NAVRATRI 2024 KANYA PUJA/KUMARI PUJA: It is that time of the year when the nine incarnations of Goddess Durga, known as Navdurga, are worshipped. The nine-day festival is celebrated with much fervour and zest, and among all the festivities is Kanya Puja. Also known as Kumari Puja, Kumarika Puja, and Kanjak Puja, this ritual holds profound significance during Navratri. It is observed between Ashtami and Navami. This year, Kanya Puja falls on Durga Ashtami and Mahanavami, October 11, when the Navratri fasts end.
On this occasion, devotees worship nine girls between the ages of 2 and 10 who are dressed up beautifully. The young girls, also known as Kanjak, are offered tender coconut, halwa-puri, and gifts.
Kanya Puja 2024: Date And Shubh Muhurat
This year, Kumari Puja falls on Friday, October 11. As per Drik Panchang, the Ashtami and Navami tithi will coincide and fall on the same day. This particular day of Navratri is devoted to worshipping Maa Mahagauri, the goddess who possesses extraordinary beauty and a bright complexion at the age of sixteen.
The Ashtami Tithi begins from 12:31 PM on October 10 to 12:06 PM on October 11, 2024, allowing devotees to dedicate that time to auspicious celebrations, perform kanya puja, and offer prayers to Goddess Durga.
Kanya Puja 2024: Significance
As per religious belief, the Kanya Puja must be done on all nine days of Navratri. However, many people opt to perform Kumari Puja on either Ashtami or Navami. As for the Bengalis, Kumari puja always takes place on Ashtami of Durga puja.
It is believed that worshipping these young girls brings good fortune, wealth, and happiness into people’s lives as Mother Divine resides with them. The girls, aged between 2 and 10, represent various forms of Maa Durga, which include Kumarika, Trimurti, Kalyani, Rohini, Kali, Chandika, Shambhavi, Durga, Bhadra or Subhadra.
According to the Bhagavad Purana, the ninth day of Navaratri is believed to fulfill devotees’ wishes. Those who fast for nine days and worship young girls at the end of Navaratri are said to receive blessings. Worshipping a kumari (virgin young girl) is believed to bring good luck, two girls symbolise insight and salvation, while worshipping three girls is associated with virtue.
Kanya Puja 2024: Rituals
- Devotees invite nine young girls (between 2 and 10 years old) to their homes.Then, they wash the girls’ feet with water, wipe them, and place them on a pedestal.
- Now, a holy thread, known as Kalawa or moli, is tied around their wrists, while vermilion is applied to their foreheads.
- Following this, a variety of special dishes such as poori, chana, ghee halwa, coconut, sweets, and kheer are offered to them.
- People also offer money or gifts such as new dresses, bangles, and study materials.
- Lastly, devotees ask for their blessings by touching their feet.
Kanya Puja 2024: What To Offer
To mark the occasion and conclude the nine-day-long festival, a puja is performed in which flowers, incense sticks, lamps, and other sacred objects are offered while chanting mantras in honour of Goddess Durga. Then, young girls or kanjaks are given dakshina (money), gifts, and prasad (holy food) as a token of appreciation and attain the blessings of all the divine forms of Maa Durga. The holy food includes halwa-chana, kheer, poori, coconut, fruits, and sweets.
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