Durga Puja Celebrations!! Joy Ma Durga! - Page 2

On this day Goddess Durga is invoked in a group of nine plants bunched togather called Navapatrika. this is performed only on the early hours of Shaptami.The nine different plants which comprise the Nabapatrika actually represent the nine different forms of Goddess Durga. In the early hours of Shaptami, the nine leaves from the nine trees are tied to the twigs of white Aparajita plant with yellow threads. It is then bathed in the Ganga, accompanied by the chanting of mantras.

The Pranpratisha ritual is perforemed to divinize the clay idol of Uma. The aim of this ritual to awaken the spirit of Durga as a worrier Goddess. From the day of Saptami Mahisasurmardini Durga starts her battle against the manifestation of all evils in the shape of Mahisasura to save the Srishti- the whole world.

Durga Ashtami Puja is observed in many parts of India mainly in Bengal, Orissa, Jharkhand and other eastern parts of India. The day is considered significant as life is "breathed" into the idol of Durga by priests who perform elaborate rituals amidst chanting of religious verses.

The devotees of Goddess Durga start the celebrations on the morning of Maha Ashtami with Pushpanjali (offerings of flowers). Devotees perform the ritualistic bathing and fasting before offering Pushpanjali. Fresh flowers are held in hand and the mantra is recited after the priest. After reciting the Sanskrit couplets everyone showers flowers at the Goddess's feet.

The worship of little girls, called 'kumari puja, is the main attraction of the day. Kumari Puja is the puja where in a young girl, within age 12-13 is worshipped, as the young girl representation of Devi Durga.

Yoginis (the companions of Devi Durga) are worshiped on this day. The nine manifestation of the Goddess- Durga, Jayanti, Mangola Kali, Bhadra Kali, Kapalini, Kshama Dhatri, Siva, Svaha and Svadha are worshiped.

Evening Aarati is performed with fire. The fire symbolizes light and is the purifier of sins. In the evening, Sandhi puja is conducted, which marks the inter-linking of the Maha Ashtami with Maha Navami. It is performed at the end of Durga Ashtami and the beginning of Maha Navami. Sandhi Puja is one of the most important ritual during Durga Ashtami-Durga Puja. The 48 minutes interval or Sandhi when Ashtami Tithi transits into Navami is highly sacred. Half of it falls in Ashtami and another half in Navami. At this time Durga is worshiped as Chamunda (a form of Kali who killed the demon Chand and Munda).

Sarva mangal mangalye Shive sarvarth Saadhike

Maha Navami is observed on the ninth day of the Shukla Paksha (waxing phase of moon) of Ashwin month. The day begins after the end of Sandhi puja. Mahanavami is also the penultimate day of Durga Puja. Maha Navami rituals are the final rituals associated with Durga Puja. 'Maha Arti' that is considered a formal end of religious customs. Merriment, music and dance fill the rest of the day. On Maha Navami a major bhog is held and Prasad is offered to Goddess Durga and this bhog prasad is shared by devotees.

As the Navami night passes Uma will have to leave her father's house for her husband place. The next day is Durga Murti Visarjan or immersion.

Dashami is the last day of Durga Puja, when a tearful farewell is offered to the deity. In Bengal, Goddess Durga is worshipped in the form of Aparajita on the day. It is followed by Maha Arati which marks the end of the important rituals and prayers during Durga Puja.

After a shital bhog of Panta Vat, Kochur Sak and Ilis Machvaja, the purohit perfoms the Bisarjan Puja. In this ritual the Devi, who had been invoked in the Navapatrika and divinized idol, is entreated to return to her celestial abode. This is followed by Prasasthi Vandana. In Darpan, a mirror is placed in front of the deity and devotees look into the mirror to see the deity's feet. The mirror is symbolic in the sense that whenever there is a ritual bathing of Goddess Durga, it is the reflection on the mirror that is bathed and not the original Deity.

Devi Boron is the final sending off of Uma by the married womenfolk of the locality. The ladies perform Aarti of Goddess Durga and smear Her with vermillion(sindoor) and offer sweets(mishti), beetle-leaf(paan). Then all the married women paint each other with vermillion(sindoor) and share sweets.

After Boron, the Devi is brought out of the house,and readied for departure to the Ganga for immersion. This process is called Visarjan, wherein a grand send-off is arranged by the devotees. Before the immersion of idol the last aarti for this year is performed on the bank of the river. She is immersed with great care by some persons who take her into the water.

A unique ritual on the day is the Vijaya ceremony. People embrace each other and forgive and forget past offences and promise a new beginning and the juniors touch the feet of the seniors seeking for blessing.