Yermala's Yedeshwari Devi temple ready for Navratri; ghatasthapana on Sunday night

Yermala: Preparations are complete for the Sharadiya Navratri festival of Shri Yedeshwari Devi at Yermala in Kalamb taluka, revered as the younger sister of the goddess Tulja Bhavani. The festival begins at 8 pm on Sunday, October 11, the first day of the bright half of Ashwin, with a panchopachar mahapuja, maha-aarti and ghatasthapana. A traditional mahapuja with betel leaves will be performed on ghatasthapana day.

Many devotees who visit Tulja Bhavani go on to Yedeshwari Devi. During Navratri the goddess will be worshipped in a different form each day, and bhajan groups from nearby villages will sing through the night. The schedule includes a one-'vedha' puja on Monday, October 12, a two-'vedha' puja on Tuesday, the moon puja on Wednesday and the peacock puja on Thursday, October 15.

On Lalita Panchami, Thursday night, the goddess's palanquin will be taken out in procession at 9 pm. Pujas in the forms of the akda, coconut, chain and tiger will follow. On Navami a homa will be performed late at night, with the final offering before sunrise and a puranpoli offering to the goddess. On Vijayadashami, the palanquin will go out for seemollanghan at 5 pm.

On Monday, October 26, Kojagiri Purnima will be marked with a puja at the step-well and a night-time palanquin procession.

Source: Pudhari