On Durga Ashtami and Ram Navami, the eighth and ninth days of Navratri, people worship and feed young girls and kanyas.
(Left) Actor Shilpa Shetty during Kanya Pujan. (Right) Goddess Durga.
chaitra navratri It is celebrated by Hindus from the first day of the lunisolar calendar. This is a nine-day event, which this year will be celebrated from April 9, 2024 to April 17, 2024.
Many people continue to fast for these nine days, but the fast ends when people do the following: Kanya Pujan on Durga Ashtami (8th day) and Rama Navami (9th day).
Navdurgas are also known as the nine forms of Hinduism. goddess durga It is visited during this period. The nine forms of Goddess Durga include Maa Shailputri, Maa Brahmacharini, Maa Chandraghanta, Maa Kushmanda, Skanda Mata, Maa Katyani, Maa Kalratri, Maa Mahagauri and Maa Siddhidatri. Masu.
During Kanya Pujan, Kanya or girls (12 years and below) are worshiped by people, who invite them to their homes, feed them and give them gifts. According to Devi Bhagwat Puran, these young girls are believed to be incarnations of Goddess Durga. As a result, her nine girls and her one boy, known as Langurs, were worshiped and Kanjak Puja or Kanya Pujan.
It is commonly believed that these little girls house the Mother Goddess. Worshiping them means that you have received the blessings of Goddess Durga.
The story behind Kanya Puja and its significance
According to popular belief, Goddess Durga appeared as a young girl (Kanya) to defeat the demon Kalasura and liberate the world from its tyranny. Devotees worship young girls as goddess incarnations and glorify the nine Devi forms during Navratri.
This ritual symbolizes the benevolent and protective nature of feminine energy, protecting the individual from negative emotions such as ego, hatred, jealousy, and attachment. Through the respect shown to girls, society is reminded of the importance of respecting women’s role as protectors and nurturers. This encourages abandonment of stereotypes about women and promotes women’s independence and self-confidence.
Kanya Pujan steps
Believers traditionally welcome nine girls into their homes. They ritually wash the girl’s feet, tie a sacred thread around her wrist, and apply vermilion to her forehead. The girls are respected and people ask for her blessings and touch her feet in reverence. Various special dishes called kanjak are served to them such as poori, chana, ghee halwa, sweets and kheer.
