Saraswathi Pooja & Vijayadasami

The last 3 days of Navratri (Festival of nine nights) is dedicated to Goddess Saraswathi, the giver of knowledge.

Sri Saraswathi

On 9th day books, writing instruments, craft instruments are placed on a spread towel or wooden platform and covered by another clean cloth.On top of which flowers are offered to the goddess followed by chanting of mantras and neivedhyams like appam, vadai and paayasam (kheer). That day no one reads books or writes or do any craft works. It is a day's rest for those activities.

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Next day, (10th day) is called vijayadasami, the day which is considered auspicious - a shubharambh - a good beginning for studies, buisness and craft works. On that day, pooja is conducted, neivedhyams offered to the goddess and then camphor aarti is taken followed by uncovering the books kept for poojas. The books are then given to read to start the auspicious beginning.

Paruppu Vadai / Dhal vadai

Maha Neivedhyam

Paal Paayasam / Kheer

People also do pooja for their vehicles (aayudha pooja) by cleaning it, smearing chandan kumkum all around, hanging garland in the front , decorating it with festoons and do the pooja.

Image courtesy : google image search

The navratri celebrations comes to an end on the 10th day with this auspicious beginning.

"Jai mata di"