Introduction: Navaratri is observed for nine nights and ten days, this festival honors the nine forms of Goddess Durga, who symbolizes strength, protection, wisdom, and the victory of good over evil. Each day of Navaratri is dedicated to one form of the Goddess, and Ashtami and Navami are considered the most powerful of all days. On Durga Ashtami, the sacred ritual of Kanya Pujan/Kumari Pujan is performed, which carries a deep spiritual, scriptural, and social significance.

What is Kanya Pujan? Kanya Pujan refers to the worship of young girls—usually between the ages of two and ten—who are admired as living personifications of Goddess Durga and her nine manifestations, collectively called Navadurga. It is believed that every girl child is a manifestation of Shakti, the cosmic energy that pervades the universe. The ritual honors the purest and most innocent form of feminine divinity,

On this day, families and temples invite with reverence, traditionally seven, nine, or eleven girls and their feet are ceremonially washed, and a Raksha sutra is tied around their wrists. A tilak is applied to their foreheads, flowers are offered, and they are worshipped with mantras as manifestations of the Goddess.

कन्ये त्वं दुर्गारूपेण पूजिता भव सुखप्रदा।
मम भक्त्या नमः स्तोत्रं गृहाण परमेश्वरी॥

Transliteration:
Kanye tvaṁ Durgā-rūpeṇa pūjitā bhava sukhapradā।
Mama bhaktyā namaḥ stotraṁ gṛhāṇa Parameśvarī॥

Meaning:
“O young girl, you are the form of Goddess Durga.
Being worshipped, may you grant joy.
Accept this prayer offered with devotion.”

Navadurga Invocation for Each Girl: When 9 girls are worshipped, each is symbolically considered as one of these Navadurga greeted with this mantra:

शैलपुत्र्यै नमः । ब्रह्मचारिण्यै नमः ।
चन्द्रघण्टायै नमः । कूष्माण्डायै नमः ।
स्कन्दमातायै नमः । कात्यायन्यै नमः ।
कालरात्र्यै नमः । महागौर्यै नमः ।
सिद्धिदात्र्यै नमः ॥

Meaning:
Salutations to Shailaputri, Brahmacharini, Chandraghanta, Kushmanda, Skandamata, Katyayani, Kalaratri, Mahagauri, and Siddhidatri.

Offering Food / Prasad Mantra:

न्नं प्रदत्तं देवी त्वं गृहाण परमे शुभे।
सन्तोषं कुरु मे मातः प्रसन्ना भव सर्वदा॥

Transliteration:
Annaṁ pradattaṁ Devī tvaṁ gṛhāṇa parame śubhe।
Santoṣaṁ kuru me Mātaḥ prasannā bhava sarvadā॥

Meaning:
O Divine Mother in the form of this girl, accept this food.
Be pleased and bless me with your grace forever.

Final Prayer:

नमस्ते कन्यकायै च, नमस्ते देवतामये।
त्वमेव दुरिता नाशि, प्रसन्ना भव सर्वदा॥

Meaning:
Salutations to you, O little girl, embodiment of the Goddess.
You destroy all misfortunes, always remain pleased with us.

Afterward, they are served a traditional meal, often comprising Puri, Kala Chana, and Suji Halwa. They are also gifted with fruits, clothes, or Dakshina (money) as a gesture of gratitude and reverence. Sometimes, a young boy—symbolizing Bhairav, the divine protector—is also included, signifying the balance of male and female energies.

Historical and Scriptural Roots, and Spiritual Meaning: The practice of Kanya Pujan finds its root in sacred texts, the Devi Mahatmya and the Devi Bhagavatam Purana that glorify the Goddess as the eternal source of creation, sustenance, and transformation. The girl child is seen as the divine energy—pure, compassionate, and packed with potential. By bowing before innocence and purity, devotees are reminded of the need to cultivate humility, gratitude, and reverence for life. It is believed that pleasing these young manifestations of the Goddess, gratifies Maa Durga herself, who blesses devotees with prosperity, wisdom, and liberation from sufferings. That is why, Kanya Pujan is deeply rooted in Bharat’s cultural fabric

Blessings and Benefits of Kanya Pujan: Those who perform Kanya Pujan with sincerity are blessed with peace, prosperity, abundance and removes obstacles, cleanses sins, and ensures the protection of the family. On a deeper level, Kanya Pujan serves as a spiritual exercise in recognizing the divine presence in every girl and invoke the Goddess’s blessings for health, happiness, and spiritual progress and learn to see divinity in all beings, transcending ego and cultivating compassion.

Relevance in the Modern World: In today’s rapidly changing world, the relevance of Kanya Pujan extends beyond the ritual, emphasizing the values of respect, equality, and the sanctity of every life on this earth. This ritual reinforces the truth that honoring women is equivalent to honoring the divine and a reminds to safeguard the dignity and future of girls. It also calls upon society to empower them with education, opportunities, and respect—transforming ritual reverence into our life’s values.

Conclusion: Navaratri Durga Ashtami’s Kanya Pujan is not only a ritual of offering food and gifts to young girls but also a celebration of the divine feminine energy that sustains the universe. It bridges spirituality with social ethics, reminding us that our reverence for the Goddess must be reflected in showing reverence for women and girls in daily life. By honoring innocence, purity, and divinity embodied in young girls, devotees align themselves with the eternal truth that the Goddess resides in every being and reaffirm their faith in values of humility, compassion, and respect. Thus, this sacred ritual continues to shine as a continuing tradition—uniting devotion with duty, and worship with wisdom.