Durga Puja 2011 : 'Balika Pujan' during Navratri

Durga Puja 2011 date is 28 September. Durga Puja during Navratri is associated with the incarnation of goddess Durga and worshipping of Kanya (little girls). It is a religious and social aspect of Navratra. Worship of the girls has been given great importance in our scriptures. No difference of caste has been taken into account in their worship and it has been advised by scriptures to worship and treat every girl in same manner. Devotees should worship all girls in Navratri considering them to be Goddess herself, because all the girls are personification of wisdom and knowledge of entire universe.

Our scriptures say that the place where all girls are worshipped is considered to be the most sanctified. In the second half of one of Hindu scriptures ?Rudryamla Tantra?, the girls have been categorized into different age groups for worship and described as different forms of Goddesses. For example, a one year old girl is called ?Sandhya?, two years old is called ?Saraswati? and three years old is called ?Tridhamurthy?. Similarly, four years old girl is called ?Kalika? and five is ?Subhga?. At the age of six, she becomes ?Uma?. When reached seven, she is called ?Malini? and ?Kubja? in her eighth years. She is ?Kaalsandharbha? in nine, ?Aparajita? in ten and ?Rudrani? in eleven years of age. A girl in twelfth year is ?Bharavi? and ?Mahalaxmi? in thirteenth. In her fourteen, fifteen and sixteenth year, she is known as ?Peethnayika?, ?Chetraja? and ?Ambika? respectively.

Durga Puja 2011 : How to Worship Girls

Offering prayers during this period makes goddess Durga happy. But as per descriptions of mythology, merely fasting, chanting shloka and mantra, performing sacrifices etc cannot make her happy. So, there is a special significance of worshipping the little girls. According to Hindu mythology, offering special gifts to girls is considered auspicious during these nine days.

On the first day, it is propitious to give them flowers. Moreover, one make-up item is a must to be given along with flowers. Offer white flower to Ma Saraswati in order to please her. If you have any worldly desire in your heart, offer red flowers (e.g. rose, china-rose or gurhal, jasmine, and marigold etc.)

On the second day, worship by giving them fruits. This fruit can be red or yellow for materialistic desire and banana or coconut for achieving detachment. Remember fruits must not be sour.

On the third day there is a significant of Sweets. Goddess becomes happy, if home cooked kheer , halwa or yellow rice are fed on the day.

On day four there is a value of giving them cloths but in accordance with financial capacity handkerchief and ribbon can also be offered.

Fifth day good fortune and to bless with child is desired from goddess. So giving five type of make up item to girls is considered very auspicious. There can be bindi, bangles, heena, hair clips, scented soaps, kajal, mascara, nail paint, talcum powder etc in them.

On sixth day Sport stuff should be given to girls. Nowadays different varieties of sport stuff are available in markets. Earlier this custom was limited up to rope, panche and small toys only but now many options are available in markets.

Seventh day is dedicated to call Goddess Saraswati. On this day study material should be given to girls. Different types of pencil, pen, copies, drawing, books, compass, water bottle and lunch box are available in market these days.

Eight day of navratri is considered as the most scared day. Goddess gives special blessing to the people who do girls make up with their own hands. Girls? feet should be washed by milk. Akshat, flowers and kumkum should offer on their feet. Food should be given to girls and offer some gifts to them as per financial capacity. Giving alms is necessary every day during Navratra.

On the ninth day mean sthe last day of Navratra, Girls should be feed with kheer, gwarfali?s vegetable and puri kneaded with milk. The worship of Goddess is completed by their feet Mahavar & heena on their palms. If the Hawan is organized at your home then Samidha must be offered by her hands. She should be feed with cardamom & betel. There is a belief behind this custom that when the Goddess goes back to her land then she must be seen off as a girl from her own house. If possible, a red tippet should be given to girls also offer them a small book of Durga Chalisa. Garba`s dandiya & Chaniya choli can also be given.

Goddess bless with happiness, prosperity if the worship is done according to all these rituals.