Araria 01 October (NEWS IN BIHAR). A huge crowd of devotees gathered in the puja pandals to worship Maa Siddhidatri, the ninth form of Shakti Swarupa Maa Durga, established in various temples and puja pandals in urban and rural areas of Araria district.

There is also a tradition of worshiping girls on the ninth day and under this tradition, the ascetics engaged in meditation, after fasting for nine days during Navratri, worshiped girls in their homes and offered food to them. After worshiping the girl, she was presented with Dakshina and makeup items by the devotees. On the ninth day, Khichdi was also offered to the Mother Goddess. Devotees thronged the puja pandals to receive Mahabhog Prasad.

While discussing the ninth form of Shardiya Navratri, Pandit Pramod Mishra said that there is a tradition of worshiping Maa Siddhidatri on the last i.e. ninth day of Navratri. In the form of Maa Siddhidatri, Mata Siddhidatri is seated on a lotus and has four arms. In this form, the Goddess is holding a conch in one hand, a mace in the other, a lotus in the third and a disc in the fourth. Mother Siddhidatri rides a lion like Goddess Durga. Lava, puri and gram are offered to the goddess as bhog. After this, after lighting the lamp and performing the Aarti of Mata, Prasad is distributed among the devotees. On this day, people break their fast by worshiping 9 girls and also organize a havan. In the puja, Roli, sandalwood, Akshat, incense, lamp, flowers, fruits, sweets, coconut and chunari etc. are offered to this form of the Goddess.

/ Rahul Kumar Thakur