The Nine Divine Nights
This famous festival of Navratri continues for nine nights. The word ‘Navratri’ consists of two parts ‘Nav’ and ‘Ratri’. ‘Nav’ means nine and ‘ratri’ means night. The festival commences on the first day of Ashwina of the bright fortnight. On this auspicious day, seeds are sown and sprouting is watched. It is also said that during these nine days the planets are consecrated.Navratri celebration is divided into three parts consisting of three days each. The first three days are for worshipping Shakti Ma or Goddess Durga. The female deity is shown to be dressed in red and mounted on a fierce looking lion that exudes the warrior image of the deity and people pray to her for power and strength. During these three days, all the forms of Goddess Durga are worshipped. Kumari, Parvati and Kali are the most common incarnations of the Goddess Durga. The first form encourages the worship of womanhood in the form of a child. The second form encourages divinity in the guise of a young girl and the third form represents a mature woman. Goddess Laksmi better known as the Goddess of wealth and prosperity is worshipped for the next three days. And then the last three days are dedicated to the worship of Goddess Saraswati. Goddess Lakshmi is usually dressed in Golden attire and appears mounted on Her owl. Goddess Saraswati on the other hand appears in white and appears on her purest of pure white swan.
Indians celebrate Navratri twice in a year
- Chaitra Navratri or Vasant Navratri, that which happens in the month of April generally each year in the spring season.
- Sharad Navratri is celebrated in the month October mostly in the autumn season.
Navratri Rituals
- In the Indian communities, devotees keep rigorous fasts during the nine days of Navratri till the day of Mahanavami. The festival culminates on the Mahanavami day. This day is also known for performing Kanya Puja. Nine young girls are worshipped and fed and also bestowed with gifts and new clothes. These nine young girls represent the nine forms of Ma Durga. In some communities, feet of these nine girls are washed as a mark of respect.
- Devotees gather socially in public places where Shakti Ma is being worshipped in pandals. They sing songs in the praise of the Goddess and stay wake the whole night enjoying.
- Delicacies are prepared in every household. Eating rich and delicious food forms an integral part of the celebration. Sweetmeats are prepared and special recipes such as kuttu ki puri, singhare ki puri, dal stuffed puri, bandh gobi ki sabji, aloo raita, sabudana puri and sukha aloo are relished with great fervour.
- The devotees celebrate Navratri by dressing up in bright rich new clothes. Dresses are stitched specially for attending the numerous religious gatherings publics functions are a part of the festival preparations.
- During the whole of nine days, the supreme Goddess is worshipped in Her nine different avatars such as Shailputri, Brahmacharini, Chandraghanta, Kushmanda, Skanda Mata, Katyayani, Kalratri, Maha Gauri and Siddhidatri.
- Greetings card containing lovely wishes are exchanged and blessings are sent to loved ones. Sending beautiful e-cards to friends, family members, colleagues, relatives and business associates forms an important part of the celebration.
- Garba, a folk dance form that has its origins in Gujarat, is arranged and enjoyed all over the state of Gujarat where Navratri celebration has a special significance.
