Durga Navaratri or Dasara Utsavam is one of the biggest events in Bhramaramba Mallikarjuna swamy temple located at Srisailam in Kurnool district of Andhra Pradesh. Durga Navratri 2009 celebrations will start on October 8, 2010 and end with Shami Puja on Vijaya Dashami day, 17th October 2010. During the celebrations, special pujas and archanas are offered to Lord Mallikarjuna swamy. Bhramarambika Devi worshipped in 9 forms of Navadurga. Vahana sevas to Goddess Bramaramba and to Lord Mallikarjuna are the most eye-catching events.

Dasara Navratri begins with the Ganapati Pooja followed by the Kalasa Sthapana and ends with Poornahuthi. Special pujas, Archanas are performed on these days along with Navaratri special pujas like – Kumari Puja, Suhasini Puja and Dampati Puja.

Srishailam is the most sacred place in South India where one of the Dwadasa Jyothirling (12 prominent Shiva temples) and one of the Astadasha Shakti Peethas (18 prominent temples of Goddess Shakti).

Durga Navaratri 2010 Calendar – Dates, Alankaras and celebrations during Navaratri 2010:

8 October 2010 – Shailaputri Alankaram – Brungi Vahanam seva

9 October 2010 – Brahmacharini Alankaram – Mayura Vahanam seva

10 October 2010 – Chandraghanta Alankaram – Ravana vahana seva

11 October 2010 – Kushmanda Alankaram – Kailasa Vahana seva

12 October 2010 – Skandamata Alankaram – Sesha vahana seva

13 October 2010 – Katyayani Alankaram – Hamsa vahana seva

14 October 2010 – Kalaratri Alankaram – Gajavahana seva

15 October 2010 – Mahadurga Alankaram – Nandi vahana seva

16 October 2010 – Siddidayini Alankaram – Ashwa vahana seva

17 October 2010 – Bhramaramba devi Alankaram – Nandi vahanam seva

Navratri celebrations will begin on 8th October 2010 at 8 am with several special pujas like Yagashala Pravesham, Ganapati Puja, Swasthi Punyahavachanam, Deeksha Sankalpam, Kankana Puja, Rudrayaga Sankalpam, Deekshadharana, Kankana dharana, Mandaparadhana and Kalasha shtapana Puja. At 10.30 am Chandiyaganga Akhanda sthapana, Vaasthu puja, Vaasthu homam and at 4’o clock in the evening Parayanam and Japanushtana are performed. At 5’o clock on the same day, Ankurarapana, Agni Prathishta, Navavaranarchana, Kumkumarchana, Rudrahomam, Chandi homam and at 9 pm Suhasini Puja, Kalaratri Puja, Maha mangala harati, Neerajana mantra pushpam and Teerth Prasad Vitharana are performed.

Special pujas will be performed from 8th to 16th October 2010 as per the temple schedule and rituals. On ^17th October 2010, Vijaya Dashami day, Shami Puja is performed in the evening and then after Navaratri celebrations will be concluded.

Saptamatrika Navratri is the 10-day festival to worship Saptamatrakas – seven Divine mothers. During Sharad Navratri, saptamatrakas along with dwarapalaka devatas are worshipped in Tamil Nadu. In 2009, Saptamatraka Navratri along with Durga Saran Navaratri begins on September 19 and ends on September 28.

Brahmi Devi Puja on Maha Padyami:

Brahmi Devi is worshipped on the first day of Durga Maha Navaratri. Goddess Brahmi devi puja is performed in Chakramangai temple located in Chakrapalli near Ayyampettai in Tamil Nadu.During Sharad Navratri, Kalasha Sthapana or Ghata Sthapana or Prathami puja is done on the first day. In 2009, the date of Brahmi devi puja is September 19.

Maheswari devi Puja on Maha Dwitiya:

Maheswari devi is worshipped on the second day of Durga Maha Navaratri. Goddess Maheshwari devi puja is performed at Harimangai temple located near Ayyampettai in Tamil Nadu. During Durga Maha Navaratri, Preeti Dwitiya puja is performed on the second day. In 2009, the date of Maheshwari devi puja is September 20.

Koumari devi Puja on Maha Tritiya:

Koumari Devi is worshipped on the third day of Durga Maha Navratri. Goddess Kaumari devi puja is performed at Soolamangai temple located near Ayyampettai in Tamil Nadu. During Durga Maha Navratri, Maha Tirtiya puja is performed on the third day. In 2009, the date of Kaumari puja is September 21.

Vaishnavi devi Pooja on Bhouma Chaturthi:

Vaishnavi devi is worshipped on the fourth day of Durga Sharada Navratri. Goddess Vaishnavi Devi puja is performed at Nandimangai temple located at Nallicheri near Aiyampettai in Tamil Nadu. During Durga Sharad Navaratri, Bhouma Chaturthi or Maha Chaturthi puja is performed on the fourth day. In 2009, the date of Vaishnavi Puja is September 22.

