Durga Navratri Puja In South Indian States
Posted on September 29, 2008 in Festivals by naveen
In South Indian states, Durga Navratri is the most auspicious festive season. During Durga Navratri, Durga Devi temples are decorated with sparkling lights and flowers. Durga mandaps are established with the idols of Durga Mata that are made up of clay or plaster of paris. Devotees worship the idol of Goddess Durga throughout the Navratri and immerse the idol in water.
Durga Navratri In Mysore :
Dasara celebrations of Mysore are the most popular among all Navratri celebrations of South India. In the temple of Mata Chamundeshwari which is located in Chamundi Hills of Mysore, the Durga Navratri Puja is celebrated. Chamundeshwari Devi is one of the ‘Astadasha Shakti Peeta’ ( 18 most sacred temples of Goddess Shakti).
Navratri is celebrated in Mysore Maharaja Palace with tremendous cultural values of Mysore Maharajas.One of the highlights of the festival is Dussehra celebrations in Mysore Maharaja palace. On the day of Vijaya Dashami, marching of elephants together in a procession makes you feel the cultural essence of Karnataka, especially of Mysore dynasty.
Durga Navratri In Andhra Pradesh :
In many sacred towns of Andhra Pradesh, Durga Navratri is celerbated. Devi Kanaka Durga temple of Vijayawada, Bramarambika temple of Srisailam, Gnana Saraswati Temple of Basar (Vasara) and Badrakali temple of Hanamkonda (Warangal ) are the popular temples that celerbate Navratri with utmost devotion.
Devotees observe ‘Bhavani Deeksha’ (a strict observance for a period of time to please Goddess Kanaka Durga). On Dasara (Vijaya Dashami), the devotees withdraw the ‘Bhavani Deeksha’.
As the culture of South Indian states is different from North Indian states, the nine forms of Goddess Durga that are worshipped during Navratri are also different in South India. The given below are the nine forms of Durga that are worshipped during Navratri in South Indian temples.
The 9 forms of Durga in Vijayawada Kanaka Durga temple with date and day of worship in 2008 :
Date - Day - Alankaram / Form / Manifestation
30th September - Tuesday - Sri Swarna Kavachalankrita Durga Devi
1st October - Wednesday - Sri Bala Tripura Sundari Devi
2nd October - Thursday - Sri Gayathri Devi
3rd October - Friday - Sri Annapurna Devi
4th October - Saturday - Sri Laitha Tripura Sundari Devi
5th October - Sunday - Sri Maha Lakshmi Devi
6th October - Monday - Sri Sarasawati Devi
7th October - Tuesday - Sri Durga Devi
8th October - Wednesday - Sri Mahishasura Mardhini
9th October - Thursday - Sri Raja Rajeshwari Devi
Navratri Puja in Other Temples of South India :
Karnataka :
Mookambika Devi Temple, Kollur; VidyaShankara Temple, Sringeri; Sri Durga Parameshwari Temple, Kateel; Annapurneshwari Temple, Horanadu; Marikamba Temple, Sirsi; BanaShankari Temple, Badami.
Tamilnadu :
Meenakshi Temple, Madurai; Bhagawati Temple, Kanyakumari; Kamakshi Temple, Kancheepuram.
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