Date and Timing for Nabapatrika Puja in 2024

The cooler months festival period is here, and Bengal is gearing up for the year's biggest celebration, Durgotsav. It is not just a religious festival, but also a time for family reunions, renewal, and celebrations of traditional culture and practices. The tenth day of the celebration, Vijayadashami or Dussehra, marks the end of the festivities. Bengalis believe that this is when Goddess Durga travels from her residence on Mount Kailash to her paternal abode on Earth, accompanied by her four children: Ganesh, Kartik, Lakshmi, and Sarasvati. This Bengali holiday is related with a variety of beliefs, myths, stories, folktales, and traditions, including the Nabapatrika (nine leaflets typically strung together).

Table of Contents

1. What is Nabapatrika?
A. Definition and Origin
B. The Nine Plants and Their Significance
2. Rituals Related to Nabapatrika Snan
A. The Bathing Ceremony
B. Draping and Decoration
3. Nabapatrika Puja: Offerings and Rituals
A. Materials Needed for the Puja
B. Step-by-Step Puja Vidhi
4. Importance of Nabapatrika in Bengali Culture
5. Date and Shubh Muhurat for Nabapatrika Puja 2024
6. Conclusion: The Enduring Legacy of Nabapatrika in Durgotsav

What is Nabapatrika?

Definition and origin

Nabapatrika is derived from the terms nava and patrika, which imply nine plants. On the seventh day, Saptami, Goddess Durga is invoked in a group of nine plants known as Navapatrika and tied to the twigs of a white Aparajita plant (Clitoria ternatea) with a golden thread. These nine plants represent the Goddess's nine incarnations.
The nine plants and their significance
Navapatrika's nine plants represent nine goddesses:
Goddess Brahmani is associated with bananas, Kalika with colocasia, Durga with turmeric, Kartiki with jayanti, and Shiva with bel leaves. Pomegranate leaves are associated with Goddess Raktadantika, asoka leaves with Goddess Shokarahita, arum plant with Goddess Chamunda, and rice with Goddess Lakshmi.

Rituals related to Navapatrika Snan

The Bathing ceremony
The Nabapatrika gets drenched in river/pond water before dawn. All nine Goddesses symbolising Nabapatrika are washed in water from eight separate sacred sites. This bathing practice is accompanied by several mantras and musical instruments representing various deities. Mantras are repeated while bathing.
Draping and decoration
The Nabapatrika is then draped in a white saree with a crimson border. Vermilion is applied on the leaves after they have been bathed. Flowers, sandalwood paste, and incense sticks are then placed on a decorated pedestal to adore her. Later, she is positioned to the right of Lord Ganesh. The first day of Durga Puja is known as Navpatrika Puja, or Maha Saptami. In Hinduism, a living medium is necessary to invoke the deity's spirit.
This live medium allows devotees to speak with and pay devotion to the Divinity. On Bilva Nimantran, Goddess Durga was invoked on the Bilva Tree or its limb before inviting Her Puja on the next day. 

Nabapatrika puja: Offerings and Rituals

Materials needed for the Puja
This day marks the preparation of special offerings for the Nabapatrika Puja. Aside from the sweet gifts, the Nabapatrika receives a variety of other items. These include vermillion, mirror, pancha ratna, cowdung, kusha grass, sugar, honey, wood apple leaves, flowers, sesame seeds, four-finger rings, jute ropes, and crimson thread. Farewell from Nabapatrika: The Nabapatrika goodbye ritual is held on the ninth day. Women bring the goddess in her Nabapatrika form with milk and sweets. Navapatrika is located to the right of the goddess Durga during puja.

Step by step Puja Vidhi
On Saptami Tithi, wake up at Brahma Muhurta.
Wear only red or white clothing after a bath, for occasion.
Tie nine different sorts of fresh leaves together. Then give them a bath.
Keep a stool in the temple of your house. Lay a crimson or white cloth over it. Set the statue of Maa Durga on the cloth.
Following the Pran Pratishtha of the idol, do Shodashopachara Puja using 16 different materials.
Finally, complete the puja with Maa Durga's Aarti.

Date and shubh muhurat for Nabapatrika puja in 2024

According to the Vedic calendar, this year's Saptami Tithi begins at 12:14 pm on October 9, 2024 and ends at 12:31 late night on October 10, 2024. In this case, the Nabapatrika Puja festival will be held on October 10, 2024, in accordance with Udayatithi. The Brahma Muhurta for today is 05:55 a.m. The sunrise will be at 06:19 a.m.

Importance of Nabapatrika in Bengali culture

Nabapatrika was a well-known ancient ceremony performed by peasants and farmers to thank Mother Nature for a bountiful harvest. It symbolises fecundity. Because of the Durga Puja's popularity, this rite was included in the festivities. Neither the Vedas nor the Puranas mention Nabapatrika. The first reference of it appears in the Krittivasi Ramayan, a Bengali translation of the Ramayana authored by Bengali poet Krittibas Ojha in the 15th century. This crucial Durga Puja ceremony, which peacefully integrates old Vedic and non-Vedic rituals, is an example of inclusion.

Conclusion: The Enduring Legacy of Nabapatrika in Durgotsav

As Durgotsav unfolds, the Nabapatrika ritual stands as a profound testament to the rich tapestry of Bengali culture. Rooted in ancient traditions, it symbolises the deep connection between nature and spirituality, reflecting gratitude for the harvest and the nurturing aspects of the goddess. This unique ceremony not only honours Goddess Durga and her divine manifestations but also fosters community bonds, inviting families to come together in celebration. By embracing the Nabapatrika, devotees acknowledge the continuity of cultural practices, ensuring that the legacy of Durgotsav is passed down through generations. As we engage with these rituals, we reaffirm our commitment to preserving these cherished traditions, making them an integral part of our collective identity.