Society for the Confluence of Festivals in India
Worshipping Santoshi Mata is a reflection of the goddess and her simplicity. She expects nothing expensive or complicated; there are no lavish preparations for this puja. All you need is to have a pure heart and the joy to perform the ritual.
Udyapan of Santoshi Mata Vrat is performed after the puja. The puja doesn’t require a temple, shrine or special place as Santoshi Mata is believed to be present in all of us, in our households and in every heart. To please her, devotees should perform this puja with a pure and true heart.
How Santoshi Mata came into Existence?Sanstoshi Mata and her presence in this vast space of the universe happened on a Friday of the Raksha Bandhan festival. This is why the Udyapan of Santoshi Mata Vrat is done on a Friday and for 16 successive Fridays. Devotees should wake up early at dawn and take a refreshing bath. They should choose a clean corner of their house for the puja and swap the floor to make sure it looks absolutely clean.
Incense is burnt during the devotional prayers. A picture of the goddess is set up and ghee diyas are lit to praise the glory of Mata Santoshi. The Prasad of gur-chana is made and the kalash is placed on the shrine.
Then, it’s time for the vrata stories of Santoshi Mata before Udyapan of Santoshi Mata Vrat begins. During the ritual, devotees should proclaim Jai Santoshi Mata several times with full devotion. After the vrata, aarti and puja, Prasad distribution is to be done.
The Prasad is always a significant part of the puja. It is a reminder that even the simplest of foods can satisfy our hunger. Santoshi Mata puja gives immense satisfaction. Once the vrat is completed after 16 Fridays, the Udyapan of Santoshi Mata Vrat is observed to mark the end of this ritual.
In fact, devotees observing the 16 Friday fast have to perform the Udyapan of Santoshi Mata Vratfollowed by aarti with devotion and the Prasad is to be distributed amongst the devotees. Then, it is important to offer thaal to Santoshi Mata. Usually, the Prasad is chana shakh and khir pur, which s offered to the goddess and then distributed among all listeners in the form of Prasad. However, during this event, do not eat anything sour; failing to follow this restrict negates the real benefits of this fast and prayer.
Once the ceremony comes to an end, 8 young boys are invited and offered Prasad of chana shakh and khir puri. Finally, these boys are offered Dakshina, such as fruits and sweets, not money, to conclude the ceremony.
Post Udyapan of Santoshi Mata Vrat, the ceremony is completed. As long as devotees have followed all the rites and observed the rituals with true devotion, firm discipline and heartfelt love, all wishes shall be fulfilled.
