Durga Puja in Varanasi

Durga Puja samagri list

• Durga idol or picture
• Red cloth and red chunri
• Kalash, mango leaves and coconut
• Sindoor, kumkum, haldi and akshat
• Shringar items (bangles, bindi, mehndi, comb)
• Red hibiscus and other red flowers
• Garland of marigold or roses
• Ghee lamp, cotton wicks and camphor
• Incense and dhoop
• Panchamrit and Ganga jal
• Betel leaves, supari and cloves
• Fruits and sweets for bhog
• Durga Saptashati book, if the family keeps one

The Pandit confirms the final list for your family's vidhi, and Pandit ji can arrange the samagri in Varanasi at an additional cost, agreed after discussion.

Durga Puja vidhi, step by step

1. 1Setting the altar. A red cloth is spread on the chowki with an idol or picture of Maa Durga, a kalash, a ghee lamp and red flowers.
2. 2Ganesh Pujan and sankalp. Ganesha is worshipped first, then the Pandit takes the sankalp with the family's names, gotra and intention.
3. 3Kalash sthapana and Devi avahan. The kalash is established and the Goddess is invoked into the idol or image with Vedic and Tantric mantras as per tradition.
4. 4Shodashopachara and shringar. Maa Durga is offered snan, red chunri, sindoor, bangles and shringar items, hibiscus flowers, incense and lamp.
5. 5Saptashati or Chalisa path. Selected chapters of the Durga Saptashati, the Devi Kavach or Durga Chalisa are recited, depending on the chosen vidhi.
6. 6Naivedya and aarti. Bhog such as halwa, puri, chana and fruits is offered, followed by aarti and pushpanjali.
7. 7Kshama prarthana. The puja closes with a prayer asking forgiveness for any shortcomings and distribution of prasad.