Kanya Pujan
Kanjak — the rite of honouring young girls as living forms of the Devi, kept on Ashtami or Navami.
Kanya Pujan
Kanya Pujan — also called Kanjak or Kumari Pujan — is the rite of honouring young girls as living embodiments of the Devi. Each girl, between roughly two and ten years of age, is received as one of the nine forms of Durga, fed, given a gift, and asked for her blessing. It is among the most cherished closing observances of Navratri.
When it is kept
It is kept on Ashtami (the eighth day) or Navami (the ninth day) of Navratri, by family custom. Nine girls are invited, one for each Navadurga form; many households also invite one young boy, honoured as Bhairava — the Devi's guardian — alongside them.
The nine age-names
- कुमारिकाKumarika
- त्रिमूर्तिTrimurti
- कल्याणीKalyani
- रोहिणीRohini
- कालिकाKalika
- चण्डिकाChandika
- शाम्भवीShambhavi
- दुर्गाDurga
- सुभद्राSubhadra
The rite, step by step
Welcome the girls into the home and gently wash their feet, as one would honoured guests.
Apply a tilak of roli and akshat to each girl's forehead and tie a kalawa on her wrist.
Seat the girls and offer the bhog — halwa, puri, and black chana — letting each eat to her content.
Give each girl a gift and dakshina — bangles, ribbons, coins, or sweets.
Touch the girls' feet to receive their blessing, and see them off with respect.
Customary offerings
- Halwa (a sweet semolina pudding)
- Puri
- Black chana (kala chana)
- A gift — bangles, ribbons, coins, or sweets
Notes
Whether Kanya Pujan is kept on Ashtami or on Navami is a matter of family and regional custom; both are widely observed.
The rite is most often kept with nine girls, one for each Navadurga form, but some households invite however many can be welcomed; the spirit of the rite is honour, not a fixed count.
In much of north India the rite is called Kanjak; the worshipping of a girl as the Devi is also known more broadly as Kumari Puja.