India ek festival country hai, jahan har mahine koi na koi tyohar manaya jata hai. Lekin jab baat aati hai Navratri ki, toh iske rang aur bhakti alag hi hote hain. Navratri ka matlab hai “Nau Raaten”, jo poori tarah se Maa Durga ke 9 roopon ko samarpit hoti hain.
Har saal do baar Navratri manayi jati hai – Chaitra Navratri (March–April) aur Sharad Navratri (September–October). Dono ka mahatva apna-apna hai, lekin Sharad Navratri zyada popular hai aur Bharat ke har kone mein bade utsah se manayi jati hai.
Aayiye, is blog mein detail mein samajhte hain Navratri Pooja ka mahatva, iske rituals, fasting aur cultural celebrations ke baare mein.
Navratri ka Mahatva
Navratri Maa Durga ke shakti swaroop ko yaad karne ka samay hai. Hindu dharm granthon ke hisaab se, Maa Durga ne asur Mahishasura se 9 din tak yudh kiya tha aur 10ve din usse harakar dharti par shanti sthapit ki thi. Isi din ko Vijayadashami ya Dussehra ke roop mein manaya jata hai.
Navratri ke 9 din Maa ke 9 roopon ko arpit hote hain:
Shailputri – Himalaya ki beti
Brahmacharini – Tapasya aur tyag ka pratik
Chandraghanta – Shaanti aur veerta ki devi
Kushmanda – Srishti ki rachayita
Skandamata – Kartikeya ki maa
Katyayani – Yoddha roop
Kaalratri – Raksha aur bhay ko door karne wali
Mahagauri – Shuddhata aur shanti ka pratik
Siddhidatri – Siddhiyon ki devi
Navratri Pooja ki Taiyari
Pooja shuru karne se pehle proper preparation zaroori hoti hai.
Pooja Samagri:
Maa Durga ki murti ya photo
Kalash (copper/earthen pot)
Nariyal aur aam ke patte
Lal chunari aur vastra
Pushp, haar aur agarbatti
Deepak (diya) aur ghee/tel
Panchamrit (doodh, dahi, ghee, shahad, shakkar)
Moli, roli, chawal, chandan
Phal, mishri, dry fruits aur bhog ki items
Barley (jau) ke beej
Navratri Pooja Vidhi (Step by Step)
1. Kalash Sthapana (Ghatasthapana)
Navratri ke pehle din Kalash sthapit kiya jata hai. Kalash ko paani se bharke, us par aam ke patte aur nariyal rakha jata hai. Ye shakti aur samriddhi ka pratik hai.
2. Maa Durga ka Aavahan
Maa Durga ki murti ya photo ko mandir mein sthapit karke, phool chadhaye jaate hain, diya jalaya jata hai aur mantr jaap kiya jata hai – “Om Dum Durgaye Namah”.
3. Daily Pooja aur Bhajan
Har din Maa ke alag roop ki pooja ki jati hai. Diya jalana, agarbatti, phool, aur prasad arpan karna anivarya hota hai. Log Durga Chalisa aur Durga Saptashati ka paath bhi karte hain.
4. Navratri Vrat
Fasting Navratri ka important part hai. Kuch log pura 9 din sirf falahaar par rehte hain, kuch ek time vrat ka khana lete hain – jaise kuttu ki puri, singhare ka halwa, sabudana khichdi. Isse sharir detox hota hai aur man pavitra banta hai.
5. Kanya Poojan (Kanjak)
Ashtami ya Navami ke din 7 ya 9 chhoti kanyaon ko bulaya jata hai. Unke paav dhoke, tilak karke unki pooja ki jati hai. Unhe puri, chana, halwa aur chhoti si gift di jati hai. Ye kanyayein Maa Durga ka swaroop maani jati hain.
6. Vijayadashami ke Din Visarjan
Navratri ke ant mein Kalash aur jau ko visarjit kiya jata hai. Jau ko prasad ke roop mein ghar ke members khate hain ya logon mein baant dete hain.
Navratri Vrat ka Mahatva
Navratri ka vrat sirf bhookh na rehne ka process nahi hai, balki ek spiritual discipline hai. Iske fayde:
Sharir detox hota hai
Mann aur ichchhaon par control milta hai
Positive energy increase hoti hai
Maa ki kripa aur ashirwad prapt hote hain
Cultural Celebrations
Navratri sirf pooja aur vrat tak simit nahi hai. Yeh ek cultural festival bhi hai jisme log community gatherings karte hain.
Garba aur Dandiya: Gujarat aur Maharashtra mein log rang-birangi dress pehen kar dandiya aur garba karte hain.
Durga Puja: Bengal mein is samay grand pandals banaye jaate hain, jahan Durga Maa ki murti sthapit hoti hai aur cultural programs hote hain.
Ram Leela aur Dussehra: Uttar Bharat mein Ram Leela ka natak hota hai aur Vijayadashami ke din Ravan dahan hota hai.
Spiritual Benefits of Navratri Pooja
Maa Durga ki shakti aur raksha prapt hoti hai
Jeevan mein safalta aur samriddhi aati hai
Bhay aur pareshaniyan door hoti hain
Health aur peace of mind milta hai
Atma mein shuddhi aur positivity aati hai
Navratri Ko Aur Pavitra Banane Ke Tips
Subah jaldi uthkar snan karke pooja karein
Har din diya aur agarbatti jalayein
Maa ko fresh phool aur prasad chadhayein
Durga Chalisa ya mantr ka paath karein
Garib aur zaruratmand ko khana khilayein
Bacchon aur family members ko bhi rituals mein include karein
Conclusion
Navratri ek aisa festival hai jo bhakti, utsav aur discipline ka perfect combination hai. 9 din tak Maa Durga ke alag-alag roop ki pooja karke hum apne jeevan mein positivity, shakti aur safalta ko invite karte hain.
Chahe aap vrat karein, pooja karein ya cultural events mein shamil ho, Navratri ka asli maqsad Maa Durga ki sharan mein aakar apne jeevan ko better banana hai.
Is Navratri, Maa Durga se prarthana karein ki wo har ghar mein sukh, samriddhi aur shanti laaye.
✨ Aapko aur aapke parivaar ko Navratri ki dher saari shubhkamnayein! ✨