Navratri is a nine-day festival signifying nine different forms of Goddess Shakti – Durga. The nine forms of Durga widely known as Navdurga are worshipped during this festival. Navratri Puja offerings and prasad hold prime importance in Hindu culture. The devotees of the Goddess observe fast for nine days and according to Hindu culture, the Navratri fast is said to be complete only after offering Navratri Puja and Mahaprasad to Navdurga.
Different Navratri Prasad or Bhog is offered to the nine forms of Durga, Navdurga. Navratri begins on Pratipada of Ashwin Shukla Paksha and ends on Navmi tithi of Ashwin Shukla Paksha. Each day is for different forms of Goddess and Special Prasad has to be offered on that particular day to impress Goddess and get blessings from her.
Navratri Prasad offered on Pratipada Tithi
Pratipada Tithi, the first day of the Navratri Goddess Shailputri is to be worshipped. Goddess Shailputri is the daughter of Himalaya and so the name of the Goddess is Shailputri – Shail means mountain and Putri means daughter. The devotee has to offer pure Ghee on the foot of the Goddess and observe fast for the whole day. By practicing this, the Goddess blesses the devotees with a healthy and disease-free life.
Navratri Prasad offered on Dwitiya Tithi
The second form of Goddess Durga, Goddess Brahmacharini is to be worshipped on Dwitiya Tithi. Goddess Parvati or Durga is known as Brahmacharini as she meditated to marry Lord Shiva. Sugar should be offered to Goddess Brahmacharini and fast has to be observed for the whole day. By practicing this, the Goddess blesses the devotees with longevity or long life to the whole family.
Navratri Prasad offered on Tritiya Tithi
Goddess Chandraghanta, the third form of Goddess Durga is to be worshipped on Tritiya Tithi. The name of the Goddess is Chandraghanta as half form of Moon exists on her head. The devotees have to observe fast and offer milk or sweets made from milk as Navratri Prasad to the Goddess. The Goddess blesses the devotees with joy and happiness and helps ward off the worldly pains.
Navratri Prasad offered on Chaturthi Tithi
On Chaturthi, the fourth day of Navratri Goddess Kushmanda, the fourth form of Goddess Durga is to be worshipped. There is a belief in Hindu culture that the universe is formed from the abdomen of Goddess Kushmanda. The devotees should offer Malpua as prasad to Goddess Kushmanda and observe fast for the whole day. Offering Malpua in the temple of Goddess Durga is also considered auspicious. The Goddess blesses the devotees with good intellect and decision-making ability and removes the diseases and pains of the devotees.
Navratri Prasad offered on Panchami Tithi
The fifth form of Goddess Durga, Goddess Skandmata is to be worshipped on Panchami Tithi. Kumar Kartikeya is the son of Goddess Skandmata. The devotees have to observe fast and offer banana to the Goddess. The Goddess fulfills the wishes of the devotees and blesses them with a healthy physique.
Navratri Prasad offered on Shashthi Tithi
On the sixth day or Shashthi Tithi, Goddess Katyayani is to be worshipped. Sage Katyayan is the father of Goddess Katyayani. Goddess Parvati was pleased with the meditation of the sage. So she took birth as his daughter. She is called Katyayani being the daughter of Sage Katyayan. The devotees are likely to become more attractive by offering honey as prasad to the Goddess and observe fast on that day.
Navratri Prasad offered on Saptami Tithi
On Saptami Tithi, the seventh form of Goddess Durga, Goddess Kaalratri is to be worshipped. According to Hindu Mythology, Goddess Shakti removes all the evil powers existing in the world and hence is called Kaalratri. The prasad of Jaggery has to be offered to the Goddess and the devotees have to observe fast. The prasad must be given to a Brahmin along with Dakshina. By practicing this, the devotees get relieved from all the pains of the world and also reduce the frequency of sudden pain.
Navratri Prasad offered on Ashtami Tithi
The eighth form of Goddess Durga, Goddess Mahagauri is to be worshipped on Ashtami Tithi. She is called Mahagauri because of her fair complexion. The prasad of coconut is to be offered to her. Observing fast on that day would please the Goddess and she would bless you with success in all areas of work. The Goddess fulfills the wishes of a woman for having a child who is longing to be a mother for a long time.
Navratri Prasad offered on Navami Tithi
Goddess Siddhidatri, the ninth form of Goddess Durga is to be worshipped on Navami Tithi. The Goddess fulfills all the wishes of the devotees so the name of Goddess is Siddhidatri (Siddhi means accomplishment). The prasad of til or sesame seeds have to be offered to the Goddess and fast has to be observed by the devotees on that day. The Goddess relieves the devotees from the phobia of death and prevents them from accidents.
The nine days of Navratri are considered as the most auspicious days of the year. Chaitra and Shardiya Navratri are very auspicious and hold great spiritual importance in Hindu culture.
According to Hindu Mythology, the Goddess took the special appearance to free Devas from the terror of the demons. The mouth of the Goddess appeared from the grandeur of Lord Shiva and her hair appeared from the splendor of Yamraj. The arms, chest, and waist of the Goddess appeared from Lord Vishnu, Moon and Indra respectively. The thigh and calf were created from the splendor of Varun. Navel, foot, and fingers appeared from the grandeur of Earth, Lord Brahma, and Sun respectively and nose from the grandeur of Kuber, eyebrows from the magnificence of Vayu and teeth and three eyes have appeared from the grandeur of Vayu.
So Navdurga is considered to be the most powerful Goddess and worshipping her fulfills the wishes of the devotees. They are blessed with a healthy and wealthy life. The devotees are advised to bring home Saraswati Yantra during Navratri which would likely aid them in taking a smarter decision in different areas of life.
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