 |
PIC: indiaonlinepages.com
|
Navratri (nine nights) festival
is one of the important Hindu festival in India and as the name suggests, the
festivities lasts for nine days and nine nights. There are two main Navaratries,
celebrated twice a year, the first around the months of March-April and second
around September-October (Ashvin month of Hindu calendar). The celebrations of
nine days and nine nights are entirely devoted to the mother Goddess. The
September-October Navaratri is also called Sharad (autumn) Navaratri and is
celebrated in the honor of divine mother, Durga. As per the ancient beliefs,
Durga had battled with demon buffalo, Mahisasur to restore Dharma and emerges
victorious. To commemorate the victory of Dharma over Adharma, the Navaratri
and Durga Puja are celebrated since then. The festival also marks the victory
of Lord Rama over the Lankan king Ravana who had kidnapped Rama’s wife Sita.
Sita is restored back to Lord Rama after the war and they return to Ayodhya in
the famous Pushpak Viman (Pushpak Aircraft) on the Diwali day. “Ram Leelas” are
held during the nine days of the festival at various places where the stories
from Ramayana are enacted. The festival
of Dussehra is celebrated on the auspicious Vijaya dashmi day (10th
day) to mark the victory of Lord Rama over Ravana.
During the period of nine days
and nine nights, devotees take to fasts, eat strictly vegetarian food and
perform bhajans, kirtans (prayers) and pujas, worships. During pujas, the
devotees offer fruits and flowers to the mother Goddess. The celebrations
include installation of large idols of mother Goddess, Durga at public places
uner huge well decorated pandals. The pandals are regularly visited by devotees
to offer puja to the mother. Various cultural and competitive programs are held
for the nine days in these pandals. On Vijaya Dashmi, the idol is immersed in river
water or water tanks. In the evening on the Dussehra day, the huge effigies of
Ravana, Kumbhakarna and Meghnath are burnt with fireworks symbolizing the
destruction of evil. The festival of
lights, Diwali or deepavali is celebrated after twenty days of the Dussehra
which mark the return of Lord Rama to Ayodhya after the war in Lanka and
completion of his exile of fourteen years.
In some parts of India like
Gujarat and Maharashtra states, Dandiya and Garba dances are performed on the
evening of the nine days festivities. Men and women, young and old, all come together
and play the Dandiya and Garba dances.
 |
PIC:
post.jagran.com
|
The
nine days are dedicated to nine divine forms of mother Durga which are believed
to be as below;
Day 1:
Sailputri - is believed to be the collective power of Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva.
Yellow is the favorite color of the day.
Day 2:
Brahmacharini-one who practice austerity, an embodiment of blissfulness and
joy. Green is the favorite color of the day.
Day 3:
Chandraghanta-represent beauty and grace, embodiment of peace, tranquility and
prosperity. Grey is the favorite color of the day.
Day 4:
Kushmunda- believed to be creator of the universe. Orange is the favorite color
of the day.
Day 5:
Skand Mata- the mother of Skanda, the commander-in-chief of Gods who fought war
against demons. White is the favorite color of the day.
Day 6:
Katyayani- was born as daughter of sage Kata, an avatar of Durga. Red is the
favorite color of the day.
Day 7:
Kalratri- bears dark color like Kali Mata, the fiercest Goddess. Blue is the
favorite color of the day.
Day 8:
Maha Gauri-an embodiment of peace and calmness. Pink is the favorite color of
the day.
Day 9:
Siddhidatri- one who blesses power and perfection. Violet is the favorite color
of the day.
No comments:
Post a Comment