Navratri - Religious Significance and Puja Vidhi




Navratri is a festival popularly known as the festival of dance and worship. The term Navaratri literally means nine nights in Sanskrit; Nava meaning Nine and Ratri meaning nights. During these nine nights and days, nine kinds of Shakti/Devi i.e. female divinity are worshipped. The nine-day festival of Navratri is held in honor of the nine expressions of Goddess Durga.


The religious significance behind the party of Navratri is that the nine days are divided and devoted to the Trinity of God worshipped in a female form.

In Hindu mythology the festival is hugely famous around the world as the victory of good over evil since the Goddess Shakti (Maa Durga) killed buffalo - headed demon, Mahishasura following a long struggle of nine days and night on the tenth day, which will be celebrated because Vijaya Dashmi Such adoration to Mother Goddess is unique to Hinduism.Also dusshera is celebrated around precisely the exact same day as Lord Rama with the blessings of Maa Durga has won over Ravana. The festival also marks the arrival of winter period, a time when nature undergoes several climatic fluctuations. Goddess Shakti in the nine kinds, Maa Shailputri, Maa Brahmachaarini, Maa Chandraghanta, Maa Kushmaanda, Skanda Maa, Maa Kaatyayani, Maa Kaalratri, Maa Mahagauri and Maa Sidhidaarti is worshipped during those nine days for good heath, wealth, prosperity, knowledge and auspiciousness.

Rituals for performing Puja through Navratri

Navratri puja is very simple and not very complex. One can easily observe the fast; even though one cannot observe the fast he can easily recite mantra "Om Ang Haring Kalimg Shreeng Maha Durgay Namah". An individual must carefully work upon his/her aahar (meals), vyavhaar (behavior) and acharan (character) during the time of Navratri.
Aahar - One should always avoid non vegetarian foods and "Satvik" foods such as fruits, Kutu Ka Aata, Singara Ka Aata, Curd and Potatoes must be consumed. Usage of Onion and Garlic should be prevented.
Vyavhaar and Acharan - During Navratri festival all devotees should worship the female deity with religious emotion (bhav)

Here is your method for performing Navratri Puja

Get your house cleaned and prepared. You are inviting Goddess into the home. Usually this is done on the Amavasya, a day prior to the beginning of Navratri.

On the very first day of the Navaratri, a small bed of mud (obtained from any auspicious place) is ready in the puja room of the home and barley seeds are sown over it. With this Bed a Kalash made of Earthen/ Copper is maintained and filled with water. Over the pot a bowl full of rice is kept. A sterile Coconut wrapped with mango leaves is subsequently kept over this kalash. This Kalash is thought to be a symbolic form of Goddess Durga. By maintaining kalash a single invocates the goddess in the Kalash.

On the very first day, the shoots are about 3 - 5 inches in length. After the puja, these seedlings are pulled out and given to devotees as a blessing from god. This Kalash shouldn't be touched during the nine days. One diya is lit close to the Kalash which is supposed to burn endlessly for nine days. This is known as Akhand Jyoti.
Lots of folks think that the period of the Shoots decides the Quantum of earnings that they'll have in forthcoming months. This belief might have been since India is basically an agrarian economy wherein the growth of the land determined one's income.


Mahaashtami

The afternoon starts with a recital of Sanskrit hymns from the devotees; they offer prayer to the goddess. Kumari Puja or the worship of little women as the mother goddess is a distinctive part of these rituals observed in a number of conventional and family pujas.

Mahanavami

The festival of Navratri culminates in Mahanavami. On this particular day Kanya Puja is performed. Nine young girls representing the nine kinds of Goddess Durga are worshiped. Their feets are washed as a sign of respect for the Goddess and then they are offered food mainly consisting of kala chana, halwa and poori together with coconut bits and dakshina (money) and Red chunri is offerd into the kanjaks.


Vijaya Dashami

Following the two days of Puja, on Dashami, the final day also called Vijaya Dashami, the pictures of Goddess Durga are carried in processions round the area by the devotees and finally are immersed in a nearby river or lake.


Colors of Navratri

Durga Navratri is the most sacred and most renowned festival season in India that has a special tradition of colours. Colours also play a vital role during this festival. People should select colours according to each aspect of Devi. The colors signify the nine avatars or incarnations or signs of Goddess Durga Maa.


Click For More Info Tulja Bhavani

http://www.tuljabhavani.in/