Kanya Puja 2021: Significance and puja vidhi
Here is all you need to know about the significance, puja vidhi and other details regarding the Kanya Puja or Kanjak Puja 2021.
Navaratri has a significant ritual known as Kanya Pujan which worships little girls representing the avatars of Goddess Durga. It is also said that Goddess Durga incarnated as a young girl to defeat the demon Kalasura. Therefore, they are considered to have universal creative forces on this day.
Kanya puja is also known as Kanjak puja and is mostly performed on the eighth and the ninth day of Navaratri. Nine little girls are worshipped as the nine avatars of Goddess Durga, called Navadurga.
This ritual of Kanya Puja is observed across India in the regions of Delhi, Punjab, Haryana, Uttrakhand, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, and Bihar. Some states perform this ritual on Ram Navami.
Kanya Puja Significance:
On this day, devotees perform fast by inviting little girls to their houses. It is believed that performing this ritual will pay gratitude to the Supreme Goddess. The little girls who have not hit puberty are worshipped as the embodiment of the nine divine forms of Goddess Durga: Brahmacharini, Andraghanta, Kusamanda, Skandamata, Katyayani, Kalarati, Mahagauri, and Siddhidatri. Nowadays, even little boys accompany girls on Kanjak.
As per the Devi Bhagwat Purana, it is believed that the ninth day of Navaratri fulfills the prayers of the devotees. And the ones who follow the nine-day fast worship girl children at the end of Navaratri.
It is also said that worshipping a single girl is showered with good fortune, two blessed with perception and salvation, and three girls give merit. Followed by worshipping four to five girls, children favor authority and knowledge and nine Kanya puja are believed to grace with supremacy.
Kanya Puja rituals or Puja vidhi:
- Puja starts by welcoming young girls to the devotee’s homes.
- Their feet are washed and made to sit on the pedestal.
- Kalawa, the holy thread, is tied on the wrist with a red Kumkum on the forehead.
- Special food is prepared with puri, Kala chana, coconut, and halwa.
- Gifts are offered to the young little girls like dupattas, bangles, and new clothes.
- They are also given money by touching the feet of the little girls to seek blessings.
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