DEVI NAVARATHIRI - 2013

MAHADEVYAICHA VIDMAHE SARVA SAKTHYAICHA THEEMAHI THANNO DEVI PRACHODAYATH

Navarathiri is here again this year, starting on 5th October through 13th October followed by Vijayadasami on 14th October. We can celebrate by offering prayers on all nine days this year, making prasadams each day as per Day, Thithi, and Star without any overlapping of either star or thithi.
The day one  (5th Oct) is  prathamai , ( from 6.49AM IST) Saturday,and hastham star rules till the evening on that day. Accordingly  puja, on the following 8 days can be performed.
The Mahalaya Amavasya is on 4th October from 7.11 AM (IST). Arranging Dolls (Golu)  and Kalasa stapanam can be done on Friday,4th october as it is considered auspicious day.
The nine days celebration is all about worshiping Tridevi in nine different ways. I am posting the chart in the below link,  which is different from that of last year. The details of the Kolam and recipes for Kizhamai (day) prasadams are posted in my 2011September post in this blog.

https://drive.google.com/open?id=0B1Pi-SCjGqUXc0RGT200Z3NmaGM

Apart from this, it is believed and emphasis is given in offering  the prayer to Goddess Durga on first three days as Devi/Annai takes the form of Durgai with a purpose to kill Madhukaidabar and Mahisasuran. Accordingly second three days prayers are for Devi who takes form of Goddess  Laxmi and accepts Devar thuthi , hears Asura's messenger Sukreeva's message and kills Thumralochana. Finally the third three days Devi prayers are offered to Goddess Saraswathi who takes this form with a purpose to kill Sandamunda, Rakthapejan and Sumbha Nisumbha.
 For those who are not able to perform elaborately following the chart ,I am posting the prasadam (kalanda saadam/mixed rice) to be offered each day so that nine varieties of rice prasadams can be offered during navrathiri.  Also gave the links for the recipes which are useful, for those making for first time. I thank Mrs. Shanthi Krishnakumar for her authentic easy method and for the rare recipes like kalkandu rice and ellu rice prasadams. These can be made in addition to the ones mentioned in chart. 

PRASADAM FOR  GODDESS DURGA

5TH OCT’OBER 2013	LIME RICE - http://shanthisthaligai.blogspot.com/2009/04/lemon-rice.html
6TH OCTOBER 2013	ELLU/SESAME RICE- http://shanthisthaligai.blogspot.com/2009/04/ellorai.html
7TH OCTOBER 2013	CURD RICE- http://shanthisthaligai.blogspot.com/2009/05/bahala-bhath.html

PRASADAM FOR GODDESS LAXMI

8TH OCTOBER 2013	SARKARAI ANNAM/SUGAR RICE
9TH OCTOBER 2013	PAAL ANNAM/MILK RICE
10TH OCTOBER 2013	KALKANDU SAADAM http://shanthisthaligai.blogspot.com/2013/01/kalkandu-sadham-iyengar-style.html

PRASADAM FOR GODDESS SARASWATHI

11TH OCTOBER 2013	VENPONGAL  http://hemakrish-beshanaindiansamayal.blogspot.com/2010/01/gama-gama-pongal.html
12TH OCTOBER 2013	COCONUT RICE http://shanthisthaligai.blogspot.com/2009/08/coconut-rice.html
13TH OCTOBER 2013	PAAL SAADAM/MILK RICE

Let us pray Goddess Durga, Laxmi and Saraswathi on all the nine days and seek the blessings. Chant Durga Ashtotharam  and Laxmi Ashtotharam on all the days, and Saraswathi Ashtotharam and slokas from Sapthami to Navami. Also chant or listen to Lalitha Sahasranamam daily. Offer panakam daily. Inviting guests for thambolam is a practice and we should also visit friends to take thambolam. Kanyas are treated as Devi and offered gifts and eatables. All the nine days will have a festive feel with divine activities everywhere. I wish all a very happy Navrathiri and trust that the information collected and shared by me will be helpful.