Nine young, beautiful girls are worshipped during the major rite known as Kumari Pujan, which is held in the state of Odisha on the occasion of Maha Navmi. These young women are thought to be manifestations of the goddess Durga.
During the Navratras, one of the most significant Durga Puja rituals known as Kumari Pujan is performed. On the festival of Maha Navmi, it is a tradition carried out in the state of Odisha. In this state, it has been a custom for many years, and it is observed with fanfare. After the Rath Yatra, this rite is regarded as the second major festival because of its emphasis on purity.
Almost every home in Odisha performs a rite on Maha Navmi where they adore young, virgin girls between the ages of 1 and 10. These little girls are thought to be Maa Durga’s incarnations. During the blessed nine days of Navratris, nine young girls are treated as devis and adored as the nine manifestations of the Goddess Durga.
Due to the fact that only young females who have not reached puberty are worshipped, the rite is known as “Kumari Pujan.” These young women are thought to be God’s most innocent and defenceless creations. For the purity and innocence they bring to the family, they are prayed for. When a girl reaches puberty, she stops performing this practise. These women are known as kanyas and are regarded as being exceedingly lucky.
The girls are first given special meals like Puri and Kheer to eat as part of the ritual, and they are then given “chunnis” and “money” as gifts. The family member who carries out this ceremony touches the feet of the girls to ask for their blessings. The girls who are said to be Goddess incarnations bestow happiness and wealth upon the home.
Apart from Odisha, this ceremony is observed in other North Indian states such as Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, Bengal, and Punjab and is thought to be extremely auspicious.
Prasanta Patnaik 
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