5 Essentials for Nabami and Dashami

PHOTO: PRABIR DAS

As the end of Durga puja comes closer, Nabami and Dashami are days filled with excitement and overwhelm. Nabami means 'ninth day', and refers to the ninth and penultimate day of the Durga Puja festival. The following day, Dashami, is a sadder occasion, as worshippers of Durga try to postpone the inevitable-- when Goddess Durga, accompanying her children, sets for Kailash, her husband's abode. With a heavy heart, the Bangalis immerse the clay idol of Durga in the sacred Ganges bidding her farewell and earnestly waiting to see her again the next year. These days are special for all those who earnestly celebrate Durga Puja, and there are some things that are absolutely essential to make sure you do it right.

Food Offerings: Betel leaves, pan masala, 40 or 22 bowls of madhuparka, honey, sugar, curd, ghee, 40 or 22 noibeddos (offerings), four small noibeddos. These offerings are usually given as a sacrifice for the Goddess or to please her. 

Clothes Offerings: For Lakshmi, Saraswati, Chandi, Kartik, Ganesh, Shiva, Vishnu, the nine planets, the peacock, mouse, lion, demon, buffalo, ox, snake, Jaya, Bijoya and Ram, one dantakashto , one sari for the main puja.

Puja Items: Flowers, 40 or 22 finger rings made of kusha (the Holy grass), one ghoti (fish), one nose-ring, iron, two conch shells, a box of vermillion, flower garland, belpatra (bilva leaves) garland, a chandmala (a piece of jewelry deeply associated with Durga), one plate, items needed for the yadnya (fire sacrifice) like ghee, grain and havana sámagri ("herbal preparations") , Bael leaves, gift for the Purohit (the priest).

Items for Dashami: Perfume, flowers, durba grass, basil leaves, bel leaves, incense sticks, an earthen lamp, noibeddo, curd, murki, sweets and items needed for arati (the ritual in which light from wicks soaked in ghee (purified butter) or camphor is offered to one or more deities). 

Most importantly, the spirit of celebration: The on thing people need most during festivals of the sort is spirit. With a good and lively spirit, there is nothing that can bring one down during such an auspicious event. Keep your spirits high, wear your heart on your sleeves, spread love and joy as much as possible and you will be sure to have the most amazing time this Puja.

With these essentials, there is no way one can go wrong this Nabami and Dashami. So go ahead and have a blast! 

Source: paaglidurga