Performing Navratri Puja

Goddess Durga is worshiped in these nine days with full color and reverence. All through the 9 days, devotees sing prayers, make sweets for offering, chant mantras and do fasting. All over India, navratri is celebrated but the preparation and methods are different depending on the regions. Bengalis have their different methods and South Indians have their own wats. But all worship Goddess Durga. Although the elements required in each puja are more or less the same.



Some of the items required for Navratri preparation

* Picture or Idol of Goddess Durga
* Dress and decorative items for Goddess Durga
* Durga Sapthashati book
* Small bowl of water
* Kalash filled with water with mango leaves and coconut on top
* Roli, moli, rice, betel leaves, betel nuts
* Cloves, cardamom, sindoor, powdered colors (gulal)
* Dhoop, deepak, matchsticks
* Fresh flowers such as roses, sunflowers
* Different types of fruits such
* Sweets
* Panchpatra containing spoon and water
* Sitting mat

Process or method of doing Navratri puja

Goddess Durga is cleaned and decorated. On a high stand or stool Goddess Durga is kept. A kalash filled with water is placed in front of the Goddess but below and not on the stool. Mango leaves are added on the top and a coconut is kept in the center. Moli is tied around the kalash.

Puja is done using rice, flowers and roli. Sweets and fruits are also offered to the Goddess. Durga Chalisa or Devi Kavach is read. In the end Durga arti is done.

On 8th or 9th day, a feast comprising of semolina halwa, puree, masala black chickpea dishes is made and offered to 9 girls. After the feast the girls are even offered bandles, dresses or money.