What Is Kanya Pujan?
Kanya Pujan, also called Kanjak or Kumari Pujan, is the worship of young pre-pubescent girls as living forms of Maa Durga. It is the cherished closing ritual of Navratri, performed mainly on Ashtami (the eighth day) or Navami (the ninth day).
The girls, traditionally aged between two and ten, are invited home as honoured guests. Their feet are washed, they are seated with respect, fed a special meal and given gifts, and the family bows to receive their blessings. In that moment the girl is not a guest but the Goddess herself.
Why Is Kanya Pujan Done?
The tradition rests on a simple, profound belief: the divine feminine, Shakti, dwells in every young girl in her purest form.
- Each girl is a form of the Devi: A child's heart is innocent, free of ego and worldly desire, so it is seen as the clearest vessel of the Goddess's energy.
- It completes the Navratri sadhana: Nine days of fasting and worship of the Navadurga are sealed by honouring the Goddess in human form. Many believe the vrat is incomplete without it.
- It teaches respect for the girl child: Bowing before young girls is a powerful reminder to honour and protect daughters in everyday life.
- It is an act of pure giving: Feeding and gifting children with no expectation is considered one of the most blessed acts of the festival.
How to Do Kanya Pujan - Vidhi
1. Invite the kanyas: Traditionally nine girls (for the Navadurga) and one young boy as Bhairav (Langur) are invited. Even fewer is acceptable with devotion. 2. Welcome and wash feet: Greet them at the door, wash their feet with water and gently dry them, and apply a tilak of roli and akshat. 3. Tie a moli (sacred thread) on their wrists and seat them with respect. 4. Offer bhog: Serve the traditional meal - puri, kala chana and halwa - the prasad of Ashtami/Navami. 5. Give gifts (dakshina): Offer coins, fruit, bangles, ribbons or small presents. 6. Seek blessings: Touch their feet, ask for their blessings, and see them off with gratitude.
The Deeper Meaning
Kanya Pujan turns worship from the idol to the living world. After nine days of seeing the Goddess in images and chants, the devotee is asked to see her in a real child - and through that child, in every girl and every person.
The ritual quietly carries a social message: a society that bows before its daughters during Navratri is reminded to honour them all year. The deepest fruit of Kanya Pujan is not the meal or the gifts, but a heart that learns to see the divine in the small, the innocent and the often overlooked.
Frequently Asked Questions
On which day is Kanya Pujan done in Navratri?+
Kanya Pujan is most commonly done on Ashtami (the eighth day) or Navami (the ninth day) of Navratri. Some families do it on both days. Choose the day according to family tradition.
How many girls should be worshipped in Kanya Pujan?+
Traditionally nine girls are invited, representing the nine forms of Durga, along with one young boy as Bhairav. If nine are not available, fewer girls worshipped with devotion are equally accepted.
What is the age of girls for Kanya Pujan?+
Girls are traditionally invited between the ages of about two and ten years, as pre-pubescent girls are seen as the purest forms of the Goddess. Each age is associated with a specific Devi swaroop.
What is offered to the kanyas as bhog?+
The traditional prasad is puri, kala chana (black gram) and halwa, often with fruit and sweets. Gifts such as coins, bangles or small presents (dakshina) are also given before seeking their blessings.
About the author
Pandit Mahesh Trivedi · Festival Traditions & Panchang
Pandit Mahesh leads the festival-date and Panchang content on Vandnaa. He cross-references multiple regional panchangs (Drik, Vaishnava, Bengali, Marathi) for every festival date published on the site.
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