According to Hindu mythology, Durga Puja celebrates the goddess’s victory over the demon Mahishasura, who was granted a boon that made him invincible to gods and men.
After a fierce battle, Durga, the embodiment of divine feminine power, defeated Mahishasura, restoring balance to the world.
The festival is also seen as a celebration of the feminine power and divine energy (Shakti), with Goddess Durga being a symbol of strength, compassion, and protection.
1. Vighneśvara dhyānam – Invocation
Ring the bell and light lamp.
om śuklāmbaradharam viṣṇum śaśivarṇam caturbhujam ǀ
prasanna vadanam dhyāyet sarva vighnopa śāntaye ǁ
2. ācamanam – Purification
Take a spoonful of water into your right hand and drink each time.
om keśavāya svāhā ǀ
om nārāyaṇāya svāhā ǀ
om mādhavāya svāhā ǀ
Take a spoonful of water to wash your hands into the plate in front of you.
om govindāya namaḥ ǁ
3. digbandhaḥ – Protection from evil spirits
Move your right hand in the air around the head with your index finger pointing out.
om bhūrbhuvaḥ suvaḥ
4. prāṇāyāmaḥ – Breathing exercises
Do 3 sets of pranayama. Others will chant gayatri mantra at this time.
Om bhūr-bhuvah svah ।
tat-savitur-vareṇyam
bhargo devasya dhīmahi ।
dhiyo yo naḥ pracho-dayāt ॥
5. Pūjā sankalpaḥ – Declaration
Put a tulsi leaf in your right hand and pour some water in it. Close it with your left hand and place it on your right knee.
om mamopātta-samasta-duritakshayadvārā
śrī parameṣvara prītyartham asmin śubha-muhūrte
jñāna-vairāgya sidhyartham vidyā-vinaya-prāptyartham
śrī sadguru-prasāda-sidhyartham ca
śrī durgā pūjām kariṣye ǀ
Pour water and tulsi onto plate in front of you.
6. ghaṇṭānādhaḥ – Invitation to the Gods
Ring the bell and chant.
āgamārtham tu devānām gamanārtham tu rakshasām ǀ
kurve ghaṇṭā-ravam tatra devatāḥvāna-lakshaṇam ǁ
7. śrī gaṇeśa- smaraṇam – Invocation of Ganesh
Fold hands and chant. Place two bananas on betel leaf in front of Ganesha.
vakratuṇḍa mahākāya
sūryakoṭi samaprabha ǀ
nirvighnam kuru me deva
sarvakāryeṣu sarvadā ǁ
om śrī mahāgaṇapataye namaḥ ǁ
Dip flower in water and sprinkle on fruit.
naivedyam nivedayāmi ǁ
Wave the smell towards Ganeshs with the thumb touching each finger shown below.
om prāṇāya svāhā – Pinky
om apānāya svāhā – Ring finger
om vyānāya svāhā – Middle finger
om udānāya svāhā – Index finger
om samānāya svāhā – All fingers
om brahmaṇe svāhā – All fingers
8. guru-smaraṇam – Invocation of Guru
Fold hands and chant.
gurur braḥmā gurur viṣṇuḥ gurur devo maheśvaraḥ ǀ
guruḥ sākśāt para brahma tasmai śrī gurave namaḥ ǁ
om śrī gurubhyo namaḥ ǁ
Offer a flower.
9. devatā dhyānam – Invocation of Durga
Fold hands and chant.
sarvamangalamānglye shive sarvārthasādhike|
sharanye tryambike gauri nārāyani namo stute ǁ
Offer a flower.
10. devatā-āvāhanam – Welcoming
Touch your heart with left hand and keep right hand touching Devi’s feet.
om śrī devyai namaḥ ǀ āvāhayāmi ǁ
11. āsanam – Offering a seat
Offer a flower.
om śrī devyai namaḥ ǀ āsanam samarpayāmi ǁ
12. pādyam – Washing feet
Pour a spoonful of water at Devi’s feet.
om śrī devyai namaḥ ǀ pādyam samarpayāmi ǁ
13. arghyam – Washing hands
Pour a spoonful of water on Devi’s hands.
om śrī devyai namaḥ ǀ arghyam samarpayāmi ǁ
14. ācamanam – Rinsing mouth
Show a spoonful of water to Devi and pour it on the plate in front of you.
