The priests created a beautiful yantra using the grains that are associated with the nine planets.
Each day consisted of both morning and evening events. Here Seetharam performs the Rudra Abishekam in the morning yagya.
The yagyas used a LOT of ingredients!
Each bowl along the wall contains a different seed or grain which are used to create the offering plates that you see in the foreground.
On the last day, the yagya is really extensive and took from 8 AM to after 3 PM. The yagya included all 700 verses of the Devi Mahatmyam with special offerings at the conclusion of each Chapter. Here you see the offerings of differnt colored cloths with various seeds, grains, leaves, nuts, and other items.
Seetharam and Sampath performing a preliminary part of the yagya. Note that the homa kund (yagya fireplace) has been extended upwards because the fire is so large that extra room was needed for the wood and other ingredients.
There is a tradition of performing a Sumangali puja at the end of Navaratri (on Vijaya Dashami Day) to honor women. Here you see beautiful silk saris that will be given as a part of this puja.
Women of all ages are honored even the very young!
The priests also work very hard, so we given them a new dhoti (a traditional gift).
