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!

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.

  

 

 

9 Days and Colours of Durga Navratri 2011

Nine days and nine colours of Durga Navratri:
 

 
Navratri is the most auspicious and most celebrated festival of India. It has variety of wonderful traditions and cultures. During the Nine-day festival of Navratri there is a custom of wearing different colour dress (Sarees and Churidar) mainly in Gujarat and Maharashtra.Generally the nine colors represent the nine avatars or incarnations or manifestations of Goddess Durga Maa.
    Here we are providing detailed information on Navratri colours and the significance of the particular day.


 
 
First Day: Kalasha Sthapana (Ghatasthapana) – Prathami Puja or Padyami Puja – Installation of earthen pot. Green color is used. The Goddess of first day in Navratri will be dressed in Green colored saree.  Second Day: Preethi Dwitiya (Preeti Vidiya) – Ashwin Shukla Dwitiya. Grey colour is used. The Goddess of second day in Navratri will be dressed in Grey coloured saree.    Third Day:  Sthana Vriddhi Gauri Vrata – Ashwin Masa Shudda Tritiya (Aswayuja Shukla Thadiya) -Sindhoor Tritiya. Sowbhagya Teej. Pink colour is used. The Goddess of third day in Navratri will be dressed in Pink coloured saree.   Fourth Day: Bhouma Chaturthi – Ashwin Masa Shudda Chaturthi (Ashwayuja Shukla Chavithi). White colour is used. The Goddess of fourth day in Navratri will be dressed in White coloured saree.   Fifth Day: Upang Lalitha Gauri Vrata (Sri Lalitha Panchami or Maha Panchami) – Ashwin Shudda Panchami. Red color is used. The Goddess of fifth day in Navratri will be dressed in Red coloured saree.   Sixth Day: Maha Sashti – Ashwin Shudda Sashti – Ashwin Shudda Sashti. Blue colour is used. The Goddess of sixth day in Navratri will be dressed in Blue coloured saree.  Seventh Day: Maha Saptami – Ashwin Shudda Saptami – Triratra Vrata Aarambha Utsava Puja (Trirathrotsavam). Yellow colour is used. The Goddess of seventh day in Navratri will be dressed in Yellow coloured saree.   Eighth Day: Durga Ashtami (Maha Astami) – Ashwin Shudda Astami – Sri Maha Durga Puja – Goddess Saraswati Mata Puja. Violet color is used. The Goddess of eighth day in Navratri will be dressed in Violet colored saree.   Ninth Day:  Maharnavami Puja (Maha Navami) – Suhasini Puja – Ayudha Puja – Kanya Puja or Kumari Puja – Ashwin Shudda Navami. Peacock Green color is used. The Goddess of ninth day in Navratri will be dressed in Peacock coloured saree.   Tenth Day: Vijaya Dashami (Dussera/ Dasara/ Dussehra)Mahishasura Vadha-Ashwin Shudda Dashami. Every year for Vijayadashami celebrations Red colour is used. The Goddess of tenth day in Navratri will be dressed in Red coloured saree.