No more confusion on what should or shouldn’t be done in Navratri Puja 2021.
Navratri Puja is one of the most sacred occasions in any Hindu household. Navratri in Hindi, is translated as ‘nine nights’, and occurs twice in a year. The Sharada Navratri falls during the months of September to October, and the Chaitra Navratri is observed during March- April. This year, Chaitra Navratri is going to be observed from 13th April 2021, Tuesday to 22nd April 2021, Thursday. Since this auspicious puja is going to be held for 9 days and nights, you might be left wondering about the procedure of doing a Navratri Puja by yourself at home. We’ll explain the significance of the puja and how you can do it.
The Hindu Goddess Durga is worshipped during the 9 days of Navratri puja. The 9 days are dedicated to worshipping the 9 forms of Maa Durga.
Here is a list of the 9 forms of Durga to worship during the Navratri puja.
| Day of Puja | Date in 2021 | Prominent Goddess to be Worshipped |
| Day 1 | 13/ 04/ 2021 | Shilaputri |
| Day 2 | 14/ 04/ 2021 | Brahmacharni |
| Day 3 | 15/ 05/ 2021 | Chandraghanta |
| Day 4 | 16/ 04/ 2021 | Kushmanda |
| Day 5 | 17/ 04/ 2021 | Skandamata |
| Day 6 | 18/ 04/ 2021 | Katyayani |
| Day 7 | 19/ 04/ 2021 | Kalratri |
| Day 8 | 20/ 04/ 2021 | Mahagauri |
| Day 9 | 21/ 04/ 2021 | Siddhidatri |
Preparing for the Puja
Goddess Durga embodies compassion, power, wisdom and glory. She blesses devotees with courage and affluence. When doing the household puja, the household must perform Kalash Sthapana on the first day of puja, also known as the installation of the sacred puja pot.
Next on the ground, spread a piece of red cloth. Place a picture or idol of Maa Durga on it and spread some red soil before it in a block shape. Spray the soil with water, and sow some barley seeds on it. Place an earthen pot in the centre of the sand block with some Ganga Jal and roli poured in it. On the mouth of the pot/ kalash, place a few twigs of mango leaves and cover it with a lid. Add rice on the lid and wrap a coconut with red cloth, then place it on the lid.
Everyday Navratri Puja 2021 Process
Light a diya/ lamp and some incense sticks. Offer red flowers, hibiscus if you can find it, to Maa Durga. Then put a tika on the idol or picture of Maa Durga- the tika is to be made of either kumkum/ vermillion or chandan/ sandalwood or haldi/ turmeric paste. During the puja, sprinkle water on the barley seeds you have sown. Offer fruits and desserts to Maa Durga, prepared specially for her. Perform an arati in her worship and then, distribute the Prasad and the offerings you made to Maa Durga between the attendees of the puja and your family members. This puja is to be done every day during the 9 days of the puja.
Visarjan on the 10th day of the Puja
Visarjan is done to give a send off to Maa Durga on the 10th day of the puja. Do the puja as mentioned before. After the puja, sprinkle the kalash water in all the rooms of the house. Feed the rice on the kalash lid to the birds. Barley seeds would have grown well in the 10 days, place them under a tree in your garden.