Maha Navami, the ninth day of the Hindu festival of Durga Puja, is being celebrated today as devotees gather at temples and decorated pavilions to worship Goddess Durga. The five-day Sharadiya Durga Puja has reached its fourth day, and the countdown to the goddess’s farewell will begin after the Maha Navami rituals conclude. The festivities will come to an end tomorrow, Wednesday, October 21, with the immersion of idols on Vijaya Dashami.
On Maha Navami, devotees perform special rituals, including the Maha Aarti, ceremonial offerings and the Navami Homa, a sacred fire ritual. There is also a tradition of worshipping the goddess with 108 blue lotuses. After the prayers, devotees offer anjali, or floral offerings, and prasad is distributed among worshippers. Alongside the festive celebrations, a sense of sadness will begin to emerge at the pandals as devotees prepare to bid farewell to the goddess.
According to Hindu scriptures, Goddess Durga assumed her fierce form to defeat the demon Mahishasura and his three warriors — Chanda, Munda and Raktabija.
The transitional period between the eighth lunar day, Ashtami, and the ninth lunar day, Navami, is known as Sandhikshan. It comprises the final 24 minutes of Ashtami and the first 24 minutes of Navami. Sandhi Puja, dedicated to Goddess Chamunda, is performed during this auspicious period. The rituals traditionally include lighting 108 earthen lamps and offering 108 lotus flowers at the goddess’s feet.
This year’s Sharadiya Durga Puja began on Saturday with Maha Shashthi, marking the start of the five-day festival. Following Maha Navami, the celebrations will conclude on Wednesday with Vijaya Dashami and the immersion of the Durga idols. After the farewell rituals, Goddess Durga is believed to return to her celestial abode on Mount Kailash.
