2024 Bilva Nimantran

Bilva Nimantran Rituals, Importance and Significance

Durga Puja is one of those Indian festivals which is celebrated with much gusto in several parts of the country. This festival is associated with Maa Durga and is observed during Shardiya Navratri celebrations in the Hindu month of Ashwin i.e September-October. Durga Utsav is essentially a five-day festival which begins from the 6th day of Shardiya Navratri i.e. Shashti Tithi and ends on Vijayadashami (Dashami Tithi).

Durga Puja is celebrated to commemorate the victory of Maa Durga over the demon Mahishasura. This ceremony symbolizes the victory of good over evil.

What is Bilva Nimantran?

The first and foremost ritual of Durga Puja is Bilva Nimantran. This ritual is highly significant to begin the ceremony and celebrations of Durga Puja. ‘Nimantran’ implies a ritualistic invitation. It is the ritual to invite Goddess Durga where Maa Durga is ritualistically invoked in a Bilva tree and is then invited to the Puja for the next 4 days.

Other rituals that are performed on the first day of Durga Puja are Kalparambha, Bodhon and Adhivas and Amantran.

What is the most auspicious time to perform Bilva Nimantran?

The custom of Bilva Nimantran is performed either on Shashti Tithi or Panchami Tithi. The most auspicious time to observe this ritual is the evening time (Sanyakaal). Sanyakaal is the time which is approximately 2 hours 30 minutes prior to Sunset. If Sanyakaal does not prevail during Shashti Tithi, then it should be observed during Sanyakaal of Panchami Tithi.