Daily Household Puja Method for Navaratri
1. Preparation (Day 1 – Ghatasthapana / Kalasha Sthapana)
Cleaning the house: Homes are thoroughly cleaned before Navaratri begins.
Kalasha setup:
Take a copper/bronze pot (kalasha). Fill it with water, turmeric, and a few grains of rice.
Place mango leaves around its neck.
Keep a coconut smeared with turmeric and kumkum on top.
Decorate the kalasha with flowers and a red cloth.
Place it on rice or grains on a tray.
This represents the goddess’s presence for 10 days.
Lighting the lamp: A lamp (akhand deepa) is lit and kept burning continuously for the 9 nights.
2. Daily Puja Routine
Morning and evening pujas are performed. Women usually lead the rituals.
Steps:
1. Dhyana (Meditation): Invoke the goddess with mental prayers.
2. Avahana (Invocation): Invite the goddess into the kalasha.
3. Pushpa Puja (Flowers): Offer flowers while chanting “Ya Devi Sarvabhuteshu…” or the day’s specific mantra.
4. Naivedya (Offering food): Fresh prasadam is made daily—often sundal, payasam, fruits, coconuts, jaggery sweets.
5. Arati: Camphor or oil lamp is waved, accompanied by clapping, singing, and ringing of bells.
6. Distribution: Prasadam is shared with family, neighbors, and guests.
The 10 Days and Their Focus
Day 1–3: Durga
Slokas: Recite verses from Durga Saptashati (Devi Mahatmya).
Colors: Yellow, green, grey.
Naivedya: spicy items, jaggery-based dishes.
Significance: Destroying negative tendencies.
Day 4–6: Lakshmi
Slokas: Sri Suktam, chanting of “Om Shreem Mahalakshmyai Namah”.
Colors: Orange, white, red.
Naivedya: sweets, milk-based payasam, puffed rice.
Significance: Invoking prosperity and well-being.
Day 7–9: Saraswathy
Slokas: Saraswathy Ashtottara, Saraswati Vandana.
Colors: Blue, pink, purple.
Naivedya: fruits, honey, ghee.
Ritual: Ayudha Puja (9th day): Books, musical instruments, and tools are cleaned, decorated, and placed before the goddess.
Vidyarambham (10th day): Children write their first letters in rice/sand, guided by elders.
Day 10: Vijayadashami
Special puja for success and victory.
People start new ventures, buy new tools/books, and teachers are honored.
Young girls (Kanya Puja) are invited, worshipped, and offered gifts.
Women’s Involvement
Daily offerings are prepared by women, not priests.
Decorations: Women decorate the kalasha, lamps, kolam/rangoli, and Golu displays.
Social aspect: Women visit each other’s houses, exchange gifts of turmeric, kumkum, and betel leaves (Vettalai-Pakku).
Community singing: Groups of women gather for bhajans, chanting the goddess’s names.
This contrasts with regular household poojas (like Satyanarayana puja, or daily Sandhya rituals), where men often chant Vedic mantras and lead offerings. In Navaratri, the home becomes a temple of Shakti, with women as the main ritual leaders.
The step-by-step method of daily puja,
The division of days and their goddesses,
The colors, chants, and naivedya,
The role of women vs. other household poojas.
Short mantras/slokas (easy to recite)
Step sequence (morning/evening puja)
A mix of Sanskrit and English meaning (so even beginners can connect).
Daily Prayer Script for Navaratri at Home
1. Sankalpa (Intention)
Sit before the kalasha or lamp, fold hands and pray:
“O Mother Divine, I invoke You to reside in this kalasha and bless my family with strength, prosperity, and wisdom during these nine nights.”
2. Dhyana (Meditation Sloka)
Chant once to invite the Goddess:
Sarva-mangala-mangalye
Shive sarvārtha-sādhike ।
Sharanye tryambake Gauri
Nārāyaṇi namo’stu te ॥
Meaning: Salutations to the supreme auspicious one, Gauri, the three-eyed Mother, who grants refuge and fulfils all desires.
3. Pushpa Archana (Flower Offering)
While offering flowers:
Ya Devi sarva-bhūteṣu
Śakti-rūpeṇa saṁsthitā ।
Namastasyai namastasyai
Namastasyai namo namah ॥
Meaning: To that Goddess who resides in all beings as power, we bow again and again.
(Repeat with other forms: Durga, Lakshmi, Saraswathy.)
4. Day-Specific Mantras
Durga days (1–3):
“Om Dum Durgāyai Namah” (108 times or as much as possible).
Lakshmi days (4–6):
“Om Shreem Mahālakshmyai Namah” (108 times).
Saraswathy days (7–9):
“Om Aim Sarasvatyai Namah” (108 times).
5. Naivedya (Offering Food)
Place prasadam before the kalasha (sundal, fruits, payasam, or sweets) and pray:
“Idam naivedyam Om!”
(“I offer this food to You, O Mother.”)
6. Arati (Lamp Waving)
Sing a simple arati like:
Om Jaya Jaya Devi, Charachara Shareere,
Kuchayuga Shobhita, Mukta Hara ।
(Any regional Devi arati may be sung.)
Wave the lamp in circular motion, then bow down.
7. Closing Prayer
Tvameva mātā ca pitā tvameva
Tvameva bandhuś ca sakhā tvameva ।
Tvameva vidyā draviṇam tvameva
Tvameva sarvam mama Devī Deva ॥
Meaning: You alone are my mother, my father, my friend, my wisdom, my wealth, and my everything.
Special Notes for Each Day:
Wear the color of the day.
Offer fresh flowers (marigold, jasmine, lotus, hibiscus).
Involve little girls in puja—let them place flowers or light lamps.
In the evening, invite women and exchange kumkum, turmeric, and betel leaves.
This script is short enough for household use, yet powerful. It keeps the essence of Navaratri puja accessible to all, especially women and children, without depending on priests.
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