Navaratri / Durga Pooja / Durgashtami

The festival of ritualistic worship of deity Durga (Durgapuja) is celebrated with great fervor in the Indian states of Bangal, Gujarat, Bihar, Orissa, Asam, Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh on the eighth day (ashtami) of the bright fortnight of the Hindu lunar month of Ashvin. This day is also known as Mahashtami, since on this day various religious rites of the female deity (devi) are performed.

Celebration
During the transition between the eighth (ashtami) and the ninth (navami) days, the female deity starts manifesting Its energy. Hence, a special ritualistic worship called sandhipuja of Chamunda, one of the forms of Durga, is performed.

On Mahashtami day, after the ablutions at dawn, one should perform ritualistic worship of deity Bhagvati with Her garments, weapons, the insignia of royalty such as a silver or gold canopy resembling an umbrella over Her head, a chowrie (brush like fan), etc. If at that time the position of the planets (yoga) happens to be in the Bhadravati constellation, then ritualistic worship should be performed in the evening, and an animal sacrifice (bali) should be offered at midnight.

Worship of the female deity (Devi)
On the first three days of Navratri, the worship of Mahakali, who dominates (controls) the tama component, is undertaken to reduce the tama component in oneself. On the next three days, the worship of Mahalakshmi, who dominates (controls) the sattva component, is undertaken to enhance the sattva component in oneself. On the last three days, the worship of Mahasarasvati, who dominates (controls) the raja component, is undertaken to intensify one's spiritual practice.

In some families, this vowed religious observance is undertaken as a family tradition of spiritual practice (kulachar). It is celebrated according to one's financial capacity and ability, with various programs including continuous burning of a ghee (rarified butter) or oil lamp, recitations of verses in praise of the female deity, fasts, keeping awake as a ritual, etc., over the 9 days.

Installation of the idol:
In a sanctified place in the house, a sacrificial fireplace (vedi) is constructed, and an idol of the female deity with eight arms, seated on a lion is installed.

Installation of the pot:
According to the family traditions of spiritual practice, a pot (ghat) should be installed (sthapana). This itself is ghatasthapana. A garland of flowers should be tied to the pot. This is called mala bandhan. The garland of flowers should be tied in such a way that it reaches inside the pot.

Remaining steps:
Soil from a field should be brought home and spread out into a square making it as thick as the height of two phalanges of the fingers and food grains of five or seven types should be sown in it. Water, sandalwood paste (gandha), flowers, durva (a sacred grass), consecrated rice (akshata), betelnut, five foliages, five gems or a gold coin, etc. should be put into an earthen or a copper pot (kalash). If one does not know the Vedic mantras for installation of the seven food grains and the pot (Varun, the deity of rain) then the mantras from the Puranas should be chanted. If one does not know even these then one should say 'I offer (the name of the substance offered)' and chant The Lord's Name.
An offering of food (naivedya) should be made to the female deity.
The vowed observance of Navratri continues till the ninth day of the bright fortnight of the Hindu month of Ashvin. A virgin is worshipped daily for nine consecutive days and is offered meals. A married woman (suvasini) represents manifest spiritual energy while a virgin represents unmanifest spiritual energy. Since some amount of manifest spiritual energy is wasted in a married woman, the total spiritual energy in a virgin is more than that in a married woman. Hence, a virgin girl is worshipped as a representative of the female deity.
During this period, to develop detached (vairagi) conduct, one should not shave, should observe celibacy, should not sleep on a bed or mattress, and should not wear footwear.

Conclusion of each day of Navratri:
Each day of Navratri should be concluded by attributing significance (as per the scriptures) to the number of day elapsed in the Navaratra so far. On each day, if there is some time left, all the idols should be removed, given a sacred bath with water (abhishek) and ritualistically worshipped with the sixteen substances considered sacred in the Hindu religion. If there is no time, then the consecration and worship of all deities should be done on the following day.

Immersion of the idol of the female deity:
During immersion (visarjan) of the idol of the female deity, the sprouts of germinated seeds are offered to Her. When installing and concluding the Navaratra, it is necessary to sanctify the deities' idols. Usually, lemon, holy ash (bhasma), etc., are used for the consecration. Finally, the installed pot and the idol of the female deity are immersed at the conclusion of Navratri.

Ritualistic worship of Dipagarbha:
The custom of garbha started in Gujrat (a state in India) to symbolize the divine maternal energy (matrushakti). This was done by worshipping a lamp placed in an earthen pot with many openings (dipagarbha). The word 'garbha', 'garbho', 'garbo' or 'garba' takes its origin from this ritual of dipagarbha to represent the divine aspect of multiplicity (reproductive energy).

Garba dance:
The garbha dance originated in praise of the various movements of the female deity, Mahishasurmardini, Who delivered the people from suffering by slaying ('mardini' of) the evil demon Mahishasur during the period of Navratri. The stick used during the Dandiya dance is representative of the weapon Khadga in the hand of the Goddess.
 

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