Tadvanam

Kumari Puja Observed at Tadvanam Ashramam

An auspicious ritual of Devi worship as part of Durga Puja 2026

Tadvanam Ashramam, Kanjirakadavu, Malampuzha, Palakkad, observed Kumari Puja on the evening of October 19, 2026, as part of the Durga Puja 2026 and Navaratri celebrations. The sacred ritual, in which the Divine Mother is worshipped in the form of a young girl, offered devotees a distinctive experience of the Shakta tradition.

The ceremony featured a procession in which the young girl, revered as a manifestation of the Goddess, was ceremonially escorted to the Ashramam’s Navaratri mandapam by Ashramam volunteers. Accompanied by traditional percussion, conch-blowing and ceremonial lamps, the procession marked the beginning of the ritual. Sri Dhanya Sahadevan, who led the Kumari Puja and served as the chief coordinator of the Navaratri celebrations at Tadvanam Ashramam, ceremonially seated the young girl on the throne.

Devotees chanted the Lalitha Ashtottarashatanamavali in the presence of the Goddess. The worship included Deeparadhana and Pada Puja, performed under the leadership of Sri Dhanya Sahadevan. Devotees were also given the opportunity to offer prayers and present traditional offerings, including garments and ornaments, to the Goddess in her Kumari form.

Kumari Puja holds a special place in Shakta traditions and is particularly prominent during Navaratri celebrations in Bengal and other parts of India. Its observance formed a significant part of the Durga Puja 2026 and Navaratri celebrations at Tadvanam Ashramam, bringing this distinctive expression of Devi worship to devotees in Kerala.