Posts Tagged ‘navratri celebrations’

About Navratre / Navratri

Navratri in 2010 commences on 8^th October and ends on 16^th of October. Every year the festival of Navratri starts on the first day of the bright fortnight of the lunar month of Ashwin.

What does Navratri means?

The word Navratre or Navratri literally means nine nights. The festival is observed for nine nights and ten days.

Who is the presiding deity of this festival?

During the nine nights and ten days of this festival, nine forms of Durga devi or Shakti are worshipped. The tenth day of this period is well known as vijaydasami, and is celebrated to honour the victory of Lord Rama over evil Ravana.

The festival is celebrated all over the country with great enthusiasm. Even so, it holds special significance for Bengalis and Guajaratis. Highlights of Navratri in Gujarat region are dandiya and garba raas.

Farmers sow seeds in the field and pray to Durga Devi for good yield.

As mentioned above nine form of Durga Devi are worshipped during the nine nights. The first three days are dedicated to Durga Devi dressed in red clothes, mounted on a lion.  Various incarnations, signifying three different stages of womanhood, viz. child, young girl and a mature woman, are worshipped like Kumari, Parvati Devi, and Kali Devi.

The next three days are dedicated to Lakshmi devi or Goddess of fortune. She is worshipped dressed in gold and riding on an owl.

The last three days are dedicated to the worship of Goddess Saraswati, the Goddess of learning and knowledge. She is worshipped dressed in white and riding on a milky white swan. Sweets are prepared for the festivities and celebrations and both adults and children dress up in bright new clothes.

Some communities observe rigorous fasting during this nine days period of Navratri. Some don’t eat grains all nine days, some fast on first and the eighth day, and most of the families including meat-eaters, shun even onion-garlic during this period. The festival concludes on the ninth day, also known as Mahanavami. On this day people perform kanya-puja, which is worshipping of very young girls, who have not reached puberty. Usually, nine young girls are invited; representing the nine forms of Durga Devi, and their feet are washed as a mark of respect to Durga Devi. They are offered various food stuffs, clothes, money and other items.

Commercialization has not left the religious festivals also. The festival also became a social thing in some places than a religious observance. Despite of these things there is nothing to dampen the spirit of the devoted followers of Durga Devi.

For creating auspiciousness, people do many kind of poojas and sacrifices during this time. If you want to know more about different auspicious things that can be done during this time or you want to get one done for you, kindly visit http://www.myastrologypuja.com/navaratri-special-puja.php.

We wish all the devotees a very Happy and auspicious Navratri celebration, and pray that Goddess Durga showers her blessings on all of us.