Varahi Devi Pooja on Lalitha Panchami:

Varahi devi is worshipped on the fifth day of Durga Sarada Navaratri. Goddess Varahi Devi puja is performed at Pasumangai temple located at Pasupathi koil on Papanasam to Thanjavur road in Tamil Nadu. During Durga Sarada Navratri, Lalitha Panchami puja or Upang Lalita Vratam is performed on the fifth day. In 2009, the date of Varahi puja is September 23.

Indrani Devi Puja on Maha Sashti:

Indrani devi or Mahendri devi, also known as Aindri, is worshipped on the sixth day of Durga Sarad Navaratri. Goddess Indrani devi puja is performed at Thazamangai temple located near Pasupathi koil on Papanasam to Thanjavur road in Temil Nadu. During Durga Maha Navratri, Maha Shashti puja is performed on the sixth day. In 2009, the date of Indrani puja is September 24.

Chamundi devi Pooja on Maha Sapthami:

Chamundi devi is worshipped on the seventh day of Durga Sharad Navarathri. Goddess Chamundi devi puja is performed at Pullamangai temple located near Pasupati koil on Papanasam to Thanjavur road in Tamil Nadu. During Durga Sharad Navaratri, Durga Saptami or Maha Sapthami puja is performed on the seventh day. In 2009, the date of Chamundi puja is September 25.

Vajreswari devi Pooja on Durgashtami:

Vajreswari devi is worshipped on the eighth day of Durga Maha Navaratri. Goddess Vajreshwari devi puja is performed at Thirucheloor temple located near Devarayanpettai on Papanasam to Pandaravadai road in Tamil Nadu. During Durga Sharad Navrathri, Durgashtami or Maha Ashtami puja is performed on the eighth day. In 2009, the date of Vajreshwari devi puja is September 26.

Mukteswari devi Puja on Mahanavami:

Mukteshwari devi, one of the Adi Moola Dwarapaka devata is worshipped on the ninth day of Durga Sharad Navratri. Goddess Mukteshwari devi puja is performed at Melattor Unnathapureeshwari devi temple located on the Thanjavur – Thirukarukavur road in Tamilnadu. During Sharada Navratri, Maha Navami or Maharnavami puja is performed on the ninth day. In 2009, the date of Mukteshwari puja is September 27.

Ayurdevi Pooja on Vijaya Dashami:

Ayurdevi is worshipped on the tenth and final day of Durga Sharad Navratri. During Sharada Navaratri, Vijaya Dashami puja is performed on the tenth day. In 2009, the date of Ayurdevi puja is September 28.

Durga Devi Sharan Navratri Puja is celebrated in Ashwayuja masam (Ashwin month) which usually falls in September or October months. Durga Navratri starts on Ashwayuja Shukla paksha Padyami with Kalash Sthapana and ends on Ashwayuja Shukla Dashami (Vijaya Dashami or Dasara).

Dates of Durga Navratri Puja in 2009:

First Day of Durga Sharan Navratri, 2009 – Kalasha Sthapana (Ghatasthapana) – Prathami Puja or Padyami Puja – Installation of earthen pot – Ashwayuja Shukla Padyami (Ashwin masa Shudda Prathami) – September 19, Saturday.

Second Day of Durga Sharan Navratri, 2009 – Preethi Dwitiya (Preeti Vidiya) – Ashwayuja Shudda Dwitiya -   September 20, Sunday.

Third Day of Durga Sharan Navratri, 2009 – Sthana Vriddhi Gauri Vrata – Ashwin Masa Shudda Tritiya (Aswayuja Shukla Thadiya) – September 21, Monday.

Fourth Day of Durga Sharan Navratri, 2009 – Bhouma Chaturthi – Ashwin Masa Shudda Chaturthi (Ashwayuja Shukla Chavithi) – September 22, Tuesday.

Fifth Day of Durga Sharan Navratri, 2009 – Upang Lalitha Gauri Vrata (Sri Lalitha Panchami or Maha Panchami) – Ashwin Shudda Panchami – Septemeber 23, Wednesday.

Sixth Day of Durga Sharan Navratri, 2009 – Maha Sashti – Ashwin Shudda Sashti – Ashwin Shudda Sashti – September 24, Thursday.

Seventh Day of Durga Sharan Navratri, 2009 – Maha Saptami – Ashwin Shudda Saptami – Triratra Vrata Aarambha Utsava Puja (Trirathrotsavam) – September 25, Friday.

Eighth Day of Durga Sharan Navratri, 2009 – Durga Ashtami (Maha Astami) – Ashwin Shudda Astami – Sri Maha Durga Puja – Bathukamma Festival in Telangana region of Andhra Pradesh – Goddess Saraswati Mata Puja – September 26, Saturday.

Ninth Day of Durga Navratri, 2009 – Maharnavami Puja (Maha Navami) – Suhasini Puja – Ayudha Puja – Kanya Puja or Kumari Puja – Ashwin Shudda Navami – September 27, Sunday.

Tenth Day of Durga Navratri, 2009 – Vijaya Dashami (Dussera / Dasara / Dussehra) – Mahishasura Vadha – Ashwin Shudda Dashami – September 28, Monday.

In some regions, Goddess Durga idol immersion (Durga Nimajjan or Durga Visarjan) is held on the day of Viajaya Dashami.