Calendar of the Moon
14 Gort/Puanepsion
Durga's Day
Color: Red
Element: Fire
Altar: Upon a red cloth place many sticks of incense, bowls of saffron rice, spears, and the figure
of Durga riding her tiger.
Offerings: Acts of courage.
Daily Meal: Indian food.
Invocation to Durga
Hail to Durga, Warrior Goddess
Of the Hindu people!
Uma the Maiden gives way to Parvati the Mother
Who then give way to you!
Slayer of Demons
Inaccessible One
Who defends her children
Shasthi, Queen of the Mothers
We call you on this day
To protect mothers and babes.
For she who knows how to live can walk abroad
Without fear of rhinoceros or lion.
He will not be wounded in battle
For in him rhinoceri
Can find no place to thrust their horn,
Lions no place to use their claws,
And weapons no place to pierce.
Why is this so?
Because she has no place for death to enter.
Tiger rider, many-handed one,
Your serene gaze comforts women
And causes oppressors to quail
Before your feline steed.
(The hour should end with drumming and dancing with spears.)
[Pagan Book of Hours]