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Sharadiya Navaratri (Bengali Durga Puja)

Maa Durga (Mahishasuramardini)

Shakta

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Sharadiya Navaratri — the autumn nine nights of Devi, peaking with Bengali Durga Puja from Maha Shashti through Vijayadashami. Asvina Shukla Pratipada to Navami. The Devi Mahatmyam is recited continuously across pandals from Bengal to Mumbai. Days 1-3 invoke Durga (warrior shakti), Days 4-6 invoke Lakshmi (prosperity shakti), Days 7-9 invoke Saraswati (wisdom shakti).

Dates 2026–2027

October 11, 2026October 12, 2026October 13, 2026October 14, 2026October 15, 2026October 16, 2026October 17, 2026October 18, 2026October 19, 2026October 20, 2026September 30, 2027October 1, 2027October 2, 2027October 3, 2027October 4, 2027October 5, 2027October 6, 2027October 7, 2027October 8, 2027October 9, 2027

Mantra

या देवी सर्वभूतेषु शक्तिरूपेण संस्थिता। नमस्तस्यै नमस्तस्यै नमस्तस्यै नमो नमः॥

Ya devi sarva-bhuteshu shakti-rupena samsthita | Namastasyai namastasyai namastasyai namo namah ||

To the Devi who abides in all beings as shakti — salutations, salutations, salutations to her, again and again. (Devi Mahatmyam, the central Shakta scripture)

How to recite

Recite the entire Devi Mahatmyam (700 verses, also called Durga Saptashati or Chandi Path) — once per day for nine days, or as an Akhand Path (continuous reading) during the last three days. Set up a ghatasthapana on Day 1 with kalash, sown barley, and Devi murti or photo. Maintain strict fast on Saptami, Ashtami (Maha Ashtami), and Navami.

Benefits

Sharadiya Navaratri is the spiritual centre of the Shakta year. Maa Durga descends to her parental home (Earth) for these nine days. Devi-Mahatmyam parayan during Navaratri is held to confer protection from all eight forms of fear. Bengal celebrates this as the largest festival of the year — every neighbourhood erects a pandal with elaborate Durga murti.

✦ Special Note

Maha Shashti (Day 6 — Bodhon, the awakening of Durga) marks the start of Bengali Durga Puja. Maha Ashtami (Day 8) is the most powerful with Sandhi Puja. Vijayadashami (Day 10, immediately after) sees the immersion (visarjan) of Durga murtis. Dates per the Gupta Press Panjika (guptapresspanjika.org — the standard Bengali almanac since 1869), following its Amanta (Bengali) lunar convention with months ending on Amavasya (new moon), as used for Kali worship and dark-fortnight rituals; cross-checked against astronomical tithi computation.

Foods Allowed

Phalahar — fresh fruits of all kinds (banana, apple, mango, pomegranate, papaya)Milk, curd, ghee, panchamrit, paneerSabudana khichdi and kheerKuttu atta puri with aloo sabzi (sendha namak)Singhara halwaRajgira (amaranth) ladooSama (samvat) rice kheer and pulaoBhog: khichuri (turmeric khichdi), labra (mixed vegetables), payesh (rice pudding), niramish dishes (Bengali no-onion-no-garlic style)Coconut and coconut-laddooSendha namak only — no regular salt during the nine days

Foods to Avoid

Onion, garlic, brinjal — strictly avoided through NavaratriAll grains on Saptami / Ashtami / Navami if fasting strictlyRegular salt (sendha only)Meat, fish, eggs, alcohol — never during NavaratriTamasic foods — leftover or stale

Meal Idea

Phalahar (fruits + milk + sendha namak dishes) through the day; Bengali bhog of khichuri-labra-payesh-bhaja for the noon Devi naivedya; coconut-laddoo and kheer for evening sandhya-arati.

🪔 Aarti

Jai Ambe Gauri

जय अम्बे गौरी, मैया जय श्यामा गौरी । तुमको निशिदिन ध्यावत, हरि ब्रह्मा शिवरी ॥ मांग सिंदूर विराजत, टीको मृगमद को । उज्जवल से दोऊ नैना, चंद्रवदन नीको ॥ कनक समान कलेवर, रक्ताम्बर राजे । रक्त पुष्प गल माला, कंठन पर साजे ॥ केहरि वाहन राजत, खड्ग खप्पर धारी । सुर-नर-मुनिजन सेवत, तिनके दुखहारी ॥ कानन कुंडल शोभित, नासाग्रे मोती । कोटिक चंद्र दिवाकर, राजत सम ज्योति ॥ शुम्भ-निशुम्भ बिदारे, महिषासुर घाती । धूम्र विलोचन नैना, निशिदिन मदमाती ॥ चंड-मुंड संहारे, शोणित बीज हरे । मधु-कैटभ दोऊ मारे, सुर भयहीन करे ॥ ब्रह्माणी रुद्राणी तुम, कमला रानी । अगम निगम बखानी, तुम शिव पटरानी ॥ चौंसठ योगिनी मंगल गावत, नृत्य करत भैरूं । बाजत ताल मृदंगा, अरु बाजत डमरू ॥ तुम ही जग की माता, तुम ही हो भरता । भक्तन की दुख हर्ता, सुख सम्पत्ति करता ॥ भुजा चार अति शोभित, वरमुद्रा धारी । मनवांछित फल पावत, सेवत नर नारी ॥ कंचन थाल विराजत, अगर कपूर बाती । श्री अम्बेजी की आरती जो कोई नर गावे, कहत शिवानंद स्वामी सुख-सम्पत्ति पावे ॥

Ambe Tu Hai Jagdambe Kali

अम्बे तू है जगदम्बे काली, जय दुर्गे खप्पर वाली । तेरे ही गुण गावें भारती, ओ मैया हम सब उतारें तेरी आरती ॥ तेरे भक्त जनों पर माता, भीड़ पड़ी है भारी । दानव दल पर टूट पड़ो मां, करके सिंह सवारी ॥ सौ-सौ सिंहों से बलशाली, है अष्ट भुजाओं वाली, दुष्टों को तू ही ललकारती ॥ मां-बेटे का है इस जग में, बड़ा ही निर्मल नाता । पूत-कपूत सुने हैं पर ना, माता सुनी कुमाता ॥ सब पे करुणा दर्शाने वाली, अमृत बरसाने वाली, दुखियों के दुखड़े निवारती ॥ नहीं मांगते धन और दौलत, ना चांदी ना सोना । हम तो मांगे तेरे चरणों में, एक छोटा सा कोना ॥ सबकी बिगड़ी बनाने वाली, लाज बचाने वाली, सतियों के सत को संवारती ॥ चरण शरण में खड़े तुम्हारी, ले पूजा की थाली । वरद हस्त सर पर रख दो मां, संकट हरने वाली ॥ मां भर दो भक्ति रस प्याली, अष्ट भुजाओं वाली, भक्तों के कारज तू ही सारती ॥

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