om śrī devyai namaḥ ǀ ācamanam samarpayāmi ǁ
15. snānīyam – Offering bath
Sprinkle water on Devi.
om śrī devyai namaḥ ǀ snānīyam samarpayāmi ǁ
16. vastram – Giving clothes
Offer a flower to Devi.
om śrī devyai namaḥ ǀ śubha-vastram samarpayāmi ǁ
17. gandhalepanam – Perfume
Take chandan with your right ring finger and put it on Devi’s forehead.
om śrī devyai namaḥ ǀ gandham samarpayāmi ǁ
18. akśatāḥ – Kumkum and Rice
Take some rice on your right ring finger and dip it in the kumkum. Apply it to Devi’s forehead.
om śrī devyai namaḥ ǀ akśatān samarpayāmi ǁ
19, puṣpam – Flower
Offer a flower garland to Devi.
om śrī devyai namaḥ ǀ puṣpāṇi samarpayāmi ǁ
20. arcana – 108 Names (aṣṭottara-nāma-pūjā)
Offer a flower petal each time a name is chanted.
| Shree | श्री | ॐ श्रियै नमः। |
| Uma | उमा | ॐ उमायै नमः। |
| Bharati | भारती | ॐ भारत्यै नमः। |
| Bhadra | भद्रा | ॐ भद्रायै नमः। |
| Sharvani | शर्वाणी | ॐ शर्वाण्यै नमः। |
| Vijaya | विजया | ॐ विजयायै नमः। |
| Jaya | जया | ॐ जयायै नमः। |
| Vani | वाणी | ॐ वाण्यै नमः। |
| Sarvagataya | सर्वगताय | ॐ सर्वगतायै नमः। |
| Gauri | गौरी | ॐ गौर्यै नमः। |
| Varahi | वाराही | ॐ वाराह्यै नमः। |
| Kamalapriya | कमलप्रिया | ॐ कमलप्रियायै नमः। |
| Saraswati | सरस्वती | ॐ सरस्वत्यै नमः। |
| Kamala | कमला | ॐ कमलायै नमः। |
| Maya | माया | ॐ मायायै नमः। |
| Maatangi | मातंगी | ॐ मातंग्यै नमः। |
| Apra | अपरा | ॐ अपरायै नमः। |
| Aja | अजा | ॐ अजायै नमः। |
| Shankbharye | शांकभर्यै | ॐ शांकभर्यै नमः। |
| Shiva | शिवा | ॐ शिवायै नमः। |
| Chandi | चण्डी | ॐ चण्डयै नमः। |
| Kundalini | कुण्डलिनी | ॐ कुण्डल्यै नमः। |
| Vaishnavi | वैष्णवी | ॐ वैष्णव्यै नमः। |
| Kriyayai | क्रियायै | ॐ क्रियायै नमः। |
| Shri | श्री | ॐ श्रियै नमः। |
| Indira | इन्दिरा | ॐ ऐन्द्रयै नमः। |
| Madhumati | मधुमती | ॐ मधुमत्यै नमः। |
| Girija | गिरिजा | ॐ गिरिजायै नमः। |
| Subhaga | सुभगा | ॐ सुभगायै नमः। |
| Ambika | अंबिका | ॐ अंबिकायै नमः। |
| Tara | तारा | ॐ तारायै नमः। |
| Padmavati | पद्मावती | ॐ पद्मावत्यै नमः। |
| Hansa | हंसा | ॐ हंसायै नमः। |
| Padmanabha sahodari | पद्मनाभसहोदरी | ॐ पद्मनाभसहोदर्यै नमः। |
| Aparna | अपर्णा | ॐ अपर्णायै नमः। |
| Lalita | ललितायै | ॐ ललितायै नमः। |
| Dhatri | धात्री | ॐ धात्र्यै नमः। |
| Kumari | कुमारी | ॐ कुमार्यै नमः। |
| Shikhvahinyai | शिखवाहिन्यै | ॐ शिखवाहिन्यै नमः। |
| Shambhavi | शांभवी | ॐ शांभव्यै नमः। |
| Sumukhi | सुमुखी | ॐ सुमुख्यै नमः। |
