Durga Puja Step By Step Guide For Navratri puja

Introduction

India, a land that brims with numerous religious celebrations every other month, follows conscientious rituals to fulfil the festivity. And when it comes to the celebration of Durga Puja or Durgotsava or Sharodotsava, it asks for grand planning. And the ecstasy that devotees feel as they wait for it to arrive is something incredible to witness; be it preparing the pandals, sculpting the idols of the goddess, cleaning the house and shopping for new clothes, etc. Apart from this, the much-awaited break that it brings for the students and office goers comes as a blessing in disguise from Maa Durga. 

This year Durgotsava turns up on 1st October 2022 and rounds off on 5th October 2022.

PujaNPujari has compiled this article especially to guide our treasured readers on how to commemorate the propitious festival of Durga Puja. Have a read till the end and let Maa Durga bestow you her immense blessings and meet your every desire.

The legacy behind the celebration of Durga Puja

Every year, around the time of fall, i.e., during the months of September and October or in the seventh month of the Hindu calendar Ashvina, the Hindu populace gathers to seek the blessing of Goddess Durga. And it has been in practice since the 16th century as found in literature – it has been marked down that the zamindars of West Bengal achieved the first ever celebration of Durga Puja.

However, many intriguing tales go out behind the legacy of Durga Puja mentioned in the holy text of the Vedic period and are also associated with different regions based on people’s beliefs.

One such parable in Ramayana explains where Lord Rama offered 108 blue lotus flowers and 108 days to Goddess Durga ahead of his encounter with his arch-enemy Ravana. And thus, Dussehra is celebrated on the tenth day (Dashami) of the Durga puja, the very day when Lord Rama defeated Ravana as a symbol of righteousness triumphing over wickedness.

Nonetheless, the prime legacy attached to the grand celebration of Durgotsava goes out as narrated below.

 

A demon named Mahishasura was said to be endowed by Lord Brahma to remain immortal however, he would meet his death in the hand of a woman. Considering this, Mahishasura felt there would be no one who could destroy him, and his pride led him to take over his mind. Thus, he started to cause havoc on Earth, Heaven, and Hell, altogether known as Trilok. 

This enraged Lord Shiva and Lord Vishnu to the extent that they decided to find out an alternative to finish him up. Thus, with their supreme power Goddess Durga, the divine entity Shakti was manifested to end the outrageous ventures of Mahishasura.

After a prolonged battle which involved a confusing situation caused by the demon, manifesting himself in various forms was successfully killed in the form of buffalo by the Goddess with her Trishul.

Since then, this day of the killing of Mahishasura is identified as Mahalaya or the beginning of the Durga Puja. And so the whole celebration runs for 9 consecutive nights, thus referring as Navratri (nine nights in Sanskrit).

 

The essence of Durga Puja during Navratri celebration at home with guidance:

It is believed that goddess Durga resides in every house throughout the whole Navaratri season, which becomes imperative to keep the house purified and cleaned. Also, it’s important to remember that it must be cleaned until the last day of the Navratri. 

Welcoming the divine form of Shakti into your abode with beautiful rangoli arts, flower garlands hung at your home shrine, decorative motifs, and painting the houses with earthly colours contributes to her immense blessings and a holy feeling. It also helps to keep all the negative energy away from your home, bringing joy, success, and prosperity.

One basic ritual to be followed ardently is the lighting of the Akhand Jyoti diya continuously throughout the whole Navratri. The diya must be offered to Maa Durga’s idol and made sure that the diya keeps burning continuously without fail.

Reciting prayers, bhajans, and performing pujas along with family and loved ones during this auspicious time brings unity, love, and harmony.

 

Reciting of Durga Saptashati Path 

One cannot accomplish the Navratri celebration without invoking the shakti in their abode by performing Chandi Homa through purohits and chanting the verses from Durga Saptashati. This Vedic ritual helps bring a positive aura around your home, repelling away all the bad energies and negative spells of your adversaries. 

Each particular day of Durga Puja in Navaratri has its own significance.

The celebration, which goes on for 9 days marks Goddess Durga in her nine different powerful avatars or forms. And they are-

 

• Worshipping of Shaliputri on Day 1
  

Shariputra or Mahadevi, is a divine manifestation of Durga and is illustrated as being sat on a bull named Nandi with her hands holding the holy Trishul and lotus. Offering of diya with ghees and flowers to Shaliputri helps to attain good health and escape any kind of illness. 

Chant the following mantra on Navratri Day 1:

 

“Om Hreem Shri Shailaputri Durgaaye Namaha

Om Devi Shailputryai Swaha

Vande Vanchhit Laabhaay, Chandrardhkritshekharaam

Vrisharudham Shooldharaam Shailputriim Yashaswini”

 

• Worshipping of Bramhacharini on Day 2

The second day of Navratri marks the worshipping of Brahmacharini, an embodiment of Mata Parvati. Devotees offer prayer and aarti to Maa Brahamacharini to bestow her blessings, prosperity, and fortune. 

