I remember coaxing my aunt to tell me the story about children in the forest organizing the Sathyanarayana pooja overcoming all obstacles to make it a success. I must have heard it innumerable times and listened with the same intensity every time.
Dhanur Masa Pooja as the name implies is to be performed in the Hindu month of Dhanur Masa, December – January according to Gregorian calendar. This year (2010) it is from 17th December to 14th January 2011 (Makara Shankranthi).
During this month, festivals like Vaikunta Ekadashi, Datta Jayanthi are celebrated
Items Required:
Camphor or Cotton Wicks soaked in Ghee
Aarathi Plate
Flower Petals and Manthrakshathe (Rice smeared with Ghee and Kumkum or Ghee and Turmeric Powder)
Definition:
Aarathi is a Hindu ritual, in which the camphor or the cotton wicks are placed at the end of the Aarathi plate and is lit and offered to the gods and goddesses at the end of the pooja in a circular motion with bells ringing in the back ground. The Aarathi is usually accompanied by songs in praise of the deity or chanting of Mantras.
This is an important arrangement in any of the Hindu rituals/pooja. This occupies a prominent place in the pedestal along with the idols or photographs of gods and goddesses. During marriages the sister of the groom and the bride carry a small kalasha with a small mirror and without a coconut and they are called the kalashagiththi (one who carries the kalasha). And in the case of Upanayana/sacred thread ceremony the sister of the vatu (the boy) carries the kalash.
Materials Required:
1 Coconut
1 small Bindige/Pot filled with water
4 – 5 Betel Leaves or Mango Leaves
Flower string
Kumkum/Vermillion colored powder
Turmeric powder
Sunna
Method:
Using Sunna/Lime stone draw a line in the middle of the pot and decorate with flowers and Turmeric and Kumkum powder. Arrange the leaves on the pot by immersing ¼ of the leaves from the stalk in the water. Clean the Coconut and remove the extra husk, do not remove the pointed edge of the coconut. Wash it with water and apply Turmeric powder and Kumkum on the Coconut. Place it on the pot with the pointed edge towards the sky. Keep a flower or a string of flowers over it. This is usually kept in front of the gods photographs or idol.
Mangala Drowya means sacred items used on auspicious occasions like marriage rituals, upanayana (sacred thread ceremony), shrimantha (arathi to pregnant women), namakarna (naming ceremony) etc., Mangala Drowya comprises of the following items:
Fruits like Banana, Apple, Pomegrante, Pineapple etc.,
Flowers Picture2 – Flowers
Pooje Samaanu/Pooja items are holy and sacred items used during elaborate pooja, festivals, homa (invoking gods through fire) like Satyanarayana pooja, Swarna Gowri Vratha, Anathapadmanabha Vratha, Gana Homa, Ganesh Chathurthi etc. Pooja items comprises of the following items:
