Last and the final day of Durga Navratri is Vijaya Dashami or Dasara. In 2009, Vijaya Dashami day is on September 28^th. Goddess Rajarajeshwari Devi is worshipped on this day. Mother Goddess is decorated and worshipped in the form or alankaram of Raja Rajeshwari Devi in South Indian temples especially Vijayawada Kanaka Durga temple.

Rajarajeshwari holds a noose in her   hand. The noose tells us about the power she has on the whole universe which she can control by her determination and love. The goad is the indication for power of knowledge. The sugarcane stem draws out the mind principle of man. The five flowered arrows (Pushpa Bana) indicate the five senses – sound, touch, form, taste and smell.

Goddess Rajarajeshwari has three manifestations or forms or aspects – Sthula Shareera (physical aspect), Sukshma Sharira (astral form) and archetypal form of the macrocosm and microcosmic creation.

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Theppotsavam – the final ritual of Navaratri on Vijaya Dashami or Dasara

Durga Navaratri is the biggest festival at Vana Durga Bhavani temple near Medak in Andhra Pradesh. Vana Durga Bhavani is a form of Goddess Durga. Edupayalu, a small village near Medak, is a holy place for Hindus as it has a great historical significance. Vana Durga Bhavani Navaratri 2009 starts on September 19^th and ends on Dasara day, September 28^th. The temple also hosts the second largest Jathara (fair) of Telangana region in Andhra Pradesh.

Yedupayalu means seven streams in Telugu. This sacred spot marks the confluences of seven rivulets of Manjeera River. This gives the place Edupayalu. Edupayala Jathara is the second largest fair celebrated in Telangana region after Medaram Sammakka Sarakka Jathara.

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Srisailam Dasara Navaratri 2009 celebrations – Bhramarambika Navratri in 2009

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.

Durga Navaratri is a festival of nine days beginning from the first day of Asweejam month which generally falls in September or October. The important events during Durga Navaratri utsavam are – Navavarana pujas, Chandi yagam, Rudrayagam, Navadurga alankaras to Goddess and Vahana sevas to presiding divine couples – Sri Bramarambika Mallikarjuna Swamy.

During Dasara Navratri celebrations, special pujas and archanas are offered to Lord Mallikarjuna swamy. Bramarambika Devi worshipped in 9 forms of Navadurga. Sri Bramaramba sametha Mallikarjuna Swamy temple is located at Srisailam in Kurnool district of Andhra Pradesh. It is one of the 12 jyothirling (prominent temples of Lord Shiva) and Astadasa Shakti Peetha (18 prominent temples of Mother Goddess).

Navaratri – Celebrations for nine days in Srisailam:

The celebrations of Dasara Navratri begin with the Ganapati Pooja followed by the Kalasa Sthapana and ends with Poornahuthi. During daily celebrations various religious rituals like Srichakrarchana, Navavarana pooja, Anustanams, Devi Sapthasathi, Parayanas, etc., besides Yagams are performed.

Kumari Pooja and Suhasini Pooja are also performed at evening hours. In the Kumari Pooja girls within the age group of between 2 to 8 years and in Suhasini Pooja Soubhagyavati (a woman whose husband is alive) are worshiped as deities. The Dampathi (Couple) Pooja is also took part on Mahanavami day i.e., on the 9th day in which pooja is offered to five couples. This day closes with the offering of sacrificial rice, breaking of pumpkins, coconuts etc., to the Goddess as Satvikabali.

Shami Puja on Vijaya Dashami:

After the completion of nine festive nights, on the day of Dasara festival Poornahuthi of Chandiyagam and Rudrayagam are performed in the day time. In the evening on Vijaya Dashami, Shami Pooja (worship to Prosopia tree) is performed. It is said that by seeing the Shami pooja one can succeed in his every activity.

Navadurga Alankar to Bramarambika Devi:

The Navadurga Alankaras offered to utsava Vigraham of Goddess Bhramaramba in these utsavams are Saila Putri (Parvathi), Brahmacharini, Chandraghanta, Kushmandadurga, Skandamatha, Katyayini, Kalaratri, Mahagouri and Siddhidayini. In the evening hours of every day special poojas are performed to these Alankaramurthies.

Vahana Sevas during Navratri:

Apart the above various sevas Vahana Sevas viz., Bhringivahanam, Mayuravahanam, Ravana Vahanam, Kailasa Vahanam, Hamsavahanam, Seshavahanam, Nandivahanam, Gaja Vahanam and Aswavahanam are offered to God and Goddess. The procession of both the Alankaram, and Vahanam are arranged on a grand manner every day.

Courtesy: Offical Website of Srisailam temple

Dasara Sharan Navaratri Puja is the biggest season in Kanakadurga temple (Durga Malleshwara Swamy Temple) in Vijayawada, Andhra Pradesh. The presiding deity of the temple, Goddess Kanakadurga is portrayed in ten different forms of Durga and worshipped for ten days. Each day an aspect of Durga is worshipped. In Telugu, decoration or adoration of Goddess is known as ‘Alankaram’. Hence, during Navaratri festival, 10 Alankarams of Mother Goddess bless devotees.

Navaratri Alankarams of Kanaka Durga:

 Dasara Sharan Navaratri utsavam begins on Ashwayuja Shukla Padyami, the day after Pitru Amavasya, and ends with Vijaya Dashami celebrations. The Alankaram of a particular day is decided as per the star constellation (Nakshatram) of the day, according to the Chandramana Panchangam (lunar calendar).

The 10-day Dasara Navratri festivities begin with Snapanabhishekam to the presiding Deity, Sri Kanaka Durga Ammavaru. On Moola Nakshatram day, several lakhs of devotees throng Kanakadurga temple. On Moola Nakshatram day, Goddess is decorated and worshipped as Sri Maha Saraswati Devi. The celebrations are concluded with Teppotsavam in the evening on Vijaya Dashami when the deity would be taken for a procession in river Krishna.

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