Pushpanjali refers to the offering of flowers with devotion to the holy feet of the Goddess. Saptami, Ashtami and Navami day of the festival starts with this ritual in the morning when devotees wearing new traditional clothes utter holy mantras and offer Pushp to the Goddess. Fresh flowers and Bilva Patra (Bel leaves) are handed by the priest to the followers. They repeat the mantra the priest chants and then the flowers are thrown at Maa’s feet. This puja is repeated three times continuously along with three separate Pushpanjali mantra(s). However, the Pushpanjali on Maha Ashtami has lots of significance. Almost everyone fasts till this ritual is performed. Once it is over, the devotees are given Prasad. There are devotees who finish off their fast with “Bhog”.
Pushpanjali
