Bhopal (Madhya Pradesh) [India], October 1 : Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Mohan Yadav performed 'Kanya Pujan' on the occasion of Mahanavami (last day of Navratri), at his residence in Bhopal on Wednesday.
During this, CM Yadav applied a tilak to the girls, draped them with a Chunari and served food to them with devotion and also sought their blessings.
"Daughters are the embodiment of the Goddess herself... Today, on the auspicious occasion of Mahanavami of Sharadiya Navratri, I worshipped girls symbolising the divine power (Shakti Swaroopa Kanyas) at my residence in Bhopal with traditional tilak and rituals, offered them prasad and sought their blessings," CM Yadav stated in a post on X.
Kanya Pujan is an important ritual performed during the Navratri festival, especially on the eighth (Ashtami) or ninth (Navami) day. It symbolises respect for feminine power (Shakti) and the belief that young girls embody the form of Goddess Durga.
The ritual acknowledges the divinity and purity of girl children and emphasises the importance of respecting women in society. Worshipping them is believed to bring prosperity, happiness, and blessings of the Goddess.
Navratri, which means 'nine nights' in Sanskrit, is a Hindu festival celebrating Goddess Durga and her nine avatars, known collectively as Navdurga.
The Hindu festival of Durga Puja, also known as Durgotsava or Sharodotsava, is a yearly celebration that honours the Hindu goddess Durga and commemorates her victory over Mahishasur.
In 2025, Durga Puja begins on September 28 (Shashthi) and concludes on October 2 (Vijayadashami).