Navratri is one of the most important and widespread celebrations in India that celebrates the divine feminine energy of Goddess Durga. The festival lasts nine nights and celebrates Durga's victory over the fish demon Hasura, symbolizing the victory of good over evil.
Devotees across the country perform rituals, observe fasts and worship God in his various forms. If you want to know how to perform Navratri Puja and seek the blessings of Goddess Durga, here is a step-by-step guide to help you perform the Navratri puja rituals correctly.
- Prepare for Navratri
Before Navratri starts, it is important to clean the home and mind to invoke good and cleanliness. Start by cleaning the house and the place where you are going to place the pooja altar. The spirit promotes cleanliness and helps create a clean environment for worship.
Things to bring:
- Durga idol or picture
- Flowers (especially red hibiscus flower)
- Fruits, sweets and coconuts to offer
- Incense, incense and oil lamps
- Kalash (brass or copper vessel filled with water)
- Mango and coconut leaves to be placed on top of the Kalash
- Red orange ( cloth) as an offering to the deity
Set up the altar by placing a Durga idol or image in the middle. Decorate the place with flowers and keep all the pooja items ready.
- Kalash Sthapana (Raising the Sacred Pot)
The first ritual of Navratri Puja is Kalash Sthapana or Ghatasthapana. It marks the beginning of Navratri and worship Goddess Durga with the Kalash, which symbolizes abundance and prosperity.
How to use Kalash Sthapana:
- Fill the Kalash with water, put mango leaves in the mouth and rub it with coconut.
- Wrap the coconut in red cloth or Chunari and tie it with sacred thread (Moli).
- Place the Kalash next to the statue of the deity, to mark his presence in your home during the festival.
Kalash is worshiped during the nine days of Navratri.
- Daily Worship of the 9 Forms of Goddess Durga
Each Navratri day is dedicated to one of the nine avatars of Goddess Durga, known as is **Navadurga**. How to do the daily ritual:
Day 1 Shailaputri - Worship with white flowers, especially jasmine.
Day 2 Brahmacharini- Offer milk, butter or sugar.
Day 3: Chandraghanta - Give sweet food with milk and use red flowers.
Day Kushmanda - Give fresh fruit and an oil lamp.
Day 5 Skandamata – Give bananas and perform aarti with camphor.
Day 6 Katyayani– Give honey and yellow flowers.
Day 7 Kalaratri - Give grapes and use dark flowers.
Day 8 Mahagauri- Give coconut and taste it.
Day 9 Siddhidatri – Give sesame seeds and sweets made from sesame.
Start each day by offering fresh flowers, fruits, sweets and oil lamps before the deity. Chant Durga Chalisa, mantras or stotras to invoke her blessings. Do aarti at the end of pooja with camphor or ghee.
- Observing Navratri Fast
Fasting is an important part of Navratri worship as it is believed to purify the body and mind. Many devotees fast for nine days, while others fast on the first and last day of Navratri. Fasting rules vary, but the basic principle is to avoid common grains, alcohol, meat and processed food.
Fasting Tips:
- Eat light and sattvic (pure) food like fruits, nuts, milk and some seeds like buckwheat (koto) and blueberry (sinehara).
- Drink plenty of water and avoid caffeine, heavy and fatty foods.
- Use rock salt instead of salt.
Fasting during Navratri is not a physical exercise but a way to focus the mind on the spiritual and true.
- Kanya Pujan (worship of girls)
On the eighth and ninth days of Navratri, known as Ashtami or Navami, worshipers perform Kanya Pujan. In this ritual, girls (2 to 10 years) are worshiped as incarnations of Goddess Durga.
How to do Kanya Poojan:
- Invite nine girls (or younger) to your home.
- Wash their feet and put them in new clothes, and apply Tilak on their foreheads.
- Offer them special food with puri, halwa and chana.
- Give gifts and money as a sign of respect.
It is believed that the worship of these girls is for the blessing of the goddess and the completion of the Navratri festival.
- Offering Bhog to God
During Navratri, offering Bhog (food) to Goddess Durga is considered very auspicious. Every day the students prepare special meals in the image of the goddess and offer them with love and loyalty.
Famous items of Navratri Bhog:
- Kheer (rice pudding)
- Coconut sweets
- Sabudana khichdi (made from sago)
- Fruits like bananas, pomegranates and apples
Remember to first offer the repo to the god, then share it with family members and worshippers.
- Performing Durga Aarti
Performing Aarti is an important part of Navratri Puja. This is done in the morning and evening to honor the goddess and invoke her divine blessings. Light a candle or camphor and recite the Durga Aarti and pray.
Aarti Tips:
- Always face God while doing Aarti.
- Move the candle in a circle in front of the god.
- Clap your hands and chant mantras or bhajans during the aarti.
Arti is a way of expressing gratitude and offering to Goddess Durga, asking her to protect and guide you.
- Visarjan (Idol Immersion)
On the last day of Navratri, known as Vijaya Dashami, the idol of Goddess Durga is immersed in the stream or stream. to leave a Nok et water as a sign of his departure. If you are using a clay statue, immerse it in nearby water and pray and give thanks.
For those who use a metal idol or idol, the visarjan can be performed by sprinkling water on the idol or idol and thanking the deity for his blessing in nine days.
Conclusion
As a result, Navratri festival puja is a time of sacrifice, purification and spiritual growth. With sincerity and faith, you can invoke the divine power of Goddess Durga in your life. Whether you fast, do art or pray through Kanya Pujan, each ritual is a way to connect with God and seek His blessings for protection, prosperity and peace.
May this Navratri bring happiness, success and positive energy to your home! Shop all kinds of puja samagri online only at Pujashoppe. Buy now.
