Maha Navami puja ends as Durga's farewell draws near

Maha Navami, the ninth day of Sharadiya Durga Puja, the main religious festival of the Sanatan community, is being observed today. On Tuesday (October 20), devotees are marking the day with worship, offering anjali, distributing prasad and performing various other rituals. While devotees will throng the mandaps for Navami puja, the mood of the goddess's impending departure will also be felt as the festival nears its end.

Navami puja and other rituals have been held at puja mandaps across the country since morning. Maha Aarti will be held in the evening. Priests and devotees will also take part in Navami Homa and other ceremonies.

According to Hindu scriptures, Sandhi Puja, a special ritual, is performed at the juncture of the Ashtami and Navami tithis. It lasts a total of 48 minutes, covering the last 24 minutes of Ashtami and the first 24 minutes of Navami. Goddess Chamunda is worshipped during this time. By custom, the puja is completed by lighting 108 lamps and offering 108 lotus flowers.

In the Puranic accounts, the story of Goddess Durga's slaying of the demons symbolises the victory of good over evil. Devotees believe the goddess ensured the defeat of evil forces by destroying demons including Chanda, Munda and Raktabija. Holding on to that faith and devotion, followers of Sanatan Dharma will remain immersed in worship of the goddess on Maha Navami.

After the Navami rituals end, a sense of sorrow at the farewell will gradually spread among devotees. This year's Durga Puja will conclude on Wednesday (October 21), Bijoya Dashami, with the immersion of idols. According to religious belief, Goddess Durga returns to Kailash after the puja.

The five-day Sharadiya Durga Puja, which began with Maha Shashthi last Saturday, will end on Bijoya Dashami. Although the festival ends in an atmosphere of joy, devotion and harmony, the memories of the goddess's arrival, worship and farewell will stay with devotees.