How to do Navratri Puja at Home?

 

How to do Navratri Puja at Home? ( thanks to Sri Eswaran)

In India, there are many auspicious religious festivals, and Navratri is one of the most popularly celebrated festivals. It is celebrated with high enthusiasm and energy. Navratri puja is done with devotion all around India. Navratri, which means nine auspicious nights, is a religious festival which is celebrated to honour and pray to Goddess Durga. Navratri is also known as Durga Puja in Kolkata where it is celebrated with great enthusiasm for four days.

On these puja days, people observe fast and spiritual rituals are performed. If someone wants to perform Navratri puja at home, they can easily do so by following the right methods. It is essential to know all the customs, rituals, and Navratri Puja Samagri required for Navratri puja at home. Here, we have jotted down the list of all the essentials you need:-

Things you need to do Navratri Puja-

Goddess Durga idol or picture

Saree or a red dupatta to offer to Goddess Durga

Panjika, or the sacred Hindu book

Coconut

Sandalwood

Fresh mango leaves, wash them before using

Paan

Supari

Ganga water

Roli, the red holy powder which is used to put tilak

Cardamom

Incense sticks

Cloves

Fruits

Sweets

Incense sticks

Fresh flower to offer to Maa Durga

Gulal

Vermilion

Raw rice

Moli, a red sacred thread

Grass

These are all the Navratri puja Samagri you would need to do puja at home.

7 Easy Steps to do Navratri Pooja at home?

Step 1: To place the deity (Ghata Sthapana)

Firstly, you have to set Maa Durga idol on a chowki and keep a clay plot near it that has sown barley. This Ghata Sthapana is the start of the entire puja.

Step 2: Establish the Kalash

Then, you have to pour holy water (Gangajal) and put flowers, mango leaves, and coins on it. Close it with a lid, and then put raw rice on the top. Place a coconut that is wrapped in roli (the red clothing).

Step 3: Worship of Goddess Durga

The process of worshipping Durga starts with lighting a Diya in front of the deity. Worship Kalash or Ghat using Panchopchar. Panchopchar means worshipping the deity with five things, that are - scent, flower, Deepak, incense stick, and Naivedya.

Step 4: Chowki Sthpana

In this process, it is all about invoking Goddess Durga. You have to spread the roli on the chowki and tie moli across and around it. Then place the idol of Goddess Durga right on the chowki.

Step 5: Navratri Puja

During Navratri Puja, chanting the prayers and invoke Durga Maa is considered auspicious and it is believed that Maa Durga visits and enlightens your home and blesses your family. You have to offer flowers, bhog, diya, fruits, etc. to carry on the ritual of Navratri puja.

Step 6: Aarti

In the process of aarti, decorate a thali with all the Navratri decoration items. Carry the thali in one and a bell in another. Sing the aarti song, jingle the bells, and seek blessings from Maa Durga.

Step 7: Inviting and Feeding Goddesses

On the last day or ninth day of Navratri, invite nine girls aged around 5 to 12, and prepare food for them. They are called to be Goddesses, and the ritual process is called Kanya puja.

These are the steps that you can follow to do navratri puja at home and bring peace and blessings to the house and your family.

Jai Mata Di