Navratri - Religious Significance and Puja Vidhi

Navratri is a festival popularly called the festival of worship and dance. The word Navaratri literally means nine nights in Sanskrit; Nava meaning Nine and Ratri meaning nights. During these nine days and nights, nine kinds of Shakti/Devi i.e. feminine divinity are worshipped. The nine-day festival of Navratri is held in honour of the two expressions of Goddess Durga.
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The religious significance behind the celebration of Navratri is that the nine days are divided and dedicated to the Trinity of God worshipped in a female form.

In Hindu mythology the festival is hugely celebrated across the world as the victory of goodness over evil as the Goddess Shakti (Maa Durga) murdered buffalo - headed demon, Mahishasura following a long battle of nine days and nighttime around the tenth day, which is celebrated as 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 season, a time when nature undergoes several climatic changes. Goddess Shakti from the nine forms, Maa Shailputri, Maa Brahmachaarini, Maa Chandraghanta, Maa Kushmaanda, Skanda Maa, Maa Kaatyayani, Maa Kaalratri, Maa Mahagauri and Maa Sidhidaarti is worshipped during those two days for good heath, wealth, prosperity, knowledge and auspiciousness.

Rituals for acting Puja through Navratri

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

Here is the method for performing Navratri Puja

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

On the very first day of the Navaratri, a small bed of mud (taken from any auspicious place) is ready from the puja room of the home and barley seeds have been sown over it. On this Bed a Kalash made of Earthen/ Copper is maintained and filled with water. Above the bud a bowl full of rice is kept. A sterile Coconut wrapped with mango leaves is subsequently retained over this kalash. This Kalash is thought to be a symbolic type of Goddess Durga. By keeping kalash a single invocates the goddess at the Kalash.

On the tenth 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 must not be touched during the fourteen days. One diya is lit near to this Kalash which is supposed to burn endlessly for fourteen days. This is called Akhand Jyoti.
Many people think that the period of this Shoots determines the Quantum of income which they'll have in forthcoming months. This belief could have been because India is basically an agrarian economy wherein the growth of the property decided one's income.

Mahaashtami

The day starts with a recital of Sanskrit hymns from the devotees; they offer prayer to the goddess. Kumari Puja or the worship of small girls as the mother goddess is a special part of these rituals observed in a number of conventional and household pujas.

Mahanavami

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

Vijaya Dashami

After the nine days of Puja, on Dashami, the final day also called Vijaya Dashami, the images of Goddess Durga are carried in processions around the locality 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 heritage of colours. Colors also play a vital role during this festival. People should select colors according to each aspect of Devi. The colors signify the nine avatars or incarnations or manifestations of Goddess Durga Maa.

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