Navratri prasad and bhog for the nine days

Bhog for each Devi

Each form of the Goddess is linked with a simple offering. Tap a Devi to see how her puja is done.

• Maa ShailputriPure desi ghee
• Maa BrahmachariniSugar and mishri
• Maa ChandraghantaKheer and milk sweets
• Maa KushmandaMalpua
• Maa SkandamataBananas
• Maa KatyayaniHoney
• Maa KalaratriJaggery (gud)
• Maa MahagauriCoconut
• Maa SiddhidatriTil (sesame), halwa-puri-chana

Simple prasad for vrat days

If you are fasting, the prasad you offer can also be your meal. These are made without grains, onion or garlic:

• Makhana kheer – roasted fox nuts simmered in milk with a little sugar and cardamom.
• Sabudana khichdi – soaked sago with peanuts, potato, green chilli and sendha namak.
• Kuttu or singhara puri – made with buckwheat or water chestnut flour, served with aloo sabzi.
• Fruit and dry fruit – banana, apple, coconut and a few dates are a perfect daily offering.
• Panchamrit – milk, curd, ghee, honey and sugar, often offered during the puja.

Kanya Pujan bhog

On Ashtami or Navami the young girls invited for Kanya Pujan are served sooji halwa, puri and kala chana. The same is offered to Maa Siddhidatri and Mahagauri. Cook it fresh in the morning, offer a small portion to the Devi first, then serve the girls before anyone else eats.

A few things to keep in mind

• Prasad is sattvik: no onion, garlic, meat, eggs or alcohol.
• Offer it to the Devi before tasting it yourself.
• Share it. Giving prasad to neighbours, helpers and the needy is part of the offering.