BHUBANESWAR: Goddess Durga’s ninth incarnation of Siddhidatri is the epitome of completeness and prosperity. She is the suppressor of all demons and giver of desired goals to her devotees. Goddess Durga had killed all the demons between the first and ninth day of the Navratri by taking various forms.
The auspicious mission of humans and devas was accomplished in the process. Hence, this form of the goddess is popularly known as Siddhi-datri. For fulfillment of all the desires of both humans and celestial beings, goddess Siddhidatri had decended to the earth from her heavenly abode on this day. As she is the giver of the highest goal of human life (salvation), she is considered as the ultimate form of divinity.
In the upper right hand of her four arms she holds a chakra and in the lower right hand she holds a mace. In the upper left hand she holds a conch and in the lower left hand she holds a lotus flower. She is always seated on a lotus altar. She has accepted the lion as her main bahana (vehicle).
interacted with a few of her devotees at various pandals in the city and here is what they said:
Kuni Daitapati, a homemaker and resident of Nayapalli, said, “Maa Siddhidatri is the ultimate form of Goddess Durga. Devotees should offer her kheer, halwa and coconut during the pooja. After Puja one should also try to perform a havan (oblation) following which, one must invite and worship nine girl children (one for every form of goddess Durga) along with a boy child. They must be served well with delicious food and gifts as per one’s capacity. This procedure is widely observed even in Odisha.”
Sudeshna Banerjee, an entrepreneur and devotee, said, “Maa Siddhidatri fulfills the wishes of all her devotees as she is the calmest form of Maa Durga. All Bengali devotees celebrate Mahanavami on a high note with Dakha and Dhunu dances. From Khichudi to Labada, all kinds of delicious food are offered to Maa Durga on this day.”
Anurag Vidyarthi, a businessman and resident of Oldtown, said, “From the last 15 years, my family is celebrating Navratri in great spirits. The feeling at the ninth day of Navratri is truly overwhelming. Havan, Puspanjali and Nirjala Upwas are some of the rituals of this day. Arna, dal, mix curry and bhaji are served to the goddess as prasad, which I offer in return to the poor and under privileged.”
Despite the ninth day of Navratri being here, spirits of the true devotees of goddess Durga are quite high as they acknowledge the imminent arrival of Goddess Durga again next year.