Kalparambho is one of the important rituals of the Bengalis during Durga Puja in Navratri. Navaratri marks the homecoming of the Goddess Durga from her heavenly abode. It is celebrated with huge enthusiasm all over the country. The Bengalis have a very unique and elaborate ways of worshipping the Goddess.
There are different rituals for all the days of the puja and the main puja starts from the sixth day of Navratri or Shashti. This is the day when Durga descends to this world from her heavenly abode. Kalparambho is the ritual which is performed before the commencement of the puja on all days.
There are various items needed for the Kalparambho ritual and they are usually available at shops near the temples and nearby grocery stores.
Food offerings:
Five types of grains (rice, mung, sesame, mashkalai. Millet), Five items obtained from the cow (milk, ghee, curd, cow dung and gomutra), curd, honey, sugar, noibiddos, three bowls of madhupaka ( mixture of honey, curd, ghee and sugar), bhoger drobbadi, aaratir drobbadi mahasnan oil, dantokashtho , sugar cane juice, earthern bowl, till oil.
Puja offerings
Vermillion, powders of five different colours (turmeric, rice, kusum flowers,coconut fibre, bel patra), leaves from five trees (mango, pakur, banyan,betal,joggodumur), five types of gems(gold, diamond, sapphire,ruby and pearl),bark of five trees (jaam, shimul, berala, kool, bokul), green coconut with stalk, finger ring made of kusha grass
Other items
Lukewarm water, coconut water, sarbooushodhi, mahaoushaodhi, water from oceans, rain water, spring water, a piece of cloth to cover the pot, a dhoti and sari, mirrow, four arrows, triangular frame of wood, sandal wood paste.
With these items the priest performs the puja of the Goddess. This is common for all the days of the puja.