Navratri Puja in Varanasi

Navratri Puja samagri list

• Clay pot or tray, clean soil and barley (jau) for sowing
• Kalash, mango leaves, coconut and red cloth
• Durga idol or picture
• Red chunri and shringar items
• Akhand jyoti lamp with ghee or oil
• Red flowers and marigold garlands
• Roli, sindoor, haldi and akshat
• Coins, supari and betel leaves
• Durga Saptashati book
• Incense, dhoop and camphor
• Fruits and sweets for daily bhog
• Halwa, puri and black chana for Kanya Pujan
• Havan kund and havan samagri for Navami
• Ganga jal

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.

Navratri Puja vidhi, step by step

1. 1Ghatasthapana. On Pratipada, within the muhurat, a clay bed is prepared with sown barley and a kalash is established with water, coins, mango leaves and a coconut wrapped in red cloth.
2. 2Sankalp for the nine days. The Pandit takes a sankalp for the entire Navratri observance with the family's names, gotra and intention.
3. 3Akhand jyoti (optional). A continuous ghee or oil lamp is lit and tended throughout the nine days, if the family keeps this custom.
4. 4Daily Navadurga puja. Each day the relevant form of the Goddess is worshipped with flowers, offerings and aarti, following the traditional sequence.
5. 5Durga Saptashati or Chalisa path. Chapters of the Durga Saptashati, the Devi Kavach, Argala and Keelak, or the Durga Chalisa are recited daily as per the chosen vidhi.
6. 6Kanya Pujan. On Ashtami or Navami, young girls (traditionally nine) and often a boy as Langur or Bhairav are honoured with foot-washing, tilak, halwa-puri-chana and gifts.
7. 7Havan and visarjan. A havan is performed on Navami, followed by aarti, and the kalash and sprouted barley are respectfully concluded on Dashami as per custom.