Navapatrika, or Navpatrika, are the leaves of nine plants used during Durga Puja rituals in Bengal, Orissa and other parts of Eastern India . ‘Nava’ means nine and ‘Patrika’ means plants in Sanskrit and this is installed in the Durga Puja pandal on the Maha Saptami day. The nine plants (Nabapatrika) are wrapped in a white or red sari and symbolically represent Durga. Nine plants represent nine forms of Durga - Mother Nature. Most people who are not aware of Durga puja rituals might have noticed banana leaf or plantain being carried to nearby river and pujas performed on Maha Saptami. The plantain and eight other plants are wrapped in the white sari and this is the Navpatrika. This is part of the Ghata sthapana ceremony . The nine plants that are used include plantain (Banana), Kachvi or Kacci or Kachu, Turmeric, Barley, wood apple (Bilva), pomegranate, Asoka, manaka or Mana and rice paddy or Dhanya. Banana with stem and leaves or plantain symbolically represents Br

Anjan Dham, also known as Anjani Mandir, is a temple dedicated to Anjani or Anjana, mother of Hanuman. The murti or idol of Anjani worshipped in the temple is of Mother Anjani sitting with Bal Hanuman in her lap. The temple is located on the banks of Khatwa River amid the hills of Netarhat. As per the legend in the area, Hanuman was born to Anjana, a female Vanara or monkey, and Kesari, a male monkey, in Anjana Giri mountains. Ma Anjana was an apsara who was born on earth due to a curse. Ma Anjani did tapasya at Anjan Dham to get back her lost status. She then gave birth to Hanuman. The main murti of Anjani worshipped in the shrine is 3 ft tall. On the left side of Ma Anjani is the statue of Radha Krishna. On the right side of Ma are the murtis of Ram, Sita and Lakshman. The Shivling worshipped in the shrine is known as Chakradhari Linga. There are two caves near the shrine known as Chandgupha and Kundari Bodagupha. The caves constantly emit fragrance of scented agarbat