Navratri Kanya Puja: The holy festival of Shardiya Navratri is going on. Religious programs like Pandal, Jagran, Dandiya of Maa Durga are being organized everywhere. Navratri is considered the best time to worship Goddess Durga. It is said that during Navratri, Mother Durga herself comes to earth and provides welfare to the devotees. Establishment of Kalash, Akhand Jyoti etc. have great importance in Navratri. Similarly, girl worship also has special significance during Navratri.
Actually, Kanya Puja can be done from Pratipada Tithi till Navami. But Kanya Puja has more importance on Ashtami and Navami Tithi. Kunya Puja is also called Kumari Kanya Puja. According to Pandit Dinesh Joshi, it is believed in the scriptures that on the occasion of Kumari Kanya Puja, Mother Durga in person comes to the house to have food. In such a situation, while observing the fast, one should worship and eat the kumaris with full devotion. A mythological story is also quite famous in this regard, in which the importance of girl worship in Durga Puja has been explained.
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There are many mythological stories prevalent regarding Kanya Puja. According to a legend, Pandit Shridhar, sad about not having children, invited the girls for a meal. Shridhar served food to the kumaris with great devotion. When Shridhar was feeding the girls, Mother Vaishno Devi herself came and sat in the form of a girl, who was very happy to see Shridhar's faith and devotion. Mother asked Shridhar to organize a Bhandara in the entire village. On which Shridhar organized a Bhandara in the village. After this, a girl was born in Shridhar's house. It is believed that since then the tradition of worshiping girls and eating food started on the day of breaking the fast during Navratri.
According to astrology, in Kanya Puja, different forms of girls are considered according to their age. Pandit Dinesh Joshi says that a two year old girl is the embodiment of Daridrabhanjan i.e. the remover of sorrow. Tri Murti for a three year old girl, Kalyani for a four and five year old girl, which brings welfare. Kalika, who provides Rajayoga and Vidya to a six year old girl. A seven year old girl is given the form of Chandika, an eight year old girl is given the form of Shambhavi, a nine year old girl is given the form of Maa Durga, who destroys the enemies. At the same time, a ten year old girl is considered to be the form of Subhadra, who fulfills all the wishes. In this way, in Kanya Puja, girls aged between 2 to 10 years are fed and worshipped.
According to astrology, invite 9 girls in Navratri. Treat them with respect. After entering the house, make them sit on a wooden platform and wash their feet with milk or water. Apply Kumkum or Roli tilak on their forehead and worship them. After this, make all the girls sit on seats and serve food. After this, offer something to the girls as Dakshina.