| Maitryai | मैत्र्यै | ॐ मैत्र्यै नमः। |
| Trinetra | त्रिनेत्रा | ॐ त्रिनेत्रायै नमः। |
| Vishvarupa | विश्वरूपा | ॐ विश्वरूपिण्यै नमः। |
| Aarya | आर्य | ॐ आर्यायै नमः। |
| Mridani | मृडानी | ॐ मृडान्यै नमः। |
| Hinkaryai | हींकार्यै | ॐ हींकार्यै नमः। |
| Krodhinyai | क्रोधिन्यै | ॐ क्रोधिन्यै नमः। |
| Sudinayai | सुदिनायै | ॐ सुदिनायै नमः। |
| Achala | अचल | ॐ अचलायै नमः। |
| Sukshma | सूक्ष्म | ॐ सूक्ष्मायै नमः। |
| Paratpara | परात्परायै | ॐ परात्परायै नमः। |
| Shobha | शोभा | ॐ शोभायै नमः। |
| Sarvavarna | सर्ववर्णायै | ॐ सर्ववर्णायै नमः। |
| Haripriya | हरप्रिया | ॐ हरप्रियायै नमः। |
| Mahalakshmi | महालक्ष्मी | ॐ महालक्ष्म्यै नमः। |
| Mahasiddhi | महासिद्धि | ॐ महासिद्धयै नमः। |
| Swadha | स्वधा | ॐ स्वधायै नमः। |
| Swaha | स्वाहा | ॐ स्वाहायै नमः। |
| Manonmani | मनोन्मनी | ॐ मनोन्मन्यै नमः। |
| Trilokapalini | त्रिलोकपालिनी | ॐ त्रिलोकपालिन्यै नमः। |
| Udbhutayai | उद्भूतायै | ॐ उद्भूतायै नमः। |
| Trisandhya | त्रिसन्ध्या | ॐ त्रिसन्ध्यायै नमः। |
| Tripurantakyai | त्रिपुरान्तक्यै | ॐ त्रिपुरान्तक्यै नमः। |
| Trishaktyai | त्रिशक्त्यै | ॐ त्रिशक्त्यै नमः। |
| Tripadayai | त्रिपदायै | ॐ त्रिपदायै नमः। |
| Durga | दुर्गा | ॐ दुर्गायै नमः। |
| Brahmi | ब्राह्मी | ॐ ब्राह्मयै नमः। |
| Trailokyavasini | त्रैलोक्यवासिनी | ॐ त्रैलोक्यवासिन्यै नमः। |
| Pushkara | पुष्करा | ॐ पुष्करायै नमः। |
| Atrisutayai | अत्रिसुतायै | ॐ अत्रिसुतायै नमः। |
| Gudha | गूढ़ा | ॐ गूढ़ायै नमः। |
| Trivarna | त्रिवर्णा | ॐ त्रिवर्णायै नमः। |
| Triswara | त्रिस्वरा | ॐ त्रिस्वरायै नमः। |
| Triguna | त्रिगुणा | ॐ त्रिगुणायै नमः। |
| Nirguna | निर्गुणा | ॐ निर्गुणायै नमः। |
| Satya | सत्या | ॐ सत्यायै नमः। |
| Nirvikalpa | निर्विकल्पा | ॐ निर्विकल्पायै नमः। |
| Niranjana | निरन्जना | ॐ निरंजिन्यै नमः। |
| Jwalinyai | ज्वालिन्यै | ॐ ज्वालिन्यै नमः। |
| Malini | मालिनी | ॐ मालिन्यै नमः। |
| Charchayai | चर्चायै | ॐ चर्चायै नमः। |
| Kravyadopa nibarhinyai | क्रव्यादोप निबर्हिण्यै | ॐ क्रव्यादोप निबर्हिण्यै नमः। |
| Kamakshi | कामाक्षी | ॐ कामाक्ष्यै नमः। |
| Kaminyai | कामिन्यै | ॐ कामिन्यै नमः। |
| Kanta | कान्ता | ॐ कान्तायै नमः। |
| Kamdaayai | कामदायै | ॐ कामदायै नमः। |
| Kalahansinyai | कलहंसिन्यै | ॐ कलहंसिन्यै नमः। |
| Salajjaayai | सलज्जायै | ॐ सलज्जायै नमः। |
| Kulajaayai | कुलजायै | ॐ कुलजायै नमः। |
| Pragyai | प्राज्ञ्यै | ॐ प्राज्ञ्यै नमः। |
| Prabha | प्रभा | ॐ प्रभायै नमः। |
| Madanasundari | मदनसुन्दरी | ॐ मदनसुन्दर्यै नमः। |
| Vagishvari | वागीश्वरी | ॐ वागीश्वर्यै नमः। |
| Vishalakshi | विशालाक्षी | ॐ विशालाक्ष्यै नमः। |
| Sumangali | सुमङ्गली | ॐ सुमंगल्यै नमः। |
| Kali | काली | ॐ काल्यै नमः। |
| Maheshvari | महेश्वरी | ॐ महेश्वर्यै नमः। |
| Chandi | चण्डी | ॐ चण्ड्यै नमः। |
| Bhairavi | भैरवी | ॐ भैरव्यै नमः। |
| Bhuvaneshvari | भुवनेश्वरी | ॐ भुवनेश्वर्यै नमः। |
| Nitya | नित्या | ॐ नित्यायै नमः। |
| Sanandavibhvayai | सानन्दविभवायै | ॐ सानन्दविभवायै नमः। |
| Satyagyana | सत्यज्ञाना | ॐ सत्यज्ञानायै नमः। |
| Tamopaha | तमोपहा | ॐ तमोपहायै नमः। |
| Maheshvarpriyankaryai | महेश्वरप्रियंकर्यै | ॐ महेश्वरप्रियंकर्यै नमः। |
| Maha Tripura Sundari | महात्रिपुरसुन्दरी | ॐ महात्रिपुरसुन्दर्यै नमः। |
| Durgaparmeshvaryai | दुर्गापरमेश्वर्यै | ॐ दुर्गापरमेश्वर्यै नमः। |
21. dhūpaḥ – Incense
Light the agarbati and lift up to Devi. Ring the bell.
om śrī devyai namaḥ ǀ dhūpam āghrāpayāmi ǁ
22. dīpaḥ – Lamp
Light up oil lamp and raise it to the level of Devi’s eyes. Ring the bell.
om śrī devyai namaḥ ǀ dīpam darśayāmi ǁ
23. naivedyam – Prasad
Dip a flower into the water and sprinkle on Prasad. Put on plate in front of you.
om śrī devyai namaḥ ǀ naivedyam nivedayāmi ǁ
Wave the smell towards Devi with the thumb touching each finger shown below.
om prāṇāya svāhā – Pinky
om apānāya svāhā – Ring finger
om vyānāya svāhā – Middle finger
om udānāya svāhā – Index finger
om samānāya svāhā – All fingers
om brahmaṇe svāhā – All fingers
24. mangala-nīrājanam – Aarti
Light camphor and rotate around Devi. Ring the bell.
na tatra sūryo bhāti na candra tārakam
nemā vidyuto bhānti kuto S ayamagniḥ ǀ
tameva bhāntam anubhāti sarvam
tasya bhāsā sarvamidam vibhāti ǁ
om śrī devyai namaḥ ǀ mangala-nīrājanam samarpayāmi ǁ
25. puṣpānjaliḥ – Conclusion
Offer flower.
om śrī devyai namaḥ ǀ puṣpānjalim samarpayāmi ǁ
26. pradakśiṇa-namaskāraḥ – Circumambulation
Stand up and turn around clockwise 3 times.
om śrī devyai namaḥ ǀ
pradakśiṇa-namaskāran samarpayāmi ǁ
27. prārthanā – Forgiveness
Fold hands and chant.
kāyena vācā manasendriyairvā
buddhyātmanā vā prakṛte svabhāvāt ǀ
karomi yadyat sakalam parasmai
nārāyaṇāyeti samarpayāmi ǁ
28. śānti mantraḥ – Closing prayer
Fold hands and chant.
om pūrṇamadaḥ pūrṇamidam pūrṇāt pūrṇamudacyate ǀ
pūrṇasya pūrṇamādāya pūrṇamevāvaśiṣyate ǁ
om śāntiḥ śāntiḥ śāntiḥ
hariḥ om śrī gurubhyo namaḥ hariḥ om