Mahashtami Aarati

Mahashtami, the eighth lunar day. Mahashtami is the most important day of Durga Puja celebrations, with day-long rituals and celebrations. This day is important because it is believed that it was on Mahashtami that Maa Durga had killed Mahishasura the demon. Mahashtami rituals begin early in the morning and continue till late in the night.

The morning and afternoon rituals include an elaborate flower offering – Pushpanjali – to the Goddess, recitation of Mantras and Chandipath, worship of Nabapatrika, Kumari Puja, Yajna and Aarati. The evening rituals on Mahashtami include Sandhya Aarati and Dhunuchi Naach performed by the priest. As the day progresses, the most important ritual of Mahashtami, Sandhi Puja, is performed.

Pushpanjali being offered to Maa Durga

On Mahashtami, children, youth and the elderly – all come together, dressed in their traditional best, to offer Pushpanjali to the Goddess and pray to her for well-being, good health and prosperity of themselves and their loved ones. On this day, all the community members of Durga Puja pandals arrange for a community lunch. The lunch usually consists of vegetarian delicacies, and is intended to bring together people, irrespective of age, gender and social status.

A young girl dressed as Maa Durga for Kumari Puja

Kumari Puja

Kumari Puja is an important ritual performed on Mahashtami. According to the Bengali belief, Durga Puja is celebrated when Maa Durga comes to her paternal house from her heavenly abode, along with her children. During her stay in her parents’ house, the Goddess is worshipped in various forms, one of which is the form or “Kumari”, or a young, virgin girl. The worship of this form of Maa Durga is done on the day of Mahashtami in a ritual called Kumari Puja. Kumari Puja is especially important, because without it, the yajna cannot be completed.

According to the Vedic scriptures of India, Kumari Puja is believed to emphasize on the purity and divinity of the women of the society. Diminishing the larger than life stature of the Goddess to someone much nearer and closer is the real reason for this form of worship. Kumari Puja has been performed since time immemorial. Sri Ramkrishna Paramhans had said that Kumari is another form of Devi Durga and he himself worshipped Sarada Maa as Kumari. To imagine the Goddess in the mould of a Kumari is an age old concept. In Mahabharata Arjuna had performed Kumari Puja. The Puranas mention the Kumari form of Chandika.

For the Kumari Puja, a young girl, who is yet to reach her puberty, with calm, dynamic and serene disposition to match that of Maa Durga is selected. In the dawn of Mahashtami, the Kumari is bathed in Ganga water and is clad in a red Benarasi saree. She is then adorned with flowers and jewelry, “Alta” is applied to her feet and a 'tilak' of vermillion on her forehead. The young Kumari fasts the whole day until the Puja is over.

During the Puja, the Kumari is made to sit on a decorated chair before the goddess and a flower from the Devi's hand is placed in her hand. Placed before her are flowers, bel (wood apple) leaves, incense sticks, lamps, 'noibiddo' and other things required for Puja. The priest then chants the mantras and the sound of Dhaak fill the atmosphere. After the Puja the divinity of the Goddess Durga is said to be seen in the girl. It is customary to gift the girl with gold, silver and clothes after the Puja.

Kumari Puja being performed at Belur Math

Kumari Puja at Belur Math

Kumari Puja is very much prevalent in Belur Math. In 1902, Swami Vivekananda performed Kumari Puja for the first time in Belur. In the premises of the Math, in the mandap, in the presence of Sarada Maa, Swamiji worshipped nine Kumari girls. He offered Pushpanjali at their feet, gave them sweets and 'dakshina' (gift). He touched their feet after the completion of the Puja. Later with meditation and mantras he worshipped Sarada Ma as Goddess Durga. Ever since then, Kumari Puja is a big affair at Belur Math. Thousands and thousands of people gather in the Math premises on Ashtami morning, to worship the Kumari form of Maa Durga, and seek her divine blessings.

108 Deeps lit up for Sandhi Puja

Sandhi Puja

Sandhi Puja is the most important ritual of Mahashtami. An integral part of Durga Puja, Sandhi Puja is performed at the juncture of the 8th and 9th lunar day. Sandhi Puja lasts from the last 24 minutes of Ashtami till the first 24 minutes of Navami. During this juncture (the "Sandhikshan"), Durga is worshipped in her Chamunda form. Maa Durga acquired the name of Chamunda after killing two demons, Chanda and Munda, during Sandhikshan, and hence Sandhikshan marks the worship of Chamunda. After Sandhi Puja, the Mahanavami celebrations begin. Sandhi Puja is an elaborate ritual performed in the late evening of Mahashtami. The Puja is performed amidst beats of Dhaak and sound of conch shells and bells. 108 “Deeps” (earthen lamps) are lighted during Sandhi Puja, and Chamunda is worshipped. “Bali” (sacrifice) is also a very important part of Sandhi Puja. In the earlier days, 108 animals, mostly buffalos and goats, used to be sacrificed for Sandhi Puja. Although the tradition still exists in some places, most Puja organisers have now started sacrificing fruits and vegetables in place of the animals. The items that are sacrificed include “Chalkumro” (pumpkin), cucumber and banana.

Celebrations Galore

The celebrations on Mahashtami begin with the community lunch in the afternoon, which involves the coming together of all people. There are many events, like sit-and-draw competitions, musical shows, dance shows and skits, organised on Mahashtami. On Mahashtami evening, the streets of Kolkata begin resembling a sea of people. Kolkatans spill on the streets in new clothes and finery, and begin visiting Puja pandals. The city does not sleep on Ashtami night, as the pandal hopping continues well past the midnight into the morning of Navami!
Here’s wishing a “Subho Mahashtami” to all from Headlines India!