Shakti Peetha Shringar Puja

Shakti Peetha Shringar Puja, is Maa Jay Durga Shakti Peetha (Hridaya Peetha), decorated and dressed with flowers, fruits and sweets.

It is customary at any Shakti Peetha or for that matter any place where Goddess Durga in any of her forms, is placed, to offer Shringar (roughly translates as make-up) every evening.

The type of Shringar items varies from place to place but are no less than 16 in number hence it is sometimes referred to as Solah (16) Shringar. Typically it includes:

Nail Paint                                Mukut (of flower)       Earrings                       Mala

Kajal                                        Mehandi(henna)        Comb                          Mirror

Bindi                                       Oil Sachet                   Lipstick                       Itra

Hair tie                                    Chunri                       Bengals                       Sindoor

Apart from these Saree, flower, fruits and Sweets are also offered.

The Significance of these offering increases exponentially at a Shakti-Peetha, more so Baidyanath Dham being Hridya-Peetha (The heart of  Maa Parvati fell here) symbolizes love, Shringar is seen as well as experienced in one inner self.

Special significance is attached to offering Shringar on Mondays, Saturdays, Amavasya (No-moon) and most of all on Somvati Amavasya (Amavasya on a Monday) since it’s both a Monday (for Lord Shiva) and Amavasya (Maa Durga in any of her forms).

It is believed, offering Shringar brings peace, prosperity, joy and good health among family members.