Nabapatrika or Navpatrika or Kalabou Significance, Puja Vidhi, date of 2021
Navpatrika and Navapatrika are made by combining nine types of leaves and are then used in Durga Puja. It is widely celebrated in the provinces of Bengali, Orissa, and East India. Durga Puja is very important to the Bengali community, they celebrate it with great pride. Navpatrika Puja is also called Maha Saptami, the first day of Durga Puja. Nava means nine and Patrika means leaf in Sanskrit, hence the name Nava Patrika. These Nava Patrika are kept at Durga Pandal on the day of Maha Saptami.
Significance and Culture
The Navpatrika Puja or Nabapatrika Puja tradition is also popularly known as Maha Saptami and is known as the first day of the Durga Puja festival. According to Hindu mythology, the goddess Durga needs a companion to use spiritism. Also, the living doors are a source of devotion to God and to the goddess. These intercessors help to honor and co-operate with the deity. On the day of Bilva Nimantran, the goddess Durga is summoned to the branches of the Bilva tree and made into Durga Puja.
A symbol of nine plants
- The banana tree with its stems and leaves symbolizes the goddess Brahmani.
- The Kachi, Kachi, or Kachu plant is a symbol of the goddess Kali.
- The yellow turmeric plant is a symbol of the goddess Durga.
- The Jayanti plant and its leaves symbolize the goddess Kartiki.
- The Bilva plant, its branch, and leaves symbolize King Shiva.
- The pomegranate plant is a symbol of the Goddess Rakatadantika.
- The Ashoka tree and its leaves symbolize Goddess Sokarhita.
- The bead plant is a symbol of the goddess Chamunda.
- The rice paddy (Paddy) is a symbol of the goddess Lakshmi.
The tradition of Maha Saptami Puja begins with the good practice of Mahasnan.
Performing the ritual of Mahasnan, devotees held the mirror in such a way that the appearance of the goddess Durga was reflected in it.
The holy and ritual bath is dedicated to the representation of the goddess Durga in the mirror by making several important pujas.
On one occasion, after the devotees had completed the ritual bathing, the rituals of Prana Pratishtha and Shodashopachara Puja were followed in the worship of the Goddess and compulsory sixteen pujas.
In the West Bengal provinces, Nabapatrika Puja is also known as Kolabo Puja.
Nabapatrika Puja Vidhi
Starting with Navapatrika Puja, the leaves of the branches of all the nine plants mentioned are collected and tied together. They are then wrapped in orange or red cereal with artistic color. Then worship is set aside.
Navpatrika Puja usually takes place early in the morning at sunrise.
The devotees get up very early in the morning and need to bathe in all the ritual arrangements.
Navapatrika is then taken to a nearby river where a sacred bath can be dedicated.
When the holy bath was completed, the devotees brought Navapatrika to its place and decorated it.
For the Abhishek (great bath), the mirror image of the goddess Durga has been washed.
After capturing Mahasnan, Goddess Durga is sanctified by the installation of Navapatrika also known as Kolabo.
- When all the ornaments are finished, they are placed on the right side of the goddess.
- After the completion of Pran Pratishtha, a proper ghat was set before the idol of the goddess Durga.
- After that, this is followed by Shodashopachara Puja.
- Devotees light up ghee lamps and offer flowers and incense sticks as they recite the sacred recitation words.
- When the mantras is over, the bhog is given to the goddess and aarti, and the puja is finished.
