Caption: The Cover Photo.
Hi all,
This p****ost is a continuation of the first post Here
We all got ready for the pooja in our traditional attire. The Pooja started at sunset (which concluded by around 8:30 PM).
Along with our invited guests, we sat around the dais when the Main Priest got busy in ensuring that everything is in order, (because once he is seated for the pooja, he is not supposed to get up from his seat - of course, there will be 2 assistants to attend to his needs, throughout the pooja.)
The ritual in very brief:
The priest came in his special attire (refer to the photo) after his bath. The ritual started with the self-cleansing of the priest by himself using Mantras.
Then he prepared the “Holy Water” (Teerth) in the conch using water, flowers, sandal paste, Akshada (a combination of rice & rice grains), etc. by chanting mantras.
Then he used the holy water to cleanse everything around him, including us by sprinkling Teerth using ‘Darbha’ (the Holy Grass).
As per the tradition, any function or ritual starts by invoking Lord Ganesha, who ensures the success of the function/ritual without any obstacles. The priest did the same through a brief Pooja; however, the pooja of Ganesha will be completed only at the end of the main pooja.
Next, the priest invoked the Goddess Saraswati (Goddess of knowledge) with another brief pooja.
Then the main pooja started with the creation of Teerth (Holy water) again. Then the Goddess Durga was invoked and seated on the lit main lamp. The flowers were offered with different mantras and finally, the lamp took the shape as shown in the photo. We were also asked to offer flowers to the deity.
Different types of foods (Prasadam), fruits & nuts were offered to the Goddess. And finally the “Mangal Arati” was conducted by the chief priest with a number of lit camphor pieces around the main deity.
The pooja was concluded by giving Dakshina (an honorarium give to a priest after the ritual) by all of us.
Photo - 1. Caption: During the beginning of the pooja the priest sprinkles the holy water from the conch using a few Tulsi (basil) leaves.
Photo - 2. Caption: The pooja in progress - the priest holding a Conch that contains the holy water.
Photo - 3. Caption: The pooja in progress.
Photo - 4. Caption: During the progress of the pooja we all are showering the flowers.
Photo - 5. Caption: The deity is decorated with flowers like Lotus, Oleander, Roses and Tulsi (basil) before Mangal Arti.
Photo - 6. Caption: The Deeparadhana (Mangal Arati) - the penultimate stage of the pooja.
Photo - 7. Caption: A shot from a different pooja - The fully decorated deity with lit lamps at end of the pooja.
These are some of the questions received for the first post (Here)
What is the thick thread worn by the priest (pandit)
“very thick Janeu sacred thread” - The Uthareeyam - is worn by the chief priests. In many Poojas, there may be many priests & this Janeu shows who is the main priest.
How is the Padma (rangoli) powder made?
The Padma powder is basically prepared out of rice flour mixed with natural colours (eg: for yellow colour, turmeric powder is used).
How the structure of the Padma is made?
For different pooja/deities, the Padmas are selected as per the Vedic text; using the different coloured Padma powder, the experienced priests create these shapes consuming an hour or two. They use the thump & the index finger to feed the Padma powder.
Which are the flowers used for poojas?
We use all aromatic flowers except wildflowers (forest flowers). Examples are Lotus, Oleander, Rose, Marigold etc.
Hope you all will enjoy our heritage.
@CAAG1959 @AjitThite @Erna_LaBeau @abhishekpatk @helga19 @jagatji @Shrut19 @davidhyno @Pratik_89 @Venkat_Krish
