Maha Navmi 2021
Maha Navmi is the ninth day of Navratri celebrated in India and abroad as well. Navratri is a Hindu festival celebrated for 9 days. There are four Navratris namely — Shardiya Navratri, Chaitra Navratri, Magh Navratri and Ashadh Navratri but Shardiya Navratri is mostly commonly celebrated festival wherein each day of Navratri is having different significance and rituals to be followed. It is celebrated in the bright half of the Hindu calendar month Ashwin, which generally falls in the Gregorian months of September and October.
Maha Navmi 2021 Date and Timings:
This year Shardiya Navratri is from 7th October till 15th October, hence Maha Navmi is celebrated on 14th October 2021 for which timings are mentioned below:
Navami Tithi Begins — 08:07 PM on Oct 13, 2021
Navami Tithi Ends — 06:52 PM on Oct 14, 2021
Maha Navmi meaning and Why is Maha Navami celebrated?
Maha Navami is a spiritual festival dedicated to the Goddess Durga and her nine avatars. Maha Navmi is the ninth day of Navratri , the last day of Navratri. It is believed that on this day Maa Durga took the avatar of Mahishasurmardini which means “Annihilator of the Demon Mahishasura” to destroy demon Mahishasura who was spreading terror in the world.
According to legend, the battle of Maa Durga with demon Mahishasura continued for nine days and she killed him on the ninth day. Maa Durga is worshipped as a form of Mahashakti and with her blessings everyone can triumph over evil.
How is Maha Navmi celebrated ? / Durga Maha Navami Puja 2021 :-
On Durga Navmi one of the important rituals is Navmi-yajna, performed by Brahmins while chanting different mantras. After that red chunni, coconuts, flowers, fruits and milk are offered to Maa Durga. A prasadam of Halwa, Puri, Chana and different fruits is distributed to devotees after the yajna.
Devotees also perform Kanya pooja by welcoming nine girls at home, washing their feet, applying Kumkum on their forehead and offering them Prasadam of Puri, chana , sweets, halwa, coconut. Also chunri, new clothes, bengals, etc. are given to them. After that devotees take blessings by touching their feet. Worshipping girls on Maha Navmi of Navratri is considered very auspicious and gives a lot of merits.
Prernamurti Bharti Shriji performing Kanya Pooja
How to observe fast on Maha Navmi ?
On Navratri, devotees observe fast for nine days and break it on Dussehra, 10th day. But those who cannot observe fast for nine days, they should observe it on first day and last day i.e. Maha Navmi. Also, devotees can fast on the last three days of Navratri on Saptami, Ashtami and Navmi. It is said that fasting on the last three days is equivalent to observing fast for all nine days. During fasting, devotees can eat fruits, dry fruits , Moraiya (Samo Rice), take light food and chant Maa Durga mantra and Durgaashtakam.
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Related Links :-
Navratri :-
https://prernamurti.medium.com/शारदीय-नवरात्रि-07-से-14-अक्टूबर-2021-e2d1e9bc22ec
Durga Ashtami :-
