Pushpanjali is an offering of flowers to Hindu Gods and God states, Pushpanjali has become a must ritual during Durga Puja. Pushpanjali is the combination of two words, Pushpam and Anjali. In Sanskrit, Pushpam means flower and Anjali means offering with folded hands. Hence Pushpanjali means offering of flowers with folded hands.
The Pushpanjali is offered on all days during Durga Puja. However, the day of Durga Ashtami is considered the most auspicious and significant to offer Anjali to Goddess Durga. Most Bengalis make sure that they offer Anjali at least once on the day of Durga Ashtami if not on all other days. Many devotees keep the day long fast during Puja days and break it after giving Pushpanjali to Maa Durga in the evening. The day long fast is broken by taking Bhog after evening Aarti and Pushpanjali.
Similar to other rituals during Durga Puja, Pushpanjali is a community event which is arranged in various Pandals and temples.
During Pushpanjali, a Bengali Brahmin priest chants Pushpanjali Mantra and those who gather to give Anjali repeats the Mantra along with the priest. The fresh flowers and optionally Bel Patra are hold in Anjali and are thrown to the feet of the Goddess Durga after reciting the Mantra. Pushpanjali is repeated three times continuously along with three separate Pushpanjali Mantra(s).
Following Mantra is chanted during the ritual of Pushpanjali. The lyrics of first Pushpanjali Mantra in Sanskrit, Bengali and English with translation are following:
ॐ जयन्ती, मङ्गला, काली, भद्रकाली, कपालिनी।
दुर्गा, शिवा, क्षमा, धात्री, स्वाहा, स्वधा नमोऽस्तु ते॥
एष सचन्दन गन्ध पुष्प बिल्व पत्राञ्जली ॐ ह्रीं दुर्गायै नमः॥
ওঁ জয়ন্তি, মঙ্গলা, কালি, ভদ্রকালি, কপালিনি।
দূর্গা, শিবা, ক্ষমা, ধাত্রি, স্বাহা, স্বধা, নমোহস্তু তে॥
এষ সচন্দন গন্ধ পুস্প বিল্ব পত্রাঞ্জলিঃ, ওঁ হ্রীং দুর্গায়ৈ নমঃ॥
Om Jayanti, Mangala, Kali, Bhadrakali, Kapalini।
Durga, Shiva, Kshama, Dhatri, Svaha, Svadha Namostu Te॥
Esha Sachandana Gandha Pushpa Bilva Patranjali Om Hreem Durgayai Namah॥
Meaning - O, Jayanti, Mangala, Kali, Bhadrakali, Kapalini, Durga, Shiva, Kshama, Dhatri, Svaha, Svadha, my earnest dedication to you all. Maa Durga, salutation to thee!
ॐ महिषघ्नी महामाये चामुण्डे मुण्डमालिनी।
आयुरारोग्यविजयं देहि देवि! नमोऽस्तु ते॥
एष सचन्दन गन्ध पुष्प बिल्व पत्राञ्जली ॐ ह्रीं दुर्गायै नमः॥
ওঁ মহিসাগ্নি, মহামায়ে, চামুন্ডে, মুন্ডমালিনি।
আয়ুরারোগ্য বিজয়ং দেহি দেবি নমোহস্তু তে॥
এষ সচন্দন গন্ধ পুস্প বিল্ব পত্রাঞ্জলিঃ, ওঁ হ্রীং দুর্গায়ৈ নমঃ॥
Om Mahishaghni Mahamaye Chamunde Mundamalini।
Ayurarogyavijayam Dehi Devi Namostu Te॥
Esha Sachandana Gandha Pushpa Bilva Patranjali Om Hreem Durgayai Namah॥
Meaning - O, Mahamaya, Chamunde, Mundamalini, give me long life, victory and liberation. The flowers of my Anjali, I'm giving to you. Maa Durga, salutation to thee!
ॐ सर्व मङ्गल माङ्गल्ये शिवे सर्वार्थ साधिके।
शरण्ये त्र्यम्बके गौरी नारायणि नमोऽस्तु ते॥१॥
सृष्टि स्थिति विनाशानां शक्तिभूते सनातनि!।
गुणाश्रये गुणमये नारायणि! नमोऽस्तु ते॥२॥
शरणागत दीनार्त परित्राण परायणे!।
सर्वस्यार्तिहरे देवि! नारायणि! नमोऽस्तु ते॥३॥
ওঁ সর্বমঙ্গলমঙ্গল্যে, শিবে, সর্বার্থসাধিকে।
শরণ্যে, ত্রামবকে গৌরী, নারায়নি নমোহস্তু তে॥১॥
সৃষ্টিস্থিতি বিনাশানাং, শক্তিভূতে, সনাতনি।
গুণাশ্রয়ে, গুণময়ে, নারায়নি, নমোহস্তু তে॥২॥
শরণাগত দীনার্ত পরিত্রাণ পরায়ণে।
সর্বস্যার্তিহরে, দেবি, নারায়নি, নমোহস্তু তে॥৩॥
Om Sarva Mangala Mangalye Shive Sarvartha Sadhike।
Sharanye Tryambake Gauri Narayani Namostu Te॥1॥
Srishti Sthiti Vinashanam, Shaktibhute, Sanatani।
Gunashraye, Gunamaye, Narayani, Namostu Te॥2॥
Sharanagata Dinarta Paritrana Parayane।
Sarvasyartihare Devi! Narayani! Namostu Te॥3॥
Meaning 1 - Auspiciousness of all things auspicious! O consort of Shiva, fulfiller of all our goals! Our only refuge! O three-eyed Gauri! O Narayani! Our salutations to you.
Meaning 2 - The power beyond all creation, preservation and destruction! O eternal one! O ground of the Gunas and embodiment of the Gunas! O Narayani! Our salutations to you.
Meaning 3 - Ever devoted to the salvation of the lowly and suffering who seek shelter with you! O destroyer of all misery! O Divine Mother! O Narayani! Our salutations to you.
As per Bengali traditions, Anjali flowers should reach to the feet of the Goddess Durga and should not be thrown at other places. Devotees should be careful not to stamp on flowers as doing that might bring bad luck.