 

One should chant the following mantra to please her:

 

“Om Hreem Shri Brahamacharini Durgaaye Namaha

Om Devi Brahmcharinyai Namah

Dadhaanaa Kar Padmaabhyaamakshmala Kamandaloo

Devi Prasidatu Mayi Brahmcharinyanuttamaa”

 

• Worshipping of Maa Chandraghanta on Day 3

The third form of goddess Mahadevi is a powerful deity who with her divine power, defeats all the evils away. She mounts on a tiger while wearing a half-crescent moon on her head like a bell, from which her name originates.

 

One should chant the following mantra to please her:

 

“Om Hreem Shri Chandra Ghanta Durgaaye Namaha

Om Devi Chandraghantayayi Namah

Pindaj Pravaarudh chandkopastrkairyuta

Prasadam Tanute Madhyam Chandraghanteti vishrutaa.”

 

• Worshipping of Maa Kushmanda on Day 4

In order to seek her blessings, one should offer sweet delicacies like Malpua, which helps to gain the intellectual ability and good decision making.

 

One should chant the following mantra to please her:

 

“Om Hreem Shri Kushmanda Durgaaye Namaha

Om Devi Kushmandayayi Namah

Suraasampoorna Kalasham Rudhiraaplutamev Cha

Dadhaanaa Hastpadmaabhyaam Kushmanda Shubhdaastu Me”

 

• Worshipping of Maa Skandamata on Day 5:
  
  

 

Skandamata, known as the source of wisdom and fortune, grants her devotees knowledge, redemption, prosperity, and wealth. Offer bananas on this auspicious day and chant the following mantra:

 

“Om Hreem Shri Skanda Mata Durgaaye Namaha

Om Devi Skandmatayayi Namah

Sinhaasangataam Nityam Padmaanchit Kardwayaa

Shubhdaastu Sadaa Devi Skandmata Yashaswini”

 

• Worshipping of Maa Katyayani on Day 6:

 

Worshipping Maa Katyayni, the powerful embodiment of Shakti helps fulfil one’s desire, especially marriage, when done wholeheartedly. To please her, one should offer honey with flowers and recite the following mantra:

 

“Om Hreem Shri Katyayani Durgaaye Namaha

Om Devi Katyayanyayi Namah

Chandrahaasojjval Karaa Shaardoolvarvaahanaa

Katyayani Shubham Dadyaad Devi Daanavghatini”

 

• Worshipping of Maa Kaalaratri on Day 7:

 

Donating red flowers, kumkum, diya, jaggery, and lemon garland makes Maa Kaalaratri happy and will grace her immense blessings. She is represented as a dark colour Devi riding a donkey and slaying the demons with the third eye on her forehead.

 

Chant the following mantra to please Maa Kaalratri:

 

“Om Hreem Shri Kaala Ratri Durgaaye Namaha

Om Devi Kalratryayi Namah

Ekveni Japakarnpoora Nagna Kharaasthita

Lamboshthi Karnika karni Tailaabhyaktshariirini

Vaam Paadollasallohlata Kantakbhushanaa

Bardhan Moordham Dhwajaa Krishnaa Kalratrirbhayankari”

 

• Worshipping of Maa Mahagauri on Day 8:
  
  

The eight forms of the Mahadevi Navadurga can fulfill all your heart’s desires and remove all the obstacles in one’s life. Donate coconut on this auspicious day by chanting the below given mantra.

 

“Om Hreem Shri Maha Gauri Durgaaye Namaha

Om Devi Mahagauryayi Namah Shwete Vrishesamarudha Shwetaambardhara Shuchih

Mahagauri Shubham Dadyanmahadev Pramodadaa

Sarava Mangala Mangalye Shive Sarvartha Sadhike

Sharanyei Trymbake Gauri Narayani Namosthute”

 

• Worshipping of Maa Siddhidatri on Day 9:
  

Siddhidatri is an amalgamation of two words: Siddhi, which indicates mystical abilities or guided meditation, and Dhatri, which signifies the one who endows or grants competence. Maa Siddhidatri is denoted with four hands, Gada and Sudarshana Chakra in her right and lotus and shankh in her left. It is said that Maa Siddhidatri is gratified by offering sesame seeds and reciting the mantra mentioned below:

 

“Om Devi Siddhidatryai Namah”

Siddha Gandharva Yakhsadyairasurairamarairapi

Sevyamana Sada Bhuyat Siddhida Siddhidayini

Ya Devi Sarvabhuteshu Maa Siddhidatri Rupena Samsthita

Namastasye Namastasye Namastasye Namo Namah”

Epilogue

On a closing note, we wish our readers a grand and joyous Durgotsava celebration that includes following the aforementioned rituals so that Maa Shakti can fulfill all of your heart’s desires. Navratri truly is that time of year when everyone overflows the atmosphere with cheerful and mystical vibes, all gussied up in bright, colourful attire and queuing up the pandal and mandir for Maa Durga’s darshan.

Also Read: Havan, a prime part of Hindu culture