rice
Silver idol of Mangala Gowri
1 cut dry coconut
32 Betel nuts
16 Betel leaves
Turmeric root/ harshinada kombu
16 Akki Tambittu deepa
Gejjevastra
Fruits
Flowers
Sandalwood paste
Observing Mangala Gowri Vratha:
On this day clean the shrine and put Rangoli.
Keep a wooden platform and then place a pooja plate/spread a blouse piece over it.
Over this spread a cup of rice and place the silver idol of Mangala Gowri.
Keep a mirror behind the idol along with two blouse pieces, which are folded in triangle shape on either side of the mirror.

Mangala Gowri Vratha!
Keep 16 betel leaves and 32 betel nuts on which place the cut dry coconut.Place each half on either side with 8 betel leaves on each side and fill it with rice, harshinada kombu, betel nuts and bale.
Keep 16 rice thambittu for Aarthi.

16 Akki Tambittu Deepa
Perform the pooja by offering Gejjevastra, Sandalwood paste, Manthrakshate, Turmeric and Vermillion powder, Flowers and Fruits.
Light the 16 Akki Tambittu Aarthi and keep a steel spatula/ a knife smeared with betel leaf juice on the lighted thambittu to get a black soot, which is mixed with ghee and applied as kajal/ eyeliner.
Invite women home and offer Mangala drowya and tambittu and do namaskara. By observing this vratha women believe that they will be blessed with long-lasting and successful married life.
Happy Worshiping!
Interest makes the person to learn more. It also gives the real happyness. Keep it up. Let God and Godess Bless you.
Thanks Aunty! 🙂