NAVRATRI FESTIVAL
Different Ways to Celebrate Navratri Festival in India
The festival of Navratri is celebrated twice a year. The first Navratri is celebrated starting from Chaitra Pratipada till Navmi. After the end of Pitru Paksha, Shardiya Navratri is celebrated from Pratipada to Navmi of Shukla Paksha of Ashwin month. Devotees observe nine fasts during both Navratri while worshiping Goddess Durga with full devotion. Diversity flourishes in India. Language, food, culture, and clothing also vary from region to region. It is no surprise that our way of worshiping deities and celebrating festivals varies according to local customs and regions, giving a distinct identity to the local area. A good example of this rich diversity is the Navratri festival.
The word 'Navratri' means Nav (nine) and Raati (night) in
Sanskrit and it is one of the most popular festivals in India. It is celebrated
for nine consecutive nights in autumn and ends with a grand celebration on the
last day of Dussehra.
Shardiya Navratri has religious as well as scientific
significance. It is believed that the season in which Shardiya Navratri begins
is mildly cold and hence the rule of fasting for 9 days with discipline and
restraint is mythological and has been followed since ancient times. Navratri
is a festival of worshiping Shakti and achieving mental and physical balance.
By observing the fast of Navratri, the worshiper strengthens himself to bear
the change of seasons.
Navratri celebration in India varies from state to state.
However, the basic tradition of the festival remains the same everywhere. This
festival celebrates the victory of good over evil. In most parts of India, the
festival of Navratri is dedicated to Goddess Durga. But in some South Indian
states, it is also dedicated to Saraswati, the goddess of knowledge.
How Is Navratri Celebrated In North India?
In the northern states of Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, Delhi, etc.,
Navratri is celebrated to mark the victory of Lord Rama over the Lankan king
Ravana. Burning effigies of Ravana is a prominent feature of northern
festivals, symbolizing the victory of good over evil. This ritual is performed
on the 10th day, which is known as Vijayadashami or Dussehra.
During the nine days, individuals perform puja at home and
temples and honor the Mother Goddess for all forms of creation, life, art,
music, and knowledge. It is customary to give gifts to loved ones during
Navratri. Gifts can be sweets, clothes, or household items.
In some areas, families invite young girls from the neighborhood
to their homes on the eighth and ninth days, wash their feet, give them sweets, and give those gifts or money. This ritual symbolizes the entry of the goddess
herself into their home in the form of a young girl who is worshiped as a
goddess.
How Is Navratri Celebrated In Western India?
Navratri is especially famous in Western India, Gujarat, and
Maharashtra. It is celebrated with traditional Garba. It is a form of dance in
which both men and women wear traditional costumes and dance gracefully in a
circle around a pot containing a lamp. The word Garba means womb and the vessel
symbolizes the womb and the lamp symbolizes life in the womb.
Another popular dance performed by the people during Navratri is
Dandiya-Raas in which men and women dance with small bamboo sticks, when the
sticks hit each other the sweet sound of the wood is released. Its rhythm is
very complex and beautiful to watch. Gujarat is a great place to celebrate
Navratri. The celebration and enthusiasm with which they dance is a sight not
to be forgotten.
NAVRATRI IN MAHARASHTRA:
The people of Maharashtra celebrate the Navratri festival with great
enthusiasm. In Maharashtra, different grains are kept in soil and worshiped for
nine days. In Maharashtra, doing new work during Navratri is considered
auspicious, hence during this time people buy something at home. Garba and
Dandiya of Gujarat is very famous in Maharashtra hence Garba and Dandiya Night
is organized in Maharashtra.
How Navratri Is Celebrated In Eastern India?
In eastern India, Navratri is celebrated as Durga Puja. This
festival is one of the major celebrations of the year in the states of West
Bengal, Assam, Odisha etc. Like elsewhere in India, in the North-East too Durga
Puja festival is held on the last four days of Navratri, namely Saptami,
Ashtami, Navami, and Dashami (seventh, eighth, ninth, and tenth days).
The main attraction of the festival is the Maha Aarti which takes place in the background every evening and the dancing women dressed in
traditional Bengali costumes.
How Is Navratri Celebrated In South India?
In South Indian states like Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, and Kerala,
Navratri means inviting friends and family to watch Kolu, which is basically a
display of dolls and idols. The exhibition is called by different names in
different states and languages, such as:
Tamil Nadu - Bommai Gollu, Telugu - Bommala Koluvu, Kannada -
Bombay Habba, Malayalam - Bomma Gullu, Andhra Pradesh - Bathukamma Panduga.
Tamil Nadu - Bommai Golu
In Tamil Nadu, the Navaratri festival is a one-day event, taking
place on the ninth day of the festival, or Navami. On this day families perform
Ayudha (weapon) puja, where all types of agricultural equipment, books, musical
instruments, vehicles, etc. are beautifully decorated and Goddess Saraswati is
worshipped.
MALAYALAM
- BOMMA GULLU
The 10th day or Vijayadashami is celebrated with great pomp in
Kerala. This day is considered as 'Vidyaarambh' where the children of the
family are initiated into education.
ANDHRA PRADESH -
BATHUKAMMA PANDUGA
In Andhra Pradesh Navratri is celebrated as "Bathukamma
Panduga" which means 'Come alive Mother Goddess'. The festival of
Navaratri is dedicated to Goddess Gauri and the idol of the goddess is kept in
a bundle of flowers called Bathukamma. It is not only the most important but
also the biggest festival in Andhra Pradesh, especially Telangana. Women
wearing silk sarees and gold jewelry gather around Bathukamma to seek the
blessings of Gauri Devi.
KANNADA
- BOMBAY HABBA
In Karnataka, Navratri is known as Dussehra and the best place
to celebrate Navratri in the state is Mysore. The festival here is organized by
the royal family of Mysore and the most important day is the 10th day.
Summary
One should develop a
feeling of devotion in the mind while worshiping various forms of the Goddess.
In this way, one should get absorbed in the feet of the Goddess with the
intention of getting freedom from mental disorders. It is not enough to fast
for nine days, it is necessary to understand the meaning of the fast to get
freedom from all mental disorders. Vices, sinful desires, and evil thoughts. To
awaken the power that the Goddess has given us, this festival should be
celebrated with the same sacred spirit.
PLEASE BE AWARE
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the above article is collected from various websites through the internet.
According to the subject, this information has been presented to you with
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