Navratri Festival of Goodess Durga

Navratri Festival of Goodess Durga  

Nav Ratri means Nine nights in Sanskrit. It is the festival of 9 colorful days and nights which begins from the first day of Ashwin as per Hindu calendar of the bright fortnight. The festival marks the end of rainy season and is associated with the sowing of new seeds and seeing them to sprout as a new being.

The festival of Navratri is dedicated to Goddess Durga which is believed to be the Mother deity of Hindus. During the nine days, different forms of Mother Goddess are worshipped by the people. Goddess Durga known as the Goddess of valour is worshipped on the first three days of Navratri. On the next three days, Goddess Lakshmi is worshipped and the last three days are dedicated to the worship of Goddess Saraswati.

The festival of Navratri is celebrated with great pomp and fervour all across the country. People fast for seven or eight days of Navratri and break their fast on Ashtami or Navmi. On this day, young girls are worshipped and food is served to them known as Kanchika Pujan. The Puja of Navratri is entirely dedicated to Durga Maa. On the very first day of Navratri, a mud bed is prepared in front of the picture of Durga and barley seeds are sown on it. After the 9 days, these shoots grow up to 3-5 inches. Then, these seedlings are taken out and distributed to the devotees as blessings of the Goddess. People also perform yagna or Havana to seek health and prosperity from Mother Goddess. The Usual pattern of worship is followed in following manner.

 

1st – 3rd day of Navratri
On the first day of the Navaratras, a small bed of mud is prepared in the puja room and barley seeds are sown on it. These initial days are dedicated to Durga Maa, the Goddess of power and energy.

4th – 6th day of Navratri
During these days, Lakshmi Maa, the Goddess of peace and prosperity is worshipped.
7th – 8th day of Navratri
These final days belong to Saraswati Maa who is worshipped to acquire the spiritual knowledge. This in turn will free us from all earthly bondage. But on the 8th day of this colourful festival, yagna (holy fire) is performed.
Mahanavami
The festival of Navratri culminates in Mahanavami. On this day Kanya Puja is performed. Nine young girls representing the nine forms of Goddess Durga are worshiped.

The major highlight of this festival is colorful and joyful dances of Garba and Dandiya Rasa. These dance form are usually popular in Gujarat and Rajasthan. While performing Garba, both men and women clad themselves in colourful traditional costumes. Young men and women plan their costumes way ahead of Navratri, Some Dandiya Raas also have awards for Traditionally Best Dressed Dancers. Men’s attire is called as dhoti-kurta and the traditional dress worn by women is called as chania-choli. They make a circle around a traditional terracotta pot or garbi with a small lamp burning inside the pot which signifies knowledge or light. The dancers move in a circular motion and gracefully sway their hands in perfect synchrony to the beats of sticks and rhythm of claps.

 

Besides it, another form of dance is also performed during Navratri known as Dandiya Raas. The dances are generally performed at night after the Aarti of Maa Durga. Colourfully dressed people with colourful sticks present an exclusive and amazing sight to see and experience and form an important part of the celebration and jubilation of Navratris. Various Garba or Dandiya competitions are also held at different places which create a lively and mesmerising scene to watch and participate.

Dedicated to Goddess Durga, Navratri is a colourful festival filled with, worship, devotion, festivity and enthusiasm. This nine days festival is celebrated with utmost zeal and fervour and is one of the most awaited festivals to be enjoyed by the people of all age groups. Navratri ends, Dushera starts an important Festival celebrated almost in all states of India.