Saptami Pooja

On the 7th thithi, or on Saptami the devotee brings a twig from bilva tree and adds it to the bundle of nine plants and offers worship.

There are very elaborate details about the worship to be performed on the 8th thithi or Maha Ashtami and on 9th thithi or Maha Navami as they are described. They contain horrifying details of animal sacrifices. I being a strict vegetarian find the details to be revolting and nauseating. It is difficult to believe that any divine form could demand to be appeased by sacrificing to it other living beings. There is no doubt that these practices existed and sadly continue to be practiced during the present times though to a diminished extent.