Navratri is a Hindu festival, celebrated twice a year, in the month of Chaitra (March-April) and in the month of Ashwin (September-October). According to the Hindu calendar, the second Navratri begins from the first day of the bright fortnight of Ashwin. The festival of Navratri is unique. This festival not only overflows with great enthusiasm and ecstasy but also contains spiritual worshipping. It has not only rhythm and tune but also prayers and worship. It is celebrated to honor the feminine energy of the universe which manifest itself in various forms like Durga (Goddess of valour), Lakshmi (Goddess of prosperity) and Durga Saraswati (Goddess of knowledge). Maa Durga, the divine mother, had destroyed the evil force (in the form of demon Mahisasur) during this period. The common theme of Navratri is the victory of good over evil. Navratri, besides being a period of purification, is also considered as an auspicious time for starting new ventures. Navratri specifically means "Nine nights" (Nav = Nine, Ratri = Nights). All Hindus celebrate this festival for nine nights at the same time in different ways in different parts of India. The nine different forms of Devi Durga are worshipped over the nine days. They are Durga Shailputri (daughter of Himalaya, also known as Parvati), Brahmacharini (seeker of Brahma) Chandraghanta (one with half circular moon on her forehead), Kushmanda (who created the universe with a smile), Skanda Mata (she had a son named ‘Skanda'), Katyayani (daughter of Sage Katyayan), Kalratri (she is black like night), Maha Gauri (Lord Shiva cleaned her body with the water of Ganga and Her body became bright), Siddhidatri (grants the eight siddhies to Her devotees).

Navratri is divided into sets of three days to adore different aspects of the supreme goddess. On the first three days, the Mother is invoked as powerful force called Durga in order to destroy all our impurities, vices and defects. The next three days, the Mother is adored as a giver of spiritual wealth, Lakshmi, who is considered to have the power of bestowing on her devotees the inexhaustible wealth. The final set of three days is spent in worshipping the mother as the goddess of wisdom, Saraswati. In order to have all-round success in life, we need the blessings of all three aspects of the divine mother; hence, the worship for nine nights.

During this period, "Ghatsthapana" takes place. An earthen pot is put before the image of the goddess and a lamp is lit which is kept uninterrupted for nine days. This lamp is called "Nandadip" which means ‘The light of happiness". The pot symbolizes the universe and the light of the lamp is to wish that the world always brightens. There is one more belief that the pot symbolizes the womb of the women of the universe and the lamp is lit to wish that the womb of all the women be filled with light of their life, a child. Devotees observe fasting for nine days. Each day a garland of fresh flowers is offered to the goddess. In a pot some mud is spread and grains are sown. The grains sprout during the nine days. Everyday a garland of flowers is offered. This is done for nine days and on Dussehra the tender plant along with the garlands is immersed in lake or river.

In these nine days the holy book "Durga Saptashati" is read. This book contains the stories of the goddess. Every day special food is prepared for the goddess. Brahmins, married women and young girls are invited for dinner. At night "Aarti" is celebrated with great solemnity. On the eighth day (Ashtami), Yagya (sacrifices offered to the holy fire) is performed to honor the divine Mother Goddess Durga.

This festival is celebrated with true devotion all over the country. People from various sections of the society irrespective of caste and creed celebrate Navratri.

The most common form of public celebration is the performance of garba and dandiya raas. Dandiya and Garba are the highlights of the festivals in Gujarat. This is the traditional and folk dance of Gujarat. Dandiya and Garba are the featured dances of Navratri evenings. Originated as devotional Garba dances, which were performed in the honor of Goddess Durga, this dance form is actually the staging of a mock-fight between the Goddess and Mahishasura, the mighty demon-king. The sticks of the dance represent the sword of Durga. Women normally perform it in a graceful and rhythmic manner in a circle as they rotate around the 'mandvi'. The women wear traditional dresses such as colorful embroidered choli, ghagra and bandhani dupattas dazzling with mirror work and heavy jewellery. The males wear dhoti-kurta. The dancers whirl and move their feet and arms in a choreographed manner to the tune of the music with lots of drum beats. Ahmedabad and Vadodara are the great places to enjoy Navratri. In Mumbai also people enjoy Dandiya and Garba.

With commercialization, the festival has moved on to be a social festival rather than a religious festival. It seems quite evident that the traditional and delicate rhythms are being replaced by alternative forms of filmy and westernized music that are quite loud and unpleasant to the ear. It also diverts today's generation from the path of ancient traditions.

Thus, Navratri has two faces-religion and rituals taking centre stage in the mornings with fasting and worshipping the Goddess from home and temples. Come evening, it's time to put on your chaniya-choli, kedia (short shirt with works), crisp dhoti and pagri and rock on to dandiya beats!!

In West Bengal, Navratri is celebrated in the form of Durga Puja. Huge idols of Goddess Durga posed as killing the demon Mahisasur are worshipped everywhere in West Bengal. Huge "Pandals" are set up everywhere and devotees in large numbers visit to worship Goddess Durga. On the tenth day, the idols are carried out in procession for immersion (visarjan) in a river or pond. In South India, an altar decorated with a stepped platform and filled with small images of Gods, animals, birds and other beings is worshipped for nine days.

Navratri is celebrated in Punjab by fasting for seven days. On the eighth day or Ashtami, the fast is broken by worshipping young girls who are believed to symbolize the Goddess herself.

The 10th day is celebrated as Dussehra or Vijayadashami to commemorate the victory of Lord Ram over Ravana. Dussehra also symbolizes the triumph of warrior Goddess Durga over the demon, Mahishasur.

On Dussehra, an effigy of Ravana is burnt to celebrate the victory of Lord Ram. In burning the effigies a message is sent to the people to burn the evil within them and follow the path of truth because just like Ravana, who in spite of being powerful, was destroyed for his evil ways.

As per our great epic Mahabharata, Pandavas after living in the forest for twelve years hung their weapons on a Shami tree before entering the court of king Viraat to spend the last year in disguise. After the completion of that year on Vijayadashmi the day of Dussehra they brought down the weapons from the Shami tree and declared their true identity. Since that day the exchange of Shami leaves on Dussehra, became the symbol of good, will and victory.

The day of Dusshera is considered to be very auspicious. It is believed that any new venture started on this day is bound to be successful. Implements of agriculture, manufacturer's machines, the children's school books etc are placed before the idol of Durga and worshipped on this day.

In very few cultures of the world, the feminine energy is worshipped with so much of aplomb and celebration. In order to keep ourselves and the world in balance, it is very important to have both male and female energies in healthy proportions. The caring, nurturing, mother-like, emotional, intuitive and creative female energy be hailed and appreciated by all.

|