Durga Puja

Dashami at Belur Math on 19 October 2018 In the morning a brief Puja, Shital bhog (cooling food offering) and Arati are first done.  Then the Pujari and Tantradharak circumambulate the altar and perform the visarjan ritual.  In this…

As in Ashtami, during Navami also Mahasnan and Shodashopacharapuja are offered to Devi. In addition, bali and Homa are performed. In Belur Math for bali white pumpkin and sugarcane are offered. The Homa (fire sacrifice) is a combination of…

Photos of Durga Puja on Ashtami tithi at Belur Math on 17 October 2018 As on Saptami, on Ashtami also, Mahasnan and Shodashopacharapuja are done.  In addition, nine small pots with flags of different colours attached are installed and…

Sandhi Puja :  The last 24 minutes of Ashtami and the first 24 minutes of Navami (a total of 48 minutes between the two lunar days) constitute the Sandhi or ”Sacred Juncture”.  It is considered to be a most auspicious time.  At this time…

Kumari Puja :  Worship of a young girl, treating her as Devi, is also a part of Ashtami Puja.  Sri Ramakrishna has said that the Divine Mother manifests herself more in a pure-hearted girl and that is why Kumari Puja is done.  He used to…

Saptami Puja at Belur Math, on 16 October 2018. Saptami Puja The important point to note here is that a living medium is necessary to invoke the indwelling  of a deity.  It is through a living medium that Divinity manifests itself. …

Adhivas and Amantran on the Shasthi Tithi, at Belur Math, during Durga Puja on 15 Oct 2018. Adhivas and Amantran : These rites follow Bodhan. Adhivas means ”invocation”. Through Bodhan the Devi has awakened: now the awakened Devi has to…

Kalparambha on the Shasthi Tithi, at Belur Math, during Durga Puja on 15 Oct 2018. Kalparambha is a ritual done early in the morning of shasthi tithi during Durga Puja. It is mainly an act of making the samkalpa or “sacramental…