Varalakshmi Vratam Toram: How to Make, Tie and Wear It
A complete, practical guide to the Varalakshmi Vratam toram (sacred thread): how to prepare it with nine threads and nine knots, apply turmeric and flowers, tie it during the puja, which wrist to wear it on, how long to keep it, and how customs vary by family.
A complete, practical guide to the Varalakshmi Vratam toram (sacred thread): how to prepare it with nine threads and nine knots, apply turmeric and flowers, tie it during the puja, which wrist to wear it on, how long to keep it, and how customs vary by family.
Quick answer: The Varalakshmi Vratam toram is a sacred thread, usually cotton dyed with turmeric, made of nine strands tied with nine knots and adorned with flowers. It is offered to the goddess during the puja, then tied on the right wrist. Many wear it until it wears off or immerse it respectfully afterwards; follow your family tradition.
The toram (also spelt thoram or thoranam) is the small sacred thread at the heart of Varalakshmi Vratam. Worn on the wrist after being offered to Goddess Lakshmi, it is one of the most searched details of the vratam and one of the least clearly explained. This guide walks through the thread type, the meaning of nine strands and nine knots, turmeric and flowers, exactly when to tie it in the puja, which hand to use, how long to keep it and what to do with it afterwards.
Because the vratam itself falls on different dates depending on which panchang your family follows, plan the toram alongside your puja date. In 2026 it is observed on both Friday 21 August 2026 (most Telugu, Tamil and Kannada panchangs) and Friday 28 August 2026 (some panchangs). Neither is wrong; follow your family, kula or local-temple tradition.
- What it is: A sacred protective thread worn on the wrist
- Material: Cotton thread, usually turmeric-dyed yellow
- Strands: Commonly nine threads twisted together
- Knots: Commonly nine knots along the thread
- Adorned with: Turmeric, kumkum and small flowers
- When tied: During the puja, after offering to the goddess
- Which hand: Traditionally the right wrist
- 2026 dates: Fri 21 Aug or Fri 28 Aug (by panchang)
What is the toram and why is it used?
The toram is a consecrated thread that a devotee ties on the wrist as a token of the goddess's blessing and protection. In many families it is treated as a symbol of the vow (vratam) itself: you wear it for the duration you have committed to, as a physical reminder of the prayer offered to Varalakshmi, the boon-granting form of Mahalakshmi. The thread is first placed before the goddess during the puja so that her grace is understood to rest in it before it touches the wrist.
It is important to hold this as tradition and devotional symbolism rather than as a guarantee of any outcome. The toram expresses intention, discipline and remembrance; the blessing is invited, not commanded. If you would like the full ceremony that surrounds it, see our step-by-step puja guide linked below.
The thread: type, colour and the nine strands
The classic toram is plain cotton thread. Many families use raw white cotton and dye it yellow with turmeric, both for the auspicious colour and because turmeric is itself considered purifying and associated with Lakshmi. Some buy a ready-made yellow thread from the puja shop. Silk is used in a few households, but cotton is the most common and most traditional.
The most widely followed practice is to take nine strands of thread and twist or fold them together into a single cord. Nine is treated as an auspicious, complete number in many regional traditions. Some families use a single thread folded to make nine layers; others count nine separate threads. Where your family uses a different count, keep to your own custom.
| Element | Common practice | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Thread material | Cotton | White cotton dyed yellow with turmeric |
| Colour | Turmeric yellow | Yellow is auspicious and linked to Lakshmi |
| Number of strands | Nine | Some use a single thread folded ninefold |
| Number of knots | Nine | Tied while chanting or remembering the goddess |
| Decoration | Turmeric, kumkum, flowers | Small flower buds tied into the thread |
| Where worn | Right wrist | Left is used in some family customs |
The nine knots and turmeric
After the strands are gathered, nine knots are tied along the thread at roughly even spacing. Families do this at different moments: some tie the knots in advance while preparing the puja items; others tie them during the puja itself while remembering the goddess or reciting the names or prayers they normally use. The nine knots echo the nine strands and are widely understood as a fullness or completeness in the offering.
Turmeric is then rubbed onto the thread so it takes on a rich yellow, and a touch of kumkum is often added. In many households a small flower or a few flower buds are tied into or attached to the toram, so that the thread carries flowers when it is offered and worn. The result is a short, decorated, turmeric-yellow cord ready to be placed before the goddess.
How to make the toram, step by step
- Take clean cotton thread and cut it to a comfortable wrist length with a little extra for knots and tying.
- Gather nine strands together, or fold a single thread so it forms nine layers, and twist gently into one cord.
- Rub turmeric along the whole thread until it is evenly yellow; add a light touch of kumkum if your family does so.
- Tie nine knots along the cord at roughly even intervals, keeping the goddess in mind or reciting your usual prayer.
- Attach a small flower or a few buds to the thread if that is your custom.
- Keep the toram ready on the puja plate to be offered to the goddess during the ceremony.
When to tie it during the puja
The toram is not worn casually; it is tied on the wrist as part of the puja, after it has first been offered to the goddess. The usual sequence is: complete the invocation and main offerings to Varalakshmi (or to the kalasam that represents her), place the toram before the goddess so it receives her blessing, and only then tie it on the wrist. In many families the woman performing the vratam ties it herself, or an elder ties it for her and for the other women present.
If you are performing the vratam with a kalasam, the toram is offered along with the other items placed before the goddess. If you are doing a simpler observance without a kalasam, you can still prepare the thread, offer it before your image or photo of Lakshmi, and tie it after the main prayers. See the guide to observing the vratam without a kalasam linked below for that lighter format. For the ceremony order and timing of each step, follow your puja vidhi and local timings, since auspicious windows are location-specific.
Which hand and how to tie it
The most widely followed practice is to tie the toram on the right wrist. The right hand is traditionally associated with giving, receiving blessings and auspicious acts, so the protective thread is placed there. Some families tie it on the left wrist instead, and both are accepted within their own traditions. If you are unsure, ask the eldest woman in your family which side your household follows.
- Right wrist: the most common and widely followed choice.
- Left wrist: used in some family and regional customs.
- Tied by yourself, an elder, or the priest guiding the puja.
- Kept loose enough to be comfortable and to slip off later if needed.
How long to wear it and what to do afterwards
There is no single rule; customs vary and all are respectable. Some wear the toram only for the day of the vratam and remove it that night. Many keep it on until it naturally wears thin and comes off on its own, treating that as a sign the vow has run its course. Others keep it until the next auspicious occasion or the following year's vratam. Choose what your family has always done.
When you do remove it, dispose of it respectfully rather than in ordinary rubbish, since it has been offered to the goddess. Common respectful options include immersing it in a river, lake or the sea, placing it at the base of a tulsi or peepal plant, or keeping it aside in your puja space. Do this in a way that is clean and does not pollute water bodies; a small cotton thread can also simply be kept in the puja area or given to flowing water where local custom allows.
Regional variations
Practices differ across Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka and among families settled abroad. The number nine is common but not universal; some communities use a different count of strands or knots, and some tie the toram on the kalasam or on the goddess's image as well as on the wrist. The material, the flowers used and whether the knots are tied before or during the puja all shift from household to household.
For families observing abroad, where fresh flowers or specific threads may be hard to find, it is perfectly acceptable to adapt: plain cotton dyed with kitchen turmeric works well, and dried or substitute flowers are fine. Our NRI guide, linked below, covers these adaptations. Across every version, the spirit is the same: a simple, turmeric-touched thread offered to the goddess and worn with devotion. Follow your family, kula or local-temple tradition and you will be doing it correctly.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is a Varalakshmi Vratam toram?
The toram is a small sacred thread, usually cotton dyed yellow with turmeric, made of nine strands with nine knots and adorned with flowers. It is offered to Goddess Lakshmi during the vratam puja and then tied on the wrist as a token of her blessing and protection. It symbolises the vow taken during the festival.
How many threads and knots should the toram have?
The most widely followed practice uses nine strands twisted together and nine knots tied along the thread, since nine is treated as an auspicious, complete number. Some families fold a single thread into nine layers instead, and a few use a different count. Where your household follows a different number, keep to your own family custom.
On which hand should I tie the toram?
The most common and widely followed practice is the right wrist, as the right hand is traditionally linked with auspicious acts and receiving blessings. Some families tie it on the left instead, and both are accepted within their traditions. If you are unsure, ask the eldest woman in your household which side your family follows.
When during the puja is the toram tied?
The toram is first placed before the goddess during the puja so it receives her blessing, and only then tied on the wrist, usually after the main invocation and offerings are complete. In many families the woman doing the vratam ties it herself, or an elder ties it for her. Follow your puja vidhi and local timings.
How do I make the toram at home?
Take clean cotton thread, gather nine strands or fold one thread into nine layers, and twist gently into a cord. Rub turmeric along it until evenly yellow, add a touch of kumkum, tie nine knots at even intervals while remembering the goddess, and attach a small flower if that is your custom. Keep it ready on the puja plate.
How long should I wear the toram?
There is no single rule. Some wear it only on the day of the vratam, many keep it until it naturally wears thin and slips off, and others keep it until the next auspicious occasion or the following year's vratam. All are respectable choices, so simply follow what your family has always done for this observance.
What should I do with the toram after removing it?
Because it has been offered to the goddess, dispose of it respectfully rather than in ordinary rubbish. Common options include immersing it in flowing water, placing it at the base of a tulsi or peepal plant, or keeping it aside in your puja space. Do this cleanly and without polluting water bodies, following your local custom.
Is the toram observed on 21 or 28 August 2026?
Varalakshmi Vratam in 2026 falls on Friday 21 August 2026 in most Telugu, Tamil and Kannada panchangs and on Friday 28 August 2026 in some panchangs. The toram is prepared and worn on your chosen puja day. Neither date is wrong; follow your family, kula or local-temple tradition and prepare the thread accordingly.