Traditions attached with Navratri and their significance

Gracefully swinging to the rhythms of Garbha and Dandiya Raas exalts you with joy and happiness.

Popular music, creative lighting and artistically disposed Goddess Durga lifts the mood of merriment to its highest score.

Excitement of making fine and unique arrangement of Golu with depictions of mythology or popular scenarios set the mood of festivity in every household. All these events are unique to the much awaited Navratri or Navratri celebration.

Navratri marks the celebration of divine presence of Goddess power or Devi Shakti (as known in Hinduism) rejoiced and cherished through nine nights and ten days. In 2016, the celebration begins on October 1^st to continue till October 10^th. Observed across India with lot of devotion, unique traditional practices by different regions make this celebration colourful and exciting.

Welcoming Devi Shakti

Popularly, Goddess Durga is worshipped on the first three days, Goddess Lakshmi on the next three days and Saraswati on the last three days. In many regions, Durga is worshipped in nine different forms, known as Nava-Durga. As the nine days are dedicated to the worship of different forms of Mother Goddess, other forms of Goddesses such as Annapurna, Jagdamba, Bhavani, Moogambika and so on are also worshipped during these days by different households. The colourful celebration ends on the tenth day with Devi Shakti claiming victory over evils, known as the Vijaya Dashami.

Navratri spectacles across India

On the day of Vijaya Dashami, Mahisasura Mardini slayed the demon Mahisasura, and many places in India, specially is Eastern India grand four-day long Durga Puja festival is organised. In West Bengal, Goddess Durga is worshipped with so much of adoration and pompous celebration that the state turns into an abode of joy. This day is also the day of Dussehra when effigies of Ravana are burnt in Delhi to commemorate Rama’s killing of Ravana.

In Delhi, Ramlila or different tales of Rama’s life are enacted in forms of drama and play in open grounds during the days of Navratri that concludes with the Dussehra. In Mysore, Dussehra is celebrated through the days of Navratri, when Goddess Chamundeswari is worshipped for slaying demon Mahisasura. People bearing torch light and elephants richly decorated parading through the streets make the celebration grand and colourful.

In Western India, devotees fast for a stretch of eight days and break their fast on the same day with elaborate preparation of dishes. Young girls are invited and pampered with good food and gifts. They are believed to be representatives of the Goddesses. Rajasthan and Gujarat come alive with buoyant spirit of Garbha and Dandiya Raas, the traditional dance forms. In Garbha, women participate with colourful traditional dress. In Dandiya, men partner with women and dance clicking the wooden sticks that they hold in their hands, to the beat of music. Dance festivals are organised for thousands to participate and enjoy.

In southern India, doll exhibitions are arranged, adorned with colourful lights and decorations in the house. It is called the Golu or Bommai Kolu that usher in a mood of festivity. Both adults and children get involved buying newly painted dolls, deciding on the theme of decoration, buying gifts for guests and so on. The display of dolls usually represents tales of Gods and Goddesses from mythology. Traditional food items are prepared and offered to Gods which are distributed among guests who visit the household on those days. Gifts items are specially prepared to delight them. Getting together in a household to sing in praise of the Divine is considered a blessed opportunity.

Navratri is a major celebration for Hindus marking the auspicious time of the year when Devi Shakti becomes intense and powerful. It signifies glorification of creative energies on earth announces victory of the good over evil and welcomes energies that would bring prosperity and wisdom to earth.

Lazoi wishes everyone Happy Navratri! 

Navratri Celebrations: 9 nights of worshipping the Goddess Mother

Navratri is the festival of nine nights in which nine incarnations of Goddess Shakti are worshipped. Each of them is worshipped on each of the nine days. The nine goddesses worshipped are:

MAA SHAILPUTRI- She is worshiped on 1^st day. The deity was born as Sati-daughter of Daksha and wife of Lord Shiva. She took rebirth as Parvathi- daughter of Himalaya and the consort of Lord Shiva and is closely associated with him.

MAA BRAHAMCHARINI- She is worshiped on 2^nd day. It means, under constant meditation. She is a peaceful form and is also known as Uma. This form was undertaken by Sati and Parvathi in each of their births to attain Lord Shiva as husband. Women all over India perform fasts based on the strict austerities followed by Brahamcharini.

MAA CHANDRAGHANTA- She is worshiped on 3^rd day. She is so called because of crescent moon worn by her on the head. This is the anger look of the goddess. It shows that, if the calm deity is provoked she can become terrible and malevolent.

MAA KUSHMANDA- She is worshiped on 4^th day. This Goddess has the energy of universe. As she has eight hands, the holy power is known as - Ashtbhuja. She is with a smiling face which is believed to end the eternal darkness and beginning of new light.

MAA SKANDAMATA- She is worshiped on 5^th day. She is the mother of Skanda who is also known as kartik. He is the general of Lord's army and most handsome God. The mother is holding the child on her laps. She is benevolent in this form.

MAA KATYAYANI- She is worshiped on 6^th day. She is so called as being daughter of sage Katya. Though she is daughter form of Durga and epitome of love, she can get angry to defend the righteous and good.

MAA KALRATRI- She is worshiped on 7^th day. This form of Shakti destroys ignorance and darkness. It is the most violent form of Shakti. In this, she likes the blood of the demon depicting that violent Mother Nature can create havoc and eliminate all the dirty evil.

MAA MAHAGAURI- She is worshiped on 8^th day. This form depicts purity. It was when Lord Shiva with water from river Ganga cleaned the soil and dust from the body of Parvathi when she did penance to seek Lord Shiva as her husband.

MAA SIDDHIDATRI- She is worshiped on 9^th day. In this form Mother Goddess showers knowledge on the devotee. She removes ignorance.

On the first day, the epitome of Maa Shakti is set up. She is worshipped with water and vermicelli sprinkled on her. Decorated with lots of flowers and festoon bestowed on her, the prayer service is started. A dry cow-dung cake is the main item of this ritual. It is lighted properly and then pair of cloves for each family member is burnt in that. The fire can be made fierce using camphor and ghee. The prayers and rhymes for the goddess are chanted. For next seven consecutive days, the devotees light the lamp and chant prayers. After worshipping these nine deities, comes the day of Ram Navmi. On the day of Ram Navmi, the ritual of inviting 7-11 girls with 2-3 boys under adolescence is prevalent. After serving food as an oblation in temple, it is served to the children who are considered as a replica of Gods and Goddesses.

Besides worshipping, Navratri is also celebrated as a grand festival of pomp and show, dance and music. Though it is celebrated all over India, Gujarat and West Bengal have a special position. In Gujarat, a dance style called Garbha is performed with sticks. West Bengal on the other hand arranges a great lavish prayer ceremony of goddess Durga.

Maa Shakti or Durga is omnipotent. If worshipped with true devotion she becomes benevolent and showers prestige, power and wealth on all her true devotees. So, feel devoted to this epitome of supreme power and brighten your life with the light of her blessings.

Lazoi wishes Happy Navratri to all!