Navaratri and Durga Puja Celebrations

On September 29, 2019, we set up the steps for navaratri dolls festival. We had 5 steps. The third step was my lego step where I could put any legos I wanted except the Star Wars Death Star because Amma said not to put it because it is an evil person’s base.  The first step from the bottom had gods, the second step also had gods with Durga in the center. Third steps had Star Wars, Ninjago legos and some toy green auto rickshaw, taxi and cars. I put the ninjas on top of the cars and auto rickshaws. I also had a Spider-Man with Lego rope and grappling on the top. Spiderman held the rope and I attached it to the top of one of the decorations.  We had battery operated tea lights which looked like real fire because it was flickering.

Everyday we did puja in the evening after my shower.

On Saturday morning October 5, 2019, it was the 7th day which is called Saptami and Saraswati puja We worshipped books. I wanted Amma to put my eureka math grade 3 module 1 and 2 book because then I couldn’t touch it to do any homework and Amma couldn’t make me do extra homework. Instead Amma put module 3 because we hadn’t learned that yet in school.

Then I went for Durga Puja. There they had Durga in the middle on her lion with her spear on the demon and blood coming from where she stabbed the demon. On Durga’s left Ganesha’s brother Karthik and Saraswati were there. On the right she had Ganesha and Lakshmi.

There was an art competition there where you had to draw about holidays. I drew about halloween, 4th of July, Durga puja, and Christmas. I didn’t have enough time to color though.
At lunch everyone had prasad food from the place and kids were given pizza.

In the evening lots of my friends and their parents came home to celebrate navaratri dolls festival with us.

On the 9th day navami, we worshipped instruments and weapons like guitar, keyboard, scissors, pens.

Today is Dussehra which is the last day of Durga Puja and Navaratri. Tomorrow I will put legos back on my lego table and we will remove the setup and keep the dolls away for next year.

Dolls are set up for the festival

And we are ready for the pujas!

The gang is home to celebrate

After Arati at Durga Puja, there was arati at home too

And here is a short video of Durga Puja and Navaratri Arati Videos from morning and evening

Video Link