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Kanjak puja ritual
***** Location: India
***** Season: Topic
***** Category: Humanity
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Explanation
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Kanjak Ashtami puja is an important ritual during the Chaitra Navratri or Vasant Navratras. It falls on the eighth day – the Ashtami day – of the nine-day Navratri festival. A young girl child (Kanjaks) is worshipped on this day in North India. In 2012, the date of Kanjak Ashtami is marked on March 31.
On the day people invite young girls to their homes and wash their feet and tie red color thread on their wrists. A tika is applied on the girl child’s forehead and worship them as Mother Goddess. The family members take blessing from the young child by touching their feet. The children are given ‘prasad,’ gifts and some money.
Some of the regions in India that observe Kanjak Ashtami are Chandigarh, Haryana, Punjab, Uttarakhand and Himachal Pradesh.
But sadly these places are notorious for sex-determination tests and the subsequent abortion of female fetuses.
source : www.hindu-blog.com
- Reference -
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The Navratri commences on the first day (pratipada) of the bright fortnight of the lunar month of Ashwin. The festival is celebrated for nine nights once every year during the beginning of October, although as the dates of the festival are determined according to the lunar calendar, the festival may be held for a day more or a day less.
The Durga prayers include selected Sholokas of Durga Saptashudi which are called Saptashaloki Durga and are recited by devotees daily.
On the eighth day, regarded as "Ashtami", most of the Hindus perform "Kanjak" in which they carry out pooja and hold a seating for girls (mainly seven in number) who they consider Goddess (Maa) in disguise.
Their feet are washed as a mark of respect for the Goddess and then they are offered new clothes as gifts by the worshipper. This ritual is performed in most parts of the country. Another important ritual of this festival is Shastra Ayudhi Puja wherein the most important article of the household is worshipped. In earlier days, the soldiers used to worship their weapons on this day.
The ninth day, which is called Ram Navmi, is again a day of traditional celebrations. On this day, havans are performed especially at temples dedicated to Lord Rama. Some of the Hindus also sow barley in a pot on first day of Navratra and keep it at a sacred place, they water it daily and offer prayers. The household keeps fast and taking meals one time only. On the ninth day, the barley plants are kept for display of the devotees as a symbolic image of Goddess Durga. These plants are later immersed in rivers. A good growth of plants symbolizes the acceptance of prayers by Goddess Durga and her happiness, which is sure to bring happiness and prosperity to those involved.
In Punjab,
Navaratri is taken as a period of fasting. In Gujarat, the evenings and nights are occasions for the fascinating Garba dance. The women dance around an earthen lamp wherein centric goddess Durga is placed, all of them including males sing devotional songs accompanied by rhythmic clapping of hands. Garba is sign of happiness and relief from the demon, which was expressed in the earlier times by the people. Clapping is the form of thanking and giving gratitude to goddess Durga, as she had saved the entire world from the atrocities of the Mahisasur.
source : www.truthstar.com
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Understanding what is Kanjak or Kanya Pooja:
Navaratri
as it is celebrated in the month of September/October is the period when Goddesses Durga, Laxmi and Sarawati did penance sitting on a needle to get enough strength to slay the demon Mahisuran, who was causing havoc to everyone. It is said that finally on Vijaydasami Day they were able to get victory by slaying him that signifies the importance given to this day as important to start learning any art, study or any new venture.
Kanjak is a ritual that is carried on either on Ashtami/Navami day in both Navaratris, after a 7/8 days fast with eating only restricted foods and abstaining from eating non-vegetarian foods, abstaining from alcohol and smoking at times. With a purity of mind and spirit, it is on this day that puri, halwa, chana and subji are prepared and young girls that have not attained puberty are given a feast.
source : she.sulekha.com
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Worldwide use
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Things found on the way
coping with tradition -
Kumari chews
a bubble gum
. Kumari, or Kumari Devi in Nepal .
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HAIKU
temple stairs -
kanjak sings with the priest
the holy hymns
father’s shraadh -
serving food to kanjaks
she wipes her tears
(shraadh means to give with devotion or to offer one’s respect)
Amanpreet Pannu
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son’s birthday-
in the entire village
just four kanajaks
- Deepi Sair
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old grandpa
washes little feet -
kanjak giggles
sawan pilgrimage -
climbing up the hill
I meet a group of kanjaks
Gurmukh Bhanodhal Raiawal
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sawan drizzle -
at the tinkle of small bangles
a kanjak giggles
Surmeet Maavi
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ashwina navratras-
a little kanjak sell flowers
at the temple gate
Dilpreet Chahel
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a lonely kanjak
in a dark corner of the house -
chaitra navratras
Sandip Sital Chauhan
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hilltop temple-
a flower from my basket
falls at kanjak’s feet
Harvinder Dhaliwal
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kanjak pooja -
he bows to the little feet
with silver anklets
Amit Sharma
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first female infanticide-
mother-in-law invites
kanjaks to the home
Geet Aurora
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kanjak feast -
a flock of koonjs
in the cloudy sky
koonj - a migratory bird of cold regions resembling a crane.
kanjak feast-
in an open courtyard
sound of jhanjar
- Anklets (jhanjar, payal)
Jugnu Virk Seth
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grandma frowns
at the newborn kanjak -
delivery room
grandma's delight -
she plays with grandsons
as lone kanjak watches
Anoop Babra
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Kumari puja is done to a girl child treating her as Goddess. She is presented gifts as per the child's wish.
Kanya puja or Kanjak Ashtami Puja, it is offered to young girls who are considered to be the living incarnations of Goddess Durga are worshipped on the day.
source : www.nithyananda.org
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Related words
***** . Month of Sawan (savan) and Rain .
***** . Haiku from Punjab .
. Durga and Mother Godesses .
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