Sharadiya Navratri -2025: What to Do If You Don't Get Enough Girls for Kanya Pujan?
The Sharadiya Navratri -2025 season is underway. This grand festival concludes with Kanya Pujan. Ashtami and Navami Pujas hold special significance during Sharadiya Navratri. On these two auspicious dates, there's a special tradition of Kanya Pujan. Young girls are worshipped as manifestations of Goddess Durga and offered food.
According to religious beliefs, having at least nine girls and one langur is considered auspicious. However, finding so many girls is a bit difficult. Often, there aren't enough young girls around, and nowadays, many people are reluctant to send girls anywhere for safety reasons. This raises the question: how can one complete the Navratri fast? What to do if one can't find a Kanya (girl child) during Navratri.
Make small packets of prasad and distribute in temple
If you can't find a Kanya (girl child), you can make small packets of prasad and distribute them in the temple. Usually, you can find some girls in the temple; be sure to offer them prasad. After offering the remaining offerings to Goddess Bhagwati, you can distribute the offerings to others.
Offer feast to girls at home
If you can't find any girls outside, worship the girls in your own family. Offer a proper feast to any two or four girls you find among your relatives, friends, or neighbors.
If you have a house help, driver, or security guard, you can also invite their children.
What should be donated to girls?
After worshipping girls during Navratri, it is auspicious to donate cosmetics, clothes (chunari), study materials, sweets, and dakshina (donations) to girls. When donating, consider your faith and ability.
It is believed that these gifts please the Goddess and she continues to bless the devotees.
Auspicious time for Kanya Pujan
Ashtami Kanya Pujan Muhurta - September 30, from 9:00 am to 1:30 pm.
Navami Kanya Pujan Muhurta - October 1, from 8:06 am to 2:09 pm.