Navratri In India

Navratri is the longest Hindu festival which is celebrated all over India. This festival is celebrated for nine consecutive nights in praise of Lord Rama and goddess Durga. During these nine days and nights, there is continuous chanting from the great epic Ramayana and as well as various performances from the episodes of his life also known as Ramlila. This festival is a combination of many concepts. It is believed that Durga, the goddess of power and vitality, has nine forms called Navadurga and on each day she takes a new form, with an arsenal of weapons, to ride a lion and fight the demon Mahishasura.

The most joyous celebration of Navaratri is seen in Gujarat, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu and West Bengal. Every night people gather in courtyards to perform the folk dance, Garba, Dandiya. It is a community dance in which men and women dressed in festive clothes, dance in pairs with dandiyas or painted wooden sticks. Vijaydashmi or Dussehra, the 10th day, is celebrated with feasting and rejoicing as day of victory of Lord Rama over Ravana. Lord Rama is said to have worshipped the Goddess, seeking her blessing in order to overpower the evil force of Ravana, the abductor of his beloved Sita. Popular Navratri Poems Poetry The temple priest has rung his bell. A cloud of smoke from candles and lamps Haloes the Goddess, glowing bright This beat of drums both maddens and dulls. The incense burns: so heady the musk, Our senses flounder in the flood. This endless chant of sacred words Soon drugs our lips and stuns our minds. The Goddess, always staring down: Her painted pupils cut through smoke And read the secret thoughts we think. We somehow feel this within our hearts. To Mother, we know, we bow and pray – Her form not just this image of clay. Navratri Nine nights for goddess Durga Full of dance and songs People worship her image With flowers and prayers long. May the Goddess bless us With precious gifts to mankind People praise her image Full of beauty divine!