Kanya Pujan 2025: Why is Kanya Pujan performed only on Ashtami or Navami? Learn about its religious significance...

Kanya Pujan 2025: The festival of Navratri is considered extremely sacred in Hinduism. On this occasion, the nine forms of Goddess Durga are worshipped. During these nine days, devotees observe fasts and worship with devotion. This festival symbolizes the practice of Shakti and the worship of the Goddess. Navratri concludes on the ninth day, and before that, the special tradition of Kanya Pujan is observed on the eighth and ninth days. The scriptures also describe Kanya Pujan as extremely auspicious and important.

Why is Kanya Pujan performed?

The Kanya Pujan, performed at the end of Navratri, symbolizes the worship of the nine forms of Goddess Durga. It is believed that young girls are the embodiment of Goddess Shakti. Therefore, they are respectfully invited, fed, and presented with clothes or gifts. It is believed that worshipping girls bestows the blessings of Goddess Durga and brings positive energy into life. Kanya Pujan is considered fruitful only on the eighth and ninth days.

Importance of Kanya Pujan

Ancient religious texts have described the special significance of worshipping girls. According to the Markandeya Purana, worshipping girls on the eighth and ninth day of the month of Ashtami (8th day) helps to cleanse oneself of sins and bestow the infinite blessings of Goddess Durga. The Devi Bhagavata Purana mentions that worshipping girls as embodiments of the Goddess leads to salvation and spiritual progress.

Benefits of Kanya Pujan

It is deeply believed that worshipping girls during Navratri brings happiness, peace, and prosperity to the home. Pleased with her, Goddess Durga bestows wealth, child happiness, and mental peace. This worship also removes Vastu defects and family discord.

Method of Kanya Pujan

During Navratri, invite nine girls aged 2 to 10 years and worship them. They are considered symbols of the nine goddesses.

First, have the girls sit respectfully on a seat and purify their feet by washing them.

Follow this by applying a tilak (a mark of the forehead) with sandalwood paste, kumkum (vermilion), flowers, and unbroken rice grains.

The girls are draped with the Mother Goddess's chunari.
They are served special food, which should include halwa, puri, chana, and other sattvik dishes.
After the puja, the girls are given clothes, gifts, or dakshina (gifts) and bid farewell.

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