Upcoming festival ”NAVARATRI”
Navratri will begin on 10th October, Wednesday and is going to conclude on 18th October, Thursday. It is celebrated across nine nights. First three nights are devoted to Ma Durga, the goddess of valour, the next three nights are devoted to Devi Lakshmi, the goddess of wealth and the last three nights are dedicated to Devi Saraswati, goddess of knowledge.
History
There are primary two stories behind this festival. One story which is followed by Northern and Western part of community that is the victory of Lord Ram over the cruel Ravan. The nine days of Navratri sees recital and enactment of Ramayana and the tenth day is final fight between Lord Ram and Ravan. The same is also presented as Ramleela which is conclude on tenth day.
The second story is about the goddess Durga. Goddess Durga battled with buffalo demon Mahishasur to restore peace and dharma. Her victory is celebrated as Durga Pooja in Eastern and Northern part of India.
Celebration in different parts of India
Gujarat: One of the most awaited festivals among the people in Gujarat is Navratri. Devotees keep fast for 9 days and worship Maa Shakti. In the evening, an earthen pot with holes and diyas inside, known as “Garbi” is lighted and women perform aarti with it. During Navratri, Garba dance and Dandiya Raas are popular.
West Bengal, Odisha, Assam & Bihar: Here, Navratri is celebrated as Durga Pooja. It is observed in last four days from Saptami to Dashami. Durga Pooja is celebrated with great pomp and glitter in big pandals, where large sized idols of Goddess Durga with lion, demon Mahishasur, Lord Ganesha, Kartikeya and Goddess Laxmi and Saraswati are erected.
Tamil Nadu: The main feature of the celebration is the decoration of the “Kolu” which is actually a staircase having 9 stairs, representing the 9 nights. Each stair is decorated with beautiful dolls, and idols of gods and goddesses. It is said that the dolls that are used handed over from generation to generation.
Andhra Pradesh: The celebration of Navratri in Tamil Nadu same as celebrated in Andhra Pradesh as “Batukamma Panduga”, which means “Come Alive Mother Goddess”. Women make a beautiful flower stack known as “Batukamma”, which is arranged with seasonal flowers. Women perform Pooja of Batukamma for 9 days and on the last day they set afloat their Batukammas in a lake or any other water body.
Kerala: Here, Navratri is celebrated in the last three days and Keralites give importance to learning during these days. They place books and musical instruments in front of Devi Saraswati’s idol on Ashtami, and worship the books and Devi Saraswati till Dashami. On Dashami the books are taken out for reading.
Maharashtra: Navratri in Maharashtra implies new beginnings. Married women invite their female friends, put haldi and kumkum on their foreheads and gift them with a coconut, beetle leaves and beetle nuts. This gesture is referred to as “Saumangalyam”. Each and every locality has its own garba and dandiya night’s celebrations.
Punjab: In Punjab, the people keep fast on the first 7 days and end their fast on Ashthami or Navami by worshipping 9 little girls and a boy, which is known as “Kanjika”. The Punjabis organize “Jagratas” where they keep awake the whole night and worship Goddess Shakti.
Karnataka: Navratri is known as “Naada Habba” in Karnataka. Karnataka celebrate the 9 nights of Navratri in the same manner as they celebrated way back in 1610 by the great Vijayanagara dynasty. The rituals include elephants’ procession on the streets, including fairs and exhibitions of handicrafts and artifacts.
Himachal Pradesh: In Himachal Pradesh the celebration starts on the tenth day of Navratri when the festival ends in other states. People celebrate the tenth day, known as “Kullu Dussehra” as the day of return of Lord Rama to Ayodhya. On this day, the idols from the temples are taken out in processions. During the Navratri festival, the devotees visit various temples in Kangra, Una and Bilaspur districts of Himachal Pradesh.
Thus, going by the religious celebrations among the people of the country, we can say proudly that in spite of the fact India is land of diversities, there is unity in diversity and that is makes India different from other countries.
Written by
Poornima Ankit Pandya.
Navratri will begin on 10th October, Wednesday and is going to conclude on 18th October, Thursday. It is celebrated across nine nights. First three nights are devoted to Ma Durga, the goddess of valour, the next three nights are devoted to Devi Lakshmi, the goddess of wealth and the last three nights are dedicated to Devi Saraswati, goddess of knowledge.
History
There are primary two stories behind this festival. One story which is followed by Northern and Western part of community that is the victory of Lord Ram over the cruel Ravan. The nine days of Navratri sees recital and enactment of Ramayana and the tenth day is final fight between Lord Ram and Ravan. The same is also presented as Ramleela which is conclude on tenth day.
The second story is about the goddess Durga. Goddess Durga battled with buffalo demon Mahishasur to restore peace and dharma. Her victory is celebrated as Durga Pooja in Eastern and Northern part of India.
Celebration in different parts of India
Gujarat: One of the most awaited festivals among the people in Gujarat is Navratri. Devotees keep fast for 9 days and worship Maa Shakti. In the evening, an earthen pot with holes and diyas inside, known as “Garbi” is lighted and women perform aarti with it. During Navratri, Garba dance and Dandiya Raas are popular.
West Bengal, Odisha, Assam & Bihar: Here, Navratri is celebrated as Durga Pooja. It is observed in last four days from Saptami to Dashami. Durga Pooja is celebrated with great pomp and glitter in big pandals, where large sized idols of Goddess Durga with lion, demon Mahishasur, Lord Ganesha, Kartikeya and Goddess Laxmi and Saraswati are erected.
Tamil Nadu: The main feature of the celebration is the decoration of the “Kolu” which is actually a staircase having 9 stairs, representing the 9 nights. Each stair is decorated with beautiful dolls, and idols of gods and goddesses. It is said that the dolls that are used handed over from generation to generation.
Andhra Pradesh: The celebration of Navratri in Tamil Nadu same as celebrated in Andhra Pradesh as “Batukamma Panduga”, which means “Come Alive Mother Goddess”. Women make a beautiful flower stack known as “Batukamma”, which is arranged with seasonal flowers. Women perform Pooja of Batukamma for 9 days and on the last day they set afloat their Batukammas in a lake or any other water body.
Kerala: Here, Navratri is celebrated in the last three days and Keralites give importance to learning during these days. They place books and musical instruments in front of Devi Saraswati’s idol on Ashtami, and worship the books and Devi Saraswati till Dashami. On Dashami the books are taken out for reading.
Maharashtra: Navratri in Maharashtra implies new beginnings. Married women invite their female friends, put haldi and kumkum on their foreheads and gift them with a coconut, beetle leaves and beetle nuts. This gesture is referred to as “Saumangalyam”. Each and every locality has its own garba and dandiya night’s celebrations.
Punjab: In Punjab, the people keep fast on the first 7 days and end their fast on Ashthami or Navami by worshipping 9 little girls and a boy, which is known as “Kanjika”. The Punjabis organize “Jagratas” where they keep awake the whole night and worship Goddess Shakti.
Karnataka: Navratri is known as “Naada Habba” in Karnataka. Karnataka celebrate the 9 nights of Navratri in the same manner as they celebrated way back in 1610 by the great Vijayanagara dynasty. The rituals include elephants’ procession on the streets, including fairs and exhibitions of handicrafts and artifacts.
Himachal Pradesh: In Himachal Pradesh the celebration starts on the tenth day of Navratri when the festival ends in other states. People celebrate the tenth day, known as “Kullu Dussehra” as the day of return of Lord Rama to Ayodhya. On this day, the idols from the temples are taken out in processions. During the Navratri festival, the devotees visit various temples in Kangra, Una and Bilaspur districts of Himachal Pradesh.
Thus, going by the religious celebrations among the people of the country, we can say proudly that in spite of the fact India is land of diversities, there is unity in diversity and that is makes India different from other countries.
Written by
Poornima Ankit Pandya.
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