Navaratri, the magnificent Hindu festival that is celebrated across India with great spirits and fervour, will begin from September 29, 2019. The nine-day post-monsoon autumn festival is also called as Sharad Navaratri and will be celebrated until October 7, 2019. Although Navratri is celebrated in different ways in various parts of the country, most celebrations revolve around Goddess Durga and her nine avatars or Navdurga. There are various rituals associated with Navratri that devotees follow with complete dedication. Offering our prayers to the different forms of Goddess Durga and showering her with her favourite flowers, aartis and Navaratri Bhog is one such tradition that we follow. Navratri 2019 Special Prasad List: Offer These Bhog to the Nine Avatars of Goddess Durga on Nine Days.

The nine versions of Goddess Durga that are revered during Navratri are Shailaputri, Brahmacharini, CHandraghanta, Kushmandam Skandmata, Katyayani, Kalaratri, Mahagauri and Sidhidatri. There is a mythological story around the origin of each of these forms and each form of Durga Maa is said to have a favourite food, which is offered to please her. The Navratri Bhog list consists mostly of simple ingredients that can be served directly, with a few exceptions. Offering the special Bhog is said to please the Goddess and seek her blessings. As we gear up for the Navratri 2019 celebrations, here is the Day-wise Bhog List that we need to follow.

Day 1 - Shailaputri - Ghee

Shailaputri, who is depicted to be the daughter of the Himalayas, is the form of Goddess Parvati, and worshipped as the consort of Shiva. She is said to ride the bull, Nandi and holds a trishula in her right hand and a lotus in her left. Considered to be a direct incarnation of Goddess Mahakali, Shailaputri is revered to on the first day of Navaratri, which falls on September 29. Devotees offer pure ghee to this incarnation of Goddess Parvati, and she is said to keep away disease and illnesses.

Day 2 - Brahmacharini - Sugar

The second day of Navaratri falls on September 30 and devotees pray to Goddess Brahmacharini, the unmarried form of Goddess Parvati. Worshipped for emancipation or moksha and endowment of peace and prosperity, Brahmachariini is said to be pleased by sugar. Devotees seeking her blessings offer a bhog of sugar and fruits to the Goddess.

Day 3 - Chandraghanta - Milk

Chandraghanta is the incarnation of Goddess Parvati who is depicted to be roaring in anger. This fierce Goddess is revered on the tritiya or third day of Navaratri (October 1) and the best offering that pleases Chandraghanta is milk and devotees often prepare kheer and other delicacies with milk to seek her blessings.

Day 4 - Kushmanda - Malpua

Goddess Kushmanda, who is believed to be the creative power of the universe is worshipped on the fourth day of Navaratri. Depicted to be sitting on a tiger, donning eight hands, Goddess Kushmanda is associated with an endowment of vegetation on earth. Devotees offer Malpua as the Navaratri Bhog on this day.

Day 5 - Skandmata - Banana

The fifth day of Navratri, which will be celebrated on October 2, is dedicated to Skandamata. The incarnation of Goddess Parvati, who is Skanda or Kartikeya’s mother, Skandamata is depicted to be carrying little Kartikeya in her lap and riding on a ferocious lion. The preferred bhog offered to her is banana.

Day 6 - Katyayani - Honey

Katyayani, an incarnation of Goddess Durga who exhibits, is said to be born to the sage Katyayan and is one of the most violent forms of the Goddess. She is depicted to be riding a lion and the bhog that devotees offer to her is honey. Goddess Katyayani is said to bless our lives with sweetness and do away with the bitter troubles.

Day 7 - Kalaratri - Jaggery

The seventh day of Navratri is dedicated to Goddess Kalaratri, who is etched as a four-armed deity. Donkey is said to be her preferred form of transport. Devotees offer Jagger to Goddess Kalaratri on this day and it is believed that she bestows her true devotees with protection against the wrath of evil spirits.

Day 8 - Mahagauri - Coconuts

Mahagauri is the eight manifestations of Goddess Durga and is said to symbolise peace and intelligence. Mahagauri is the form of Goddess Parvati who has the power to fulfil all the desires and devotees of coconuts as bhog on this day. The eighth day of Navaratri is also referred to as Maha Ashtami or Durgashtami and will be celebrated on October 6.

Day 9 - Siddhidatri - Pomegranate

The last day of Navratri is dedicated to Goddess Sidhidatri, who is said to be seated on a lotus. Siddhidatri is believed to possess and bestows all types of Siddhis and devotees offer Pomegranate to please this form of Goddess Durga.

We hope that this complete Bhog list helps you in preparing well in advance for the fun festivities of Sharad Navaratri. The biggest learning from this 9-day festival has to be the perseverance of truth and the sheer ideology that good always conquers over evil. In addition to these religious learnings and significance, Navaratri also has a huge cultural significance as people indulge in entertaining Garba and Dandiya raas or sing Bhajans and Aartis, while remembering the different forms of Goddess Durga. Here’s wishing everyone a Happy Navaratri!

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Sep 30, 2019 08:01 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).