Chaitra Navratri 2024: Kanjak Puja Date And Timing And Other Important Details

Chaitra Navratri Kanya Puja 2024 Date and Time: Navratri is a festival that's dedicated to the nine incarnations of Maa Durga. During the nine-day-long festival, devotees try to seek the divine blessings of Goddess Durga with abundant prayers and making several offerings.

Known as Navratri, meaning "nine nights," each day of the festival is dedicated to one avatar of Goddess Durga. The nine forms of the Goddess are - Shailputri, Brahmacharini, Chandraghanta, Kushmanda, Skandamata, Katyayani, Kaalratri, Mahagauri, and Siddhidatri. Chaitra Navratri begins on April 9th and concludes on April 17th this year.

The festival of Navratri comes to an end with Ashtami and Navmi puja. On the eighth day of Navratri, the eighth manifestation of Maa Durga called Mahaguri is worshipped. On the ninth day, Navami is celebrated and Maa Siddhidatri is worshipped.

On the auspicious occasion of Ashtami, several Hindu households conduct Kanjak or Kanya Puja, where nine girls who have not yet attained puberty are welcomed into the house.

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When is Kanya Pujan 2024?

This year, Ashtami is being celebrated on April 16, 2024. On this day, people who observe Navratri fast, break the fast by feeding young girls (Kanjak or Kanya Pujan) with the traditional bhog of Poori, Sooji Halwa, and Sukha Kala Chana. Scroll down to learn more about Kanya puja and it's importance.

Chaitra Navratri 2024: Kanjak Puja Date And Timing And Other Important Details | Shutterstock

Kanjak Puja 2024: Start Date, End Date, Time, and Shubh Muhurat/Tithi

Kanya Pujan is generally performed on the last two days of Navratri, namely Ashtami (Ashtami Kanya Pujan) and Navami (Navami Kanya Pujan). People observe fasts on these days and perform the ritual of Kanya Puja. It is believed that the Navratri fasts are incomplete without Kanya Pujan.

Ashtami Kanya Puja Timing

• Ashtami Tithi starts at 12:11 on April 15, 2024
• Concludes at 13:23 on April 16, 2024

Chaitra Navratri 2024 Navami Kanya Puja timing

• Navami Tithi Begins - 01:23 PM on Apr 16, 2024
• Navami Tithi Ends - 03:14 PM on Apr 17, 2024

What is the purpose of Kanya Pooja?

Young girls are considered to be an avatar of Nava Durga on earth and during Durga Ashtami and Maha Navami, they are worshipped. It is written in our sacred books that praying a human would get faster results than praying God himself and children are the purest form of human beings. So, to worship the pure soul and acknowledge the power of the feminine, people hold Kanjak Poojan.

How to perform Kanjak Puja?

As per tradition, Kanjak Puja begins with washing the feet of young girls aged between 2-10 years. Next, kumkum and Akshat (rice) tilak is applied to their forehead and a kalava is tied in their hands. After that, they are given prasad made from tender coconut, followed by Poori, halwa, and Kala chana. At the end of puja, they are also offered gifts in the form of money, jewellery, clothes, toys, etc. Finally, the devotee touches their feet asking for their blessings, and after their departure, the devotee breaks the fast with leftover food.

Navratri Kanya 2024: Best Gift Ideas for Kanyas

- Stationery

- Jewellery Items And Hair Accessories

- Designer Assorted Chocolates Boxes

- Cute Doll Key Chains

- Toys and Games

What is the age limit for Kanjak puja?

It's believed, girls aged between 6¨C12 who have not reached puberty are worshiped with great devotion. Girls of these ages symbolizes purity, serenity, innocence and peace. They represent all forms of Durga and feminine energy is at its peak during this time. So they are worshiped.

Note: Dates/timings may be subject to change; details mentioned here are as per the information available.

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