Page:Durga Puja - With Notes and Illustrations.djvu/73

 the usual arati(28) is made. This [is offering a series of lights to the goddess, and moving the same in graceful curves before her, accompanied by music &c. In the evening offerings of sweet-meats are daily made. In some families every day from the Kalparambha a goat is sacrificed.

arousing of the Goddess may be performed either on the ninth day of the moon preceding the new moon of Asvina, or on the sixth day of the following. On the evening of the sixth on the Vel tree the Devi is awakened, Narayana is worshipped, and the sankalpa is made in the manner described above with the following words, Om on the Vel tree as a part of the annual autumnal Durga Puja, I having worshipped the ganapati and other devas invoke and invite Durga, and perform the preliminary ceremony(29) adhivasa. After scattering mustard, establishing the ordinary arghya, and performing the bhutasuddhi and asanasuddhi and the several Nyasas in the manned described above and having worshipped Surya, Ganesa and other Gods address the vel tree, Om vilva tree come hither ; Om this flower to vilva tree. Then worship Durga in the vilva tree, and making the usual dhyan worship her with