The Shardiya Navratri Durga Pooja celebrates the Goddess’s annual return, symbolising strength and protection against evil. The nine-day festival involves rituals, prayers, and artistic displays of divine idols, culminating in Vijayadashmi. It emphasises women’s power, collective devotion, and respect for nature while fostering community belief in peace and harmony.
Table of contents
Key Takeaways
- Shardiya Navratri Durga Pooja celebrates the Goddess’s strength and protection against evil over nine days.
- The festival highlights women’s power, community devotion, and respect for nature, culminating in Vijayadashmi.
- Devotees worship the Goddess through rituals, dances, and artistic displays, fostering a pious atmosphere.
- The observance includes self-purification, thanksgiving, and a commitment to preserving the environment.
- Overall, the festival emphasizes harmony and the triumph of good over evil in a vibrant cultural setting.
“Ya Devi Sarvbhuteshu…”
“Yā Devi Sarvbhuteshu,
Shakti Rupen
Sansthitā…” These words hold special significance during the Shardiya Navratri Durga Pooja. The devotees sing in praise of the goddess. They bow to the goddess who resides as power in every being.
Photograph by Author
Goddess visit
She visits annually. It is believed that she comes to her maternal home. With her universal presence, she is felt everywhere in the ambience. Mother’s smile blooms beautifully and is felt in the fragrant flowers. The crisp air is laden with the aroma of scented smoke coming out of the altars. Resounding hymns, the tinkling of temple bells, and the blowing of conch shells create a pious and devotional atmosphere.
Photograph by Author
Epitome of valour
Mother Goddess is the epitome of valour and courage, who saves humanity from the dreadful forces. Demonic dreadful forces try to destroy harmony. Multidextrous and agile, the mother is the omnipotent female incarnation of the Almighty. Armed with the powers of all deities, she annihilates devilish forces and protects righteous ones.
Women power
Goddess Durga, a condensed monolith of strength and valour, possesses divine power to destroy the satanic forces. She signifies “Women Power” capable of doing tough tasks. It is She who is everywhere, in every action: slumber, devotion, power, and knowledge.
Sanatan tradition
In the Sanatan tradition, women are revered as goddesses. She is the Goddess of wisdom and wealth. As a mother, she takes care of her children. She nourishes them and educates them for a better understanding of things. This helps them cope with the adversities of life. Just as a lioness gently lifts her cubs, the mother carries her children with tender care. She expresses her deep love.
The festival
The annual festival of Shardiya Navratri Durga Pooja lasts for nine days. It is a period of devotion, prayer, and penance. This time purifies the soul. Observance of a strict routine is the cornerstone of festivities. Artistic idols of the Goddess in her full glory are established on the sixth day. Grand worship begins from Mahasaptami, the seventh day. The day after is the most pious and important, Mahasthami, the eighth day. The devotion is marked by “Kumāri Pōja”, an important ritual. (Poojasthan)
Worship
Photograph by Author
The most spectacular is the occasion of “Aārti”. Devotees dance and carry out the ritual with the priest on the beats of drums, waving a fired clay pot. People dance, worship and offer oblation to the Supreme Mother with Saraswati, Goddess of wisdom and Lakshmi, Goddess of wealth. They are all accompanied by Lord Ganesha and Kartikeya.
Photograph by Author
Beating “Dhak”
The beating of Dhāk (a type of drum decorated with white plumage) reverberates in the surroundings. Dhak belongs to the membranophone family of musical instruments. Built with wood of Dhak (Butea monosperma), it is a double-sided drum.
Goddess annihilated demon
Goddess fought for nine consecutive nights and annihilated the vast army of the demon king Hirnākashayap. She ultimately decapitated the atrocious cacodemon to the relief of demigods and righteous people.
Vijayadashmi
Shārdīya Navratri culminates on Vijayadashmi or the tenth day of victory. It is the day of victory of good over evil, a victory of righteousness over demonic forces.
“Pooja Pandals”
Tastefully decorated eye-catching “Pooja Pandāl” are special spots to visit. They offer “Darshan” (devotional viewing) of the Goddess in her full glory.
Photograph by Author
Consecration
The nine days of worship, fast, and oblation reach a devotional crescendo during Shardiya Navratri Durga Pooja. Tastefully crafted, beautiful idols are consecrated in decorated pavilions. This is for divine viewing and public worship (Sārvajanēn Durga Puja).
Assurance of peace and harmony
She is here in every form, in every action. A devotee prays and offers oblations to her. She is here as strength, dignity, honesty, respect, and reverence in everyone. She assures peace and harmony in the lives of devotees and annihilates evil forces to create a righteous society.
Photograph by Author
Festivities
The festivities, which start with Navratri, culminate with Deepawali, Bhai Dooj, Goverdhan and Chhath Pooja. The Festival of Lights, Deepawali, is celebrated about twenty days after Vijayadashmi. It is marked with religious fervour and gaiety.
Time for self-purification
It is a time of collective prayer, devotion and self-purification by spiritual uplifting. This is a season of harvesting. The sun starts to become mild with cosy warmth. It is the season of harvesting and threshing the crop.
Thanksgiving
Every festival is a reminder of our existence. It allows us to thank the Almighty for His bounties. We pay respect to Him for all that helps us to keep ourselves fit and healthy.
Respect Nature
Let us keep our environment clean, salubrious and healthy, for we are the custodians of it. It is our collective heritage, and protecting heritage is everyone’s duty. Let us inculcate a sense of respect for Nature and pass on a clean, green planet to our children.
Photograph by Author
Has the Divine presence touched your heart, and you liked it? Please do comment. I’d love to hear your story.
Further interesting reads:
-END-
Kamal Kishore Srivastava
A retired government officer turned writer and photographer, Kamal Kishore Srivastava is a regular blogger and essayist who explores life’s deeper meanings through immersive reflections on nature, impermanence, and happiness. On his blog Nature’s Narrative, he blends philosophical storytelling with practical insights. Writing 1200–1500 or more words regularly, Kamal is committed to refining his craft, expanding his audience, and building a sustainable space where thought and feeling meet.
Leave a Reply