Mahasashti evening at the puja mandap next to the Krishibid Institute in Khamarbari, the capital. Photo: Collected
One of the most important dates of the autumn Durga festival is Maha Saptami on Saturday (October 17). However, this year, the seventh date in the cycle of dates will be tomorrow as well.
According to the religious beliefs of the followers of Sanatan Dharma, the seventh day of the autumn Durga festival is a significant day for worshipping Goddess Durga’s power, goodness, and destruction of evil forces.
Devotees will pray to the Goddess for peace, prosperity, and well-being for their families, society, and countrymen.
On the morning of the first day of Maha Saptami, the main rituals of the day will be performed according to the scriptures, with the Navapatrika Snan (bathing) and entry into the puja mandap.
In common parlance, Nabapatrika is known as ‘Kalabau’. Nabapatrika is prepared by combining nine plants: banana tree, kachu tree, yellow tree, jayanti, bell, pomegranate, ashoka, mankachu and rice tree.
According to the scriptures, the Navapatrika is bathed and installed in a specific place in the puja mandapa.
The Navapatrika Puja reflects a deep connection between goddess worship and nature and the plant world.
This bath is performed for the idol reflected in the mirror using various holy water and materials as per the rules of worship.
Later, the ritual of invoking the divine presence of the goddess through specific mantras and rituals is performed, which is known as Pran Pratthi.
In the Saptami Puja, Goddess Durga is worshipped according to the traditional scriptural rules, including the sixteen rituals. Devotees will offer their devotion and prayers at the feet of the Goddess today through chanting mantras, offering flowers, offering food and performing aarti.
After the morning puja, devotees will offer flowers and betel leaves at the feet of the goddess.
Devotees and visitors of all ages, including men, women, children and teenagers, will gather at the puja mandap to seek the goddess’s blessings.
The festive atmosphere will spread throughout the day as devotees and visitors walk from temple to temple.
Maha Saptami will be celebrated with worship, distribution of prasad, and religious events at various mandap.
In the evening, a Sandhyarati will be held with incense, lamps and other religious items. The atmosphere of the mandap will be filled with the sounds of bells, conch shells and drums.