If you did these 9 things during Navratri, all your wishes might be coming true

The beautiful festival of Navratri is now over, and the 9 nights seem to have gone by quickly. But, even though Navratri is over, Maa Durga’s energy, love, and protection can still be felt all around. And with Dussehra today, the triumph of good over evil. And in the many rituals we follow and observe during Navratri, there are some that are believed to be very loved by Maa Durga. It is believed that if you do these diligently, she will forever bless you with happiness and keep you safe.
And so, if you did these 9 things during the 9 nights of Navratri, your wishes might be coming true!

One of the first and most important steps in celebrating Navratri is to ensure that the home is clean, not just physically, but spiritually as well. And we can spiritually clean the home only when the people living inside, that is us, are pure from the mind and heart. Having a calm energy, being devoted to the Goddess, and following good ethics is all important to invite Maa Durga’s positive energies and blessings towards you.

As for physical cleaning, if you cleaned the house everyday, sprinkled Gangajal in the rooms, and cleansed the home with incense, it just adds brownie points.

Ghatasthapana, or keeping the Kalash, is the beginning of Navratri and is one of the most important rituals to be performed.
Under guidance from an elder or a priest, people select a clean and sacred Kalash and place it near the home temple. Inside the kalash is water, coins and a coconut at the top along with mango leaves around the coconut.

Navratri is the time for positivity, forgiveness, good energy and spreading joy. During these nine days, it is very important to remain peaceful, calm, and of course, in sync with your inner energies. Be it family members, friends, or coworkers, it is important to stay calm and composed during the Navratri days, and it is believed that upsetting others or by keeping ill will during Navratri, creates negative energy that can block the flow of blessings into your life.

Devotion to Maa Durga should not be forced, only then will it be successful. One should not have to force you or coerce you into praying, chanting, or visiting the Pandals. The feeling should come from inside you and only then will it be pure and pious. So, keep your thoughts pure, pray to her everyday, and see how she changes your life for the better.

Another thing that should not be forced upon you is regular prayer. During Navratri, it is important to maintain focus and devotion towards the ‘Shakti’ of the Goddess and feel the vibrations all around. Plus, the vibrations created by chanting mantras help cleanse the environment and your inner self, which in turn attract positive energy.

If you chant mantras as simple as ‘Om Dum Durgaye Namah’, or ‘Ya Devi Sarva Bhuteshu’, you will feel that a protective shield is all around you.

Offering ‘bhog’, ‘prasad’, and food to Maa Durga is also seen as an important ritual. It is said that the goddess is pleased when she is offered homemade food. It does not matter how elaborate the meal is, or how expensive it was to make it, what matters is the intention you had behind it and the love you poured in.
People offer Maa Durga petha, fruits, coconut, kheer, and then the trio of ‘Halwa chhole and Puri’ on Ashtami or Navmi day.

Navratri is not just about personal devotion, but also about spreading kindness. Maa Durga is known as the protector of all, the rich and the needy, and helping those in need during Navratri is considered very auspicious. Be it donating clothes and food to the needy, or donating things to a temple or NGO, it is the thought that counts in Navratri.

Another ritual that is followed during Navratri is fasting. And it is also a ritual that is best done when it comes from your heart. If you keep a fast just because you were told or forced to, and in the back of your mind you think about the next big meal you will take, this might not be beneficial at all.
People fast during Navratri to cleanse themselves from the inside, and to not indulge to give their body the rest it deserves. And if you fasted with all your heart, be it one day or all nine, your blessings just might be on the way.

Lighting the ‘Akhand Jyoti’ or eternal flame is an important part of Navratri celebrations. This jyot is a symbol of the goddess’s divine presence and is believed to keep away any negative energies. It is said that the Akhand jyot should burn without fail for 24 hours, all 9 days of Navratri. And if you kept the jyot burning throughout, it is a positive